Your feet are particularly susceptible to fungal infection because fungi prefer dark, moist environments, according to experts of Foot and Ankle Specialists.
The same organism can cause both foot fungus and toenail fungus, which are both extremely prevalent. She claims that they are not the same ailment, though, and that they receive distinct care. Continue reading to find out how to recognize and treat foot and toenail fungus as well as how to prevent it.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
We can find fungi in the water, soil, air, and on plants. Some even naturally occur on our skin and pose no health risks when present in small quantities. However, excessive growth can result in a fungal skin infection. Since it’s hard to avoid the fungus in our environment, fungal illnesses are quite prevalent.
What are the Causes of Toenail Fungus?
Because fungi can spread from person to person and from one portion of the body to another by scratching, fungal skin illnesses are contagious. Direct skin contact or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces and items, such as exchanging contaminated garments or towels, can result in the transmission of a fungal infection from one person to another. For this reason, keeping oneself clean is crucial to avoiding fungal skin diseases.
Treatment
- Try not to scratch the affected region, even though it will itch. Scratching will erode the skin’s outer layer and accelerate the infection’s spread.
- Medicine and toenail trimming are typically mixed, but getting your toenail trimmed on a regular basis by a podiatrist can help the medicine function better.
- Cleanse the skin areas that are impacted.
- The majority of medical professionals now advise taking the oral drug terbinafine for one week every three months.
- Avoid sharing bath mats, towels, or other items with other people since this could expose them to the infection.
- Some swear by the daily use of tea tree oil, oregano oil, or Vicks VapoRub under their nails.
- Use extreme caution when in public areas. If you have a foot infection, stay off the bare feet to stop the infection from spreading to other people.
- To stop the illness from spreading, always wash your hands after treating it.
