One of the most common foot problems is nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis. Fungus not only prevents us from showing off beautiful and well-cared feet, but also endangers the health of our feet. Knowing the causes of this type of infection will allow you to better prevent its appearance. But why do toenail fungus appear?
And why does fungus appear in the toenails?
Nail fungus spreads quickly and can eventually appear on other parts of the foot, especially the bottom and between the toes. And it is a highly contagious infection. It is common for them to appear in the form of a small white or yellowish spot on the tip of the nail, it may become thicker or more brittle, it may change or lose color, it may be softer than usual or, in cases more serious, the affected nail may end up falling off.
To prevent nail fungus from reproducing, it is necessary to tackle the problem as soon as possible. Know the most common causes that lead to the appearance of fungus in the nails.
- Wearing inappropriate footwear
One of the main causes of fungus and many foot problems is improper footwear. When we wear shoes that are too narrow, the continuous rubbing against the nails causes small wounds that can end up causing a fungal infection.
- Avoid blows to the nails
As with inappropriate footwear, blows to the nails can also end up causing fungus. We are talking about injuries as small (such as painful) such as blows against furniture or as large as those that cause more serious injuries. These can cause cracks in the nails that end up becoming infected.
- Get rid of wet feet
The fact that the feet are wet for a long time also favors the appearance of fungus both in the nails and in the rest of the feet, which is why it is very important to keep the feet dry. This humidity can be caused because after a bath you do not pass the towel all over your foot (even between your toes), but also because you get your feet wet from the rain or sweat.
To avoid all kinds of moisture, you should always dry your feet very carefully and spray them with a good amount of talcum powder, a gesture that we can also do on the shoes themselves.
Risk factors for fungus
Fungi like to live in hot, humid places where they can feed on keratin. That is why they feel very comfortable on your toenails. Reducing the risk factors that will make you more likely to suffer them is essential.
- When you suffer from other infections such as athlete’s foot, no matter what foot it is, the chances of ending up developing fungus are higher. This is because these types of infections spread quickly.
- By biting your nails, you can cause cuticle injuries that weaken them. In this circumstance, fungi are more common.
- Not getting a pedicure on a regular basis makes you more prone to fungus. It is very important to maintain certain hygiene measures and some cleaning routines to prevent infections from appearing.
- Walking barefoot in swimming pools, beaches and changing rooms makes you more susceptible to fungus.
- Wearing shoes that are too tight or shoes that do not allow the foot to breathe can cause the infection to proliferate.
- When your defenses are lower, because you are sick or you are undergoing some type of treatment, it is easier for you to contract fungus.
- Wearing false nails for too long can cause infections.
- Over the years, it is easier to catch fungus. That is why there are more elderly people with this type of problem than young people.
Treatments and home remedies against onychomycosis
- The best preventive measure against nail fungus is good foot hygiene and always trying to keep them dry.
- But, if you have already been infected, you must solve it as soon as possible. The longer you let time pass, the more the chances of the infection reaching other toenails or even fingernails increase.
- In general, all treatments require a little patience, since after being infected the nail needs some regeneration. A health professional can recommend the best solution for your case. A topical treatment that is applied to the affected nail is usually recommended. It is important to follow the expert’s instructions or, if you do not have them, read the package insert carefully, especially with regard to dosage and deadlines.
- In the event that after the estimated time the fungus does not disappear from the nails, it will be necessary to go to the dermatologist since it is possible that it is another type of problem.
