Tipps against Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is usually a secondary complication of athlete's foot. It makes nails brittle and unsightly, and treating it is a time-consuming process. However, it is quite simple to prevent in the first place.

Symptoms of toenail fungus include yellow discolouration around the edges of the toenails as well as yellowish or grey-brown staining on the nail itself. This infection, caused by filamentous or yeastlike fungi, often affects toenails and rarely affects fingernails.

Toenail fungus usually results from untreated athlete's foot

Toenail fungus sufferers are usually already infected with athlete's foot. If there are small tears or wounds on the toenails, then athlete's foot spreads and turns into toenail fungus. Just like athlete's foot, the latter infection thrives in warm, moist environments. The risk of infection is significantly higher in swimming pools and saunas, as well as for those who consistently suffer from sweaty feet.

Left untreated, toenail fungus causes nails to easily crack and later become brittle. It can also lead to a thickening of the nail plate in certain spots. If you have contracted toenail fungus, you should hesitate to begin treatment. Treating toenail fungus can be very time-consuming, since treatment needs to be continued until the old nails have completely grown out and the new ones have completely grown in. This usually takes between 6 and 12 months. Treatment usually involves applying salves that slowly break down the nails. Afterwards, the infected nail bed and newly-grown nails are treated with anti-mycotic cream or anti-mycotic nail polish. In extremely severe cases, the affected nails are surgically removed.

Thorough foot hygiene and breathable shoes help prevent toenail fungus

Toenail fungus can be prevented with a thorough foot hygiene routine. You should take care to completely dry your feet after you shower, especially the areas between the toes. Dry feet without any small cuts do not give toenail fungus or athlete's foot any chance to attack. If you are diagnosed with athlete's foot you should treat it right away, since there is an extremely high risk that it will spread and cause toenail fungus to form. Sweaty feet promote the formation of fungus, so you should wear loose, breathable socks and shoes— Goodyear-welted men's shoes are the best choice. Since they are made of leather, these shoes create a comfortable feeling inside the shoe and boast a perfect fit, which supports foot health in various ways.