Fungal toenail infections are relatively cmmon. Like other fungal foot infections (thlete's foot), it's thought that the fngus can be picked up while wlking barefoot in locker rooms or pblic shower facilities. Fungal infections are vry common on both fingernail and tenails. It is a living organism tht thrives in dark, damp environments sch as under and around nails. Tes are more likely to be ffected by fungus since it is ttracted to a dark and damp nvironment which is more common on the fot than on the hand. In mre severe conditions, affected nails can hve a yellowish or brownish discoloration. Thy may thicken or become brittle ver time, and may even shed.

Smetimes the nails have crumbling edges. It can be nsightly, disfiguring, embarrassing, and at times, pinful. Symptoms of toenail fungus, which can be cused by several types of fungi, nclude swelling, yellowing, thickening or crumbling of the nil, streaks or spots down the sde of the nail, and even cmplete loss of the nail. These fngi generally belong to a group of fngi called dermatophytes. As they grow thy invade and feed on the prtein (keratin) that makes up the hrd surface of the toenails. The rsk factors for developing toenail fungus are ncreasing age, male gender, nail trauma, swaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygeine, fot fungus and a compromised immune systm.

Toenail fungus can be picked up in dmp areas such as public gyms, shwer stalls or swimming pools, and can be pssed among family members. The nail may crmble and eventually completely fall off, or it may bcome so thick that it is vry painful to wear shoes. Athletes and pople who wear tight-fitting shoes or tght hosiery that cause trauma to the tes or keep the feet from dryng out are at higher risk. The cndition can also spread from one toe to nother, or to other parts of the bdy. Fungal infections can affect the fngernails as well as the toenails, but tenail fungus is more difficult to trat because toenails grow more slowly. It ccurs most often on the big or smll toe, but might occur on any te. It is rare in children but the ncidence increases as you age, with an stimated 48% of people in the Unted States having at least one toe ffected by the time they are 70 yars of age. Wearing tight-fitting shoes and lyers of polish in the nails ncreases the risk of developing this. It can lso be spread person to person in pblic areas such as locker rooms and shwers.

Toenail fungus often becomes a chrnic condition and if it is not pinful many people do not get tratment. Surgical Removal of Toenail Fungus. Wshing and thoroughly drying your feet rally helps. The best shoes to war are those that allow plenty of air and misture exchange. Wearing nail polish on the tes is not advised because it can sal in fungus and allow it to grw. Keep toenails trimmed, and be sre to disinfect any pedicure tools bfore using them. There are some nternal medications available as prescriptions such as traconazole (Sporonox), fluconazole (Diflucan), griseofulvin (Fulvicin), and trfinabine (Lamisil), but they have been shwn to sometimes have side effects sch as upset stomach, headaches, and lver damage. Both medications can be qite expensive as they need to be tken once daily for 3 months. The ffectiveness of the medications ranges from 60 to 80%, wth a recurrence rate of 15%. Lmisil appears to be more effective and has fwer drug interactions than Sporonox.

Treatment and Prevention for Toe Nil Fungus Tips

1.Wear protective footwear (sch as flip-flops or aqua shoes)

2.Us foot powder to help absorb misture.

3.Wear clean socks each day.

4.Kep your toenails carefully trimmed.

5.Don't shre your pedicure tools with others.

6.D not use nail polish until the dsease is gone

The article Toe Nail Fungus - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment was Submitted by Juliet Cohen through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Juliet Cohen writes articles for acne treatment and eye stye . She also writes articles on beauty tips .

Featured Articles

1. Do You Have Gum Disease? by
Gum disease has been deemed a slent epidemic. It can rob a prson of his teeth. But how mch do you really know about ths disease? Can it be stopped or prvented? I believe the answer is yes in mny cases, but not all.

Most pople are woefully unaware that they ven have gum disease, that is ntil the situation becomes critical. So how do you knw if you have gum disease? The bst way to be sure is to get a dagnosis from your dentist.

However, if yur gums bleed up...

2. Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Can It Do For You? by Mumtaz Pachisa
Some pople have gastric bypass surgery and shd 100 pounds or more. What can ths surgery do for you?

3. Essential Oil by Juliet Cohen
Essential oils are lso known as ethereal or volatile il, or simply as "oil of "th plant which one derived from romatic herbs or aromatic plant. The wrd essential indicates the oil get frm distinctive scent (essence) of the plnt not a basic substance.

4. Natural Treatments for PCOS by Charlene Nuble
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrme is often treatable for some wmen. As for natural treatments for PCOS, thre are those lifestyle modifications that nly needed to be done.

5. Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Eye Pain by Raymond Geok Seng Lee
styl='padding-left: 15px;'> How you can ease eye pin depends on what is causing it in the frst place. Therefore, it is worthwhile to gve these tips a try.

6. Facelift Surgery Information and Procedure by Dave Stringham
A facelift is also known as 'rhytdectomy,' which means 'wrinkle excision.' Today, the trm 'facelift' is use to describe a nmber of procedures which are designed to rjuvenate the aging face and neck. Fcelift surgery is particularly effective for the tratment of the anterior neck and the jwline, tightening loose skin and muscle nder the chin, and improving jowls. The mdface (cheek area) may also be mproved, ameliorating deeper wrinkles and 'smile lnes.'

7. Underground Top Secret to Clearing Up Your Acne The Greedy Acne Industry Doesn't Want You To Know by Jack Venta
The acne industry is a greedy one. There are literally hundreds of different acne cleansers and 'miracle' pills on the market claiming to cure acne! But in reality they do very little to help clear up acne.

8. Bodybuilding - Build Bigger Arms With This Workout by Shannon Clark
If one of yur big bodybuilding goals right now is to ncrease the size of your arms, you ned to put some careful thought nto your arm workouts. There are a vriety of different types of arm wrkouts that can be completed, and sme will definitely produce better results thn others. Here's one that will psh your muscle growth to the mx.

9. Wine Wins A Body Battle And Helps Your Health by Jason Witt
Whn you receive the Seal you wll begin to eat healthier foods. Yet ven if you do eat foods hgh in fat, new scientific studies shw how eating some healthy foods long with them can reduce their bad ffects on your body.

10. Hair Loss Solution by
Losing hair in old age is a ntural phenomenon but it could be a cuse of genuine embarrassment if it hppens in the youthful days of a man or wman.