Over 3% to 12% of people are infected by this condition. Many aren’t even aware that they have it, nor how they acquired it. Untreated, the problem can spread to other parts of the body. Moreover, it has a tendency to develop slowly, but can last for weeks, months, and even years. The condition is toenail fungus. Although not life threatening, it is a serious life altering condition that is contagious.
Toenail fungus is scientifically known as tinea unguium, or Onychomycosis. It is a kind of infection that causes fungi to appear, spread, and infiltrate the nail. Tinea unguium sprouts from a kind of fungus known as dermatophytes. These are molds and yeasts that are germane to the Candida species. This class of fungus sustains and nourishes itself on human skin, nails, and keratin, the main organic component of nails and toenails.
Toenail fungus is so hard to treat because it grows under the nail and/or infects the interior of the nail. The toenail might change colors. Sometimes becoming yellow, whitish-yellow, brown, or grey in tone. The toenail may also become soft, brittle, change shape, and possibly even fall off. Some toenails even become thicker. The toenail may become painful and ooze pus. It’s an aesthetically unpleasing condition to have that should be medically treated as soon as possible.
How Do You Become Infected With Toenail Fungus?
There are trillions upon trillions of microorganisms and bacteria that live on and in within the human body that help with various bodily functions. Like digestion. How these bacteria react on the human body has a lot to do with balance. When there is an imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria, fungal infections can arise. Fungal infections can arise from symptoms associated with diabetes, heart disease, and poor blood vessel circulation.
Most people get toenail fungus infections through contagious contact from another person or source. The fungus that causes toenail fungus can also cause jock itch, feminine itch, and ringworm. People can get toenail fungus from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, unsanitary nail salons, gym and locker shower rooms, swimming pools, saunas, or wearing dirty socks and shoes. Some people even have a genetic predisposition to get toenail fungus.
Curing Toenail Fungus Fast
Curing toenail fungus fast can be a misnomer. It takes time to kill fungus because they thrive in dark, moist areas without a lot of sunlight. Also, they are protected by the toenail, living under or in it. So, some methods are relatively faster than others. One of the most effective ways to cure it involves taking an oral antifungal antibiotic medication. Like Sporanox, Diflucan, and Lamisil.
Such treatments are very effective. However, they come with serious side effects. They can cause dizziness, upset stomach, jaundice, and even liver damage. Such oral medications are so potent that they take over six months or longer to be flushed out of the body completely. People with liver problems can’t use them and some people don’t respond at all. They can take about three months to cure toenail fungus.
As evidenced by the cartoon toenail fungus characters in multiple TV commercials, you can also buy various topical antifungal creams without a prescription. Like Lamisil or Kerydin. However, they can take up to a year to work because the fungus is under the skin, multiple daily applications are required, and the fungus thrives in darkness whenever you put on socks and shoes as the medication works.
Laser Treatment
A relatively new treatment for toenail fungus has been laser therapy. Lasers are used to emit pulses of concentrated heat energy to contract and kill fungal microbes. The laser emission can penetrate the toenail without damaging it or causing pain. Numerous clinical studies show that over 80% of people who use laser therapy to cure toenail fungus have positive results.
Viva Day Spa’s website mentions this about toenail fungus removal says “Most cases of toenail fungus can be eliminated in just one treatment in as little as ten minutes.”
However, it could take a year to completely cure the problem. Also, the treatment is pricey. Depending on the type of laser procedure you use it can cost hundreds of dollars, or a cool thousand, for this procedure.
More Than One Cure
If you are suffering from toenail fungus problems, you have options. Some treatments are relatively quicker than others. But most can help you cure this problem.
