Microorganisms known as nail fungus are a very common type of mycosis and can be treated as soon as possible.
Have you ever found your fingertips yellow and lifeless? This is caused by nail fungus. Fungi are a type of nail disease that is also popularly known as ringworm. The appearance is due to the contraction of microorganisms that love to feed on keratin. That is, the entire surface of your nails.
In principle, treatments can be quite varied. But until you can get rid of this disease, fungi have been the greatest terror in women’s lives. Fortunately, medicine and home methods are currently helping to put an end to the disease and providing a way to finally prevent the aesthetics and health of your nails.
What causes nail fungus?
As we can already see in the image above, nail fungus leaves the surface yellow and with an extremely thick texture. The biggest problem is when nail disease is not treated, which can even cause some type of infection due to lack of care.
Furthermore, the visual condition is much more unpleasant, especially when the woman has to wear open shoes. This type of mycosis is mainly contagious, that is, microorganisms proliferate easily. To avoid them, you need to adopt certain habits so that you do not transmit or become infected.
What happens if you don’t take care?
At first, due to possible infection, mycosis can go beyond the limits and end up affecting the regions around the nail. Therefore, if the nail is already difficult to heal, this is enhanced if it affects other areas. The advice in this case is to seek treatment as soon as possible.
As it is also a contagious nail disease, don’t be surprised if it appears on your hands and feet. This can occur when a person spends a long time wearing closed shoes and, therefore, without ventilation. This provides the fungi with a less airy and humid environment, due to sweat. Furthermore, shoes that are too tight can cause injuries.
Do you know when the big toe starts to rub against the inside side of the shoe or is pressed hard to the point of hurting? So, therein lies the biggest key to the entry of nail diseases. Mycosis proliferates even more in these lesions, so it is best to opt for the comfort of your feet.
In other words, as we saw above, the causes can come from a lack of care for nail fungus. Or they simply appear as a result of mistreatment of their own feet. An interesting fact is that ringworm, in general, for those who don’t know, can also appear in the groin area, causing a lot of discomfort.
How do I know if my nail has fungus?
First of all, let’s understand exactly how to look and identify which nail disease is the result of fungi. The first step is to evaluate the coloring to see if it is different. In the most initial cases of mycosis, the appearance is whitish and/or yellowish, almost dark green.
The second most important sign and a big sign of “be careful” is when it becomes hollow. That’s right, bacteria accumulate so much underneath and feed on the keratin so much that the nail ends up becoming hollow. Their presence is so destructive that you can say goodbye to the liveliness of the surface, as they take on a thick, old and opaque identity.
Adding up all the symptoms, the result is weakening of the nails. They end up becoming increasingly brittle, that is, any bump or mistake when cutting them will break them in the worst way. Worst of all, the action of fungi opens the door to any other type of infection.
Is it contagious or not?
Yes, as previously mentioned, nail fungus is highly contagious. In addition to closed shoes, there are other ways of catching or transmitting nail diseases. Walking barefoot by the pool, for example, is one of the most common forms of contamination. And if you are around 40 years old it will be even worse.
As the years of life increase, the possibility of contracting nail fungus is much greater. Unfortunately, as their growth slows, they become ideal places for ringworm. Other factors can also increase the risk, even the use of antibiotics for a prolonged period of time makes this misfortune possible.
People with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heredity may be another risk group for the action of microorganisms. In these cases, the impaired immune system can be crucial when it comes to contracting the fungi. The body has few defense reactions, which provides the entry key for microorganisms.
Types of treatments for nail fungus
The first step of all is to look for a professional in the field to identify the extent of the nail disease. Soon after the clinical analysis, the tests certainly led to a possible confirmation of which fungus we were treating. The possibilities are immense, as there are several types of mycoses.
Finally, there are two ways to treat: oral or through creams. The most common is by external means. In addition to creams, another widely used device is medicated nail polish. However, according to studies, when both types of treatments (oral and non-oral) are carried out together, the responses are much more promising for health.
But, first of all, do not consume medicines without a doctor’s prescription. The damage caused can end up being quite unpleasant. Avoid this type of inconvenience and follow the instructions carefully. Ultimately, the most aggressive and least desired method by everyone is surgery.
The method seeks to solve the problem at its root. Therefore, the only way is to remove the nail full of microorganisms. The disease goes away completely with removal, but it leaves a large, empty space on your finger. New nail growth takes a long time, so it’s best to focus on prevention.
Ways to prevent nail fungus
Do you know when we learned at school that cutting your nails is a form of hygiene? Well, that wasn’t said for nothing. Cutting them will prevent large colonies of fungus from inhabiting the nails. The right thing to do is to take daily care of your feet, such as drying them correctly, without leaving moisture behind.
And, we emphasize again, avoid tight shoes. Take a day to let your feet breathe and at the slightest sign of discomfort from your shoes, get rid of them, as your health is much more important than that. Finally, anything suspicious of a microorganism requires professional evaluation. Look for the nearest hospital and don’t leave it for later.
Furthermore, read more about foot health in Foot Soak – What it is, what it is for and contraindications
Sources: ecycle, Drauzio, Podo Safe
Sources: Bahia Extremosul, Ana Carla, Bacana, Deco, Patel Odiatry, Saúde e Beleza Mais, Dr. Cérsar Bimbi
