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5 Things You Should Know About Toenail Fungus

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Have you noticed that your toenails are more crumbly than they once were? You are showing signs of having nail fungus, and there are other symptoms that you can look for as well. All you have to do is make an appointment with a specialist, and he or she can treat the fungus through several methods. Take a look at this article to gain more insight about toenail fungus.

1. How Toenail Fungus Might Develop

One of the ways that toenail fungus can develop is from contracting it from someone who is infected. Basically, you can get the condition from wearing the infected person's shoes or socks. Walking barefoot on a floor that an infected person has walked on barefoot can also lead to the fungus developing. Another way for fungus to develop is through a cut on a toenail. Sweaty feet make it easier for a minor fungus infection to spread.

2. What Symptoms to Look For

One of the main symptoms of fungus is the thickening of toenails. The longer the condition has been present, the thicker the nails can become. You might also notice that your toenails have become duller than they used to be. The infection can cause toenails to develop a darker appearance in the areas where fungus is present.

3. How to Get Diagnosed with Toenail Fungus

Making a diagnosis for toenail fungus will involve a thorough inspection of your nails by the specialist. He or she will also want to scrape off some of the nails so the debris can be examined in a laboratory. The examination will let the specialist know the exact type of fungus that you have.

4. What Various Treatment Methods Are

There are antifungal oral drugs that can be prescribed for toenail fungus. Basically, the drugs will clear up the infection and help your nails grow in a healthy manner, such as free of discoloration from fungus. Medicated nail polish is sometimes prescribed for treating toenail fungus. A severe case of toenail fungus might require that your nail be surgically removed. However, the nail should grow back over time.

5. How Toenail Fungus Can Be Prevented

It is important for you to keep your toenails clean after the infection has been treated to prevent it from coming back. You should also keep your feet as dry as possible. Make sure that your shoes are always clean, and never walk around in a public place barefoot. Speak to a specialist about the condition of your toenails to find out whether fungus is the problem.


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