Onychomycosis, Nail Fungus Infections

The word onychomycosis simply refers to fungal infection of the nail: "onycho" is Greek for "claw" and mycosis is the medical term for fungal infection of any kind. Though this term may be unfamiliar to most people, the nail fungus infection, unfortunately, is far from uncommon. In North America, as many as 13% of people may suffer from nail fungus infections, with the incidence increasing with age.

Early signs of onychomycosis or nail fungus include a yellowish or brownish discoloration of the infected nail, often starting near the tip of the toe or the fingertip and progressing back toward the cuticle. In some cases a white spot appears and grows gradually larger. The nail may appear to be separating from the nailbed and it usually becomes distorted and crumbly. Nail Fungus treatments tend to work better when started early in the course of the fungus infection. The first step is to get a proper diagnosis from a medical professional, then begin nail fungus treatment.

Onychomycosis or nail fungus treatment may require topical application of an antifungal agent or a prescription for an oral medication. Curing the fungal infection tends to take months or years, depending on severity, thus it is better to start in the early stages. Prescription medications for nail fungus infections are relatively new and are still quite costly and plagued with side effects but, because this type of infection has been around since ancient times, there are many home remedies for toenail fungus infection that people swear by. Most of these involve soaking the affected nail in a solution (dilute bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide etc.).

Toenail Fungus Infections

Fungus is an organism which likes to live in moist dark environments such as the region on your toenails. Toenail fungus is quite a common infection that can infect just about anyone. It can be found on the feet or hands, although the feet are more common because they are trapped in shoes all day. You may be especially prone to growing the toenail fungus if you do not change out of sweaty socks and shoes. Infected nails develop a yellow or brown discoloration that spreads from the underside.

The toenail fungus infection area is not easy to cure because it is under the nail. It can be the result of chronic athlete's foot, an infection often caught in the locker room. It comes from walking around barefoot and picking up the fungal infection from another person who already has it. This is why you should always wear shoes or flip flops in a community locker room, especially in the wet areas like the bathrooms. It only takes one person with the toenail fungus infection to spread it to the rest of the group. Once you develop it, it can be difficult to cure and many people have the toenail fungus infection permanently unless they seek treatment. The fungus will cause the toenail to thicken and curl and eventually fall off. This is accompanied by the discoloration of the toenail and an unpleasant odor. The fungus usually starts under the big toe, possibly because this toe is often in direct contact with a moist sock. If not treated, the toenail fungus will spread to the other toes as well.