Prevent and treat nail fungus or fungal nail

What is a nail fungus or fungal nail?

Nail fungus is a thin, swollen, crumbling, and yellow-colored nail that may be affected by the candida fungus or the typical toe fungus: dermatophytes.

Many therefore think that nail fungus is synonymous with ‘fungal nail’. But a nail fungus is not always infected by a fungal infection.

Thickened nail

The cause of a nail fungus or fungal nail

Dermatophytes is a fungus that can cause a superficial infection of the skin or nail. You can contract this fungus in your nail if:

• The skin or nail is moist for a long time (such as with sweaty feet)
• Through minor injuries
• Through close contact with other people
• Through poor hygiene

Candida yeast lives in everyone’s intestines and on healthy skin. In the right circumstances, this yeast can thrive and develop into a fungus. The fungus weakens the immune system and promotes a candida infection. Especially in combination with:

• Medications (antibiotics)
• A reduced resistance (diabetes, burn-out, chemotherapy)
• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis)
• Due to trauma or irritation (blow or pressure on the nail or nail biting)
• Infections
• Medication
• How to recognize a nail fungus The difference between a nail fungus and healthy nails is often easy to recognize. This is often seen in a thickened nail that is discolored (yellow/brownish) and brittle. The latter often leads to crumbling of the nail, which leads to a painful inflammation, which in turn can lead to loose skin or a loosening nail. Treating nail fungus Nail fungus is often persistent, if you want to treat it, you must prepare yourself for a long process. Once started, you should not interrupt the treatment, as this will prolong the healing process. In many cases, a treatment takes 8 weeks to a year before your nails are healthy again. Treating the top nail plate If the fungus is not yet advanced, you can suffice with a treatment of the top nail plate. This is only possible if the fungus is only superficial. You can do this with an ointment, spray, anti-fungal nail polish or a laser treatment
  • An antifungal ointment can only treat the top nail plate and is therefore only useful for a beginning nail fungus.
  • An antifungal nail polish works in the same way as an ointment, but you can apply it more specifically.
  • Extra tip: File away the top layer of the nail every week. The ointment or nail polish can penetrate deeper into the nail.
  • Thymol (thyme extract) has an antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and antifungal effect. A cotton ball with, for example, Vicks Vaporub can help remove a beginning fungal nail, but don’t expect too much from it.
  • Tea tree oil, thanks to its disinfecting properties.
  • Laser treatment, the heat during the laser treatment makes the fungi harmless.

Pills against fungal nail

One of the fastest ways to get rid of your nail fungus is to visit the doctor so that they can prescribe a course of pills. This is the most effective way to treat an advanced nail fungus.

Disadvantages of a course of pills

This can cause side effects, which is why these medicines are only available on prescription and are often used as a last resort

Have you completed a course of treatment for fungal nail? Then have your feet checked by a podiatrist or medical specialist to see if the infection has really been resolved

Are fungal nails contagious?

Yes, a fungal nail is contagious: you can get it from someone else and you can infect someone else with it.

This is because the fungus is also in the nail or skin. These can release flakes that spread via the floor of a sports or shower room, such as that of a swimming pool.

How do you prevent nail fungus?

Nail fungus with fungal infection cannot heal on its own. So “prevention is better than cure”.

• Keep your feet dry at all times! Moisture and warmth form a breeding ground for fungi.
• Do you often suffer from sweaty feet? Then use PediSpray® antiperspirant
• Disinfect your shoes with PediFris® shoe powder
• Choose suitable footwear (not constricting) and alternate frequently.
• Wear clean cotton socks every day.
• Wear slippers in swimming pools or saunas and avoid damp places as much as possible
• Walk barefoot as much as possible so that your skin can breathe.
• Use a pH-neutral soap and wash your feet well.
• Keep your nails short.
• Treat deformed or thickened nails with pumice stone or a file.
• Disinfect a nail clipper before and after use

Maintaining healthy nails

Maintain your feet regularly and have them inspected and treated by a (medical) podiatrist. This prevents many foot problems or nips them in the bud in time.

Bare feet

Try to walk barefoot as much as possible. Feet that can air out a lot are less susceptible to fungi and bacteria. This also prevents unpleasant odors.

Remember to wear slippers in public areas so that you do not have direct contact with the floor

Sweaty feet

Sweaty feet play an important role in the development of fungal nail

gel or fungal nail prevent and treat