Discolored nails, white spots, thickened nails and yellow nails are all telltale signs of nail fungus. I would estimate that at least 10% of the adult population has a foot fungus problem.
Seniors and those with diabetes are subject to dramatically higher rates of infection. Simply put, if your nails are not thin and clear, there is a high likelihood you have some degree of fungal infection.
Although fungus of the nails starts out quite benign, over time the nails will continue to thicken and turn varying shades of yellow.
Eventually, due to the thickening nail(s) wearing shoes will become uncomfortable and typically the nail will become so difficult to cut that the fungus sufferer will seek out the aid of a podiatrist.
There is no question that early identification and treatment of nail fungus will make this problem easier to deal with. A fully involved nail will take with the aid of treatment about one year to fully grow out. If proper care and dedicated hygiene habits are adopted then very good results are possible.
Athlete's foot occurs in two forms acute and chronic. In the acute stage the infected foot will exhibit blisters that itch and or weep.
The main identifying feature of chronic athlete's foot is dry and flaky looking skin, the nails are almost always involved and the itching that was present with the acute stage is no longer present. No more itchy feet does not mean that the athlete's foot condition has improved. It has only changed form from the acute stage to the chronic stage. In this chronic stage the nails become deeply infected.
I want to stress that most dry flaky skin on the foot is not simply dry, flaky skin, it is an athlete's foot infection. I know this will come as a big surprise to many of the women reading this article who routinely moisturize their feet in an attempt to cosmetically make them look less dry.
The problem isn't moisture it's fungus and it needs to be taken care of immediately before it spreads to your long sought after beautiful toe and fingernails.
A few words about the cause of athletes foot and fungus nails. The organism responsible is fungus, which is a mold. Think of a piece of bread in a dark closet, it grows mold, this similarly happens to your feet and nails.
By wearing shoes we set up an environment which is dark and damp. This is the perfect environment for mold growth. The two most common ways to get a nail fungus infection is either by injuring the nail which then allows the fungus to invade the wound site or to acquire it through pedicures and manicures.
Fungus can be introduced by unclean nail implements and contact surface areas. Fungus survives all around us; it is commonly found in areas that are damp or moist such as: public locker rooms or public/private bath and shower areas, shoes and socks.
There are formulas that can successfully penetrating deep into the nail matrix where the birth of new nails begin. It is best to ask your doctor which would be best for your condition.
Author Resource:-
Ignacio Lopez has worked as a podiatrist and foot surgeon for the past 14 years and written hundreds of articles about various foot conditions including plantar fasciitis.
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