Important things you need to know about Onychomycosis
March 28, 2009
Fungus infected toenails is not an uncommon occurrence for people to have, this is because this infection thrives in dark and wet places. This is why people who wear shoes and socks for long periods may find themselves facing this problem with their feet. A common type of fungal infection of the nail is Onychomycosis. This condition affects fingernails and toenails but the latter is more common and should be attended to as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Onychomycosis
• The most noticeable symptom is the nail plate developing a thick cloudy or yellow appearance.
• Nails infected with this condition may also become crumbly and rough or may even become detached from the nail bed.
Onychomycosis is mostly caused by a type of fungi called dermatophytes. There are various types of dermatophytes responsible for this condition but the most common is Trichophyton rubrum.
Although Onychomycosis does not cause pain to people that develop the condition, it is severe and has to be treated quickly and with care. The most popular treatment for Onychomycosis is antifungal treatments like medication and creams. These antifungal treatments are very effective and though improvements cannot be seen from the first day, with time they eventually get better.
Once you have treated Onychomycosis, it is important to prevent it from happening again. This can be done by keeping the feet dry and clean, by not sharing socks and shoes and not going barefoot in public places like communal changing rooms and showers.