During the blustery winter months, it’s all too easy to pack our feet away in our thick wool socks and boots, or tuck them inside a pair of slippers. We do our best to ignore the yellow, crumbling keratin towers rising up out of our toes. Yet, once the weather warms up, we find ourselves wishing we had done something about toenail fungus before it was too late. Once your neighbors start busting their sandals, flip-flops, and cute strappy heels out of the closet, there is little hope of joining them.
 
Are you guilty of trying to hide ​     Continue ......

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Easy Steps Can Avoid a Path to Infection
Here are some general suggestions about caring for your hands and feet to help you avoid most nail infections   Continue   ​​

The spit test​   Click Here
#testforyeastinfection  #howdoIknowIhaveyeastinfection   #nailfungus   #yeastinfection

The most aggravating factor that prevents nail fungus sufferers from having healthy nails in the shortest period of time can be traced back to one simple thing...

NOT TREATING NAIL FUNGUS EFFICIENTLY

The frustration of finding a cure for toenail fungus is one that is shared by nearly 40 million people all around the world. But why this common condition is so difficult to treat successfully?

Because prescription medications have quite low success rates and a long list of serious side effects, people turn to natural remedies touted for their anti-fungal properties. You may have heard about do-it-yourself remedies using common household items such as vinegar, chlorine bleach, beer, Vicks VapoRub, Listerine mouthwash, and more...
#nailfungus  #getridofnailfungus   #treatmentfornailfungus
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People find funny-looking nails embarrassing, at least in part because many people assume that they are caused by fungus (fungal nails). This makes them sound contagious or as if they are caused by poor hygiene. In fact, up to 10% of all adults in Western countries have fungal nails. This percentage increases to 20% of adults who are age 60 or older.

In reality, abnormal-looking nails are often not caused by fungus at all! There are many other reasons why your nails may look different.
 
Here are some other conditions you may have instead of fungal nails:
1.     Lines and ridges: These are common and may be considered normal. They may worsen during pregnancy. A large groove down the center of the nail can be caused by nail biting.
 
2.     Senile nails: As you age, the nails become brittle, develop ridges and separation of the nail layers at the end of the nail. Try to avoid cleaning solutions, and don't soak the nails in water.

3.     Whitish or yellowish nails due to onycholysis. This means separation of the nail from the nail bed. The color you see is air beneath the nail. The treatment is to trim the nail short, don't clean under it, polish if you want to hide the color, and wait two to three months.

4.     Red or black nails due to a hematoma, or blood under the nail, usually occur from trauma (like whacking yourself on the thumb with a hammer). The discolored area will grow out with the nail and be trimmed off as you trim your nails. If you have a black spot under your nail that was not caused by trauma, you may want to see a dermatologist to make sure it is not melanoma.

5.     Green nails can be caused by Pseudomonas bacteria, which grow under a nail that has partially separated from the nail bed. The treatment is to trim the nail short every four weeks, don't clean it, polish if you want to hide the color, and wait two to three months. It is also advised to avoid soaking the nail in any sort of water (even if inside gloves) and to thoroughly dry the nail after bathing. If the problem continues, there are prescription treatments that your doctor may try.

6.     Pitted nails may be associated with psoriasis or other skin problems that affect the nail matrix, the area under the skin just behind the nail. This is the area from which the nail grows. Nails affected by psoriasis can also be tan in color.

7.     Swelling and redness of the skin around the nail is called paronychia. This is an infection of the skin at the bottom of the nail (cuticle). If the infection is acute (has a rapid onset), it is usually caused by bacteria. It may respond to warm soaks but will often need to be drained by a doctor. A chronic paronychia occurs when a cuticle becomes inflamed or irritated over time. Sometimes, yeast will take advantage of the damaged skin and infect the area as well. Therapy begins with keeping the skin dry and out of water. Sometimes a steroid cream such as hydrocortisone can be used with success. If the problem continues, a physician should be consulted.

8.      Chronic nail trauma, such as repeatedly starting and stopping, kicking, and other athletic endeavors, can cause damage to the nails that can look a lot like fungal nails. This sort of repetitive trauma can also occur with certain types of employment or wearing tight-fitting shoes.
#nailfungus   #discolorednails  #healthynails  #healthynailblend  #abnormallookingnails
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