What do you think about your foot care? Do you think you take proper precautions to ensure that your health is good and effective? You know there are diverse kinds of health problems that you should consider. If you have fungal in your foot, you must ensure that you start using something that works for it.
It does not make sense if fungal is getting all over the place? It is pretty common to get a fungal infection on your toes or feet. Most fungal infections are activated by dermatophytes, an ailment-causing fungus that emerges on body surfaces like hair, skin, and nails. You can quickly come across the best antifungal creams in India and ensure that you keep your feet clean and safe.
Speaking of athlete’s foot, the most prevalent foot fungus flourishes in sweaty, damp places like the insides of athletic shoes, that are how it receives its name. However, foot fungus can develop in natural and manufactured environments as long as there is so much moisture that fungi can enhance. These include shared areas at the pools or even gyms, soil and grass, or shared items such as shoes, socks, or towels from household members experiencing an infection.
Moreover, the athlete’s foot appears like a flaking red rash on the sides or bottoms of the feet, escorted mainly by dry, itching, cracked skin, stinging, and even odour. You can even experience moist, raw skin between the toes. Though athlete’s foot is relatively easy to treat with antifungal creams or sprays, this foot fungus is somewhat transmissible and might conveniently spread to the toenails. You have to start using the correct cream or spray the moment you feel that your foot will have a fungal infection.
It is contagious
Unfortunately, an athlete’s foot is quite contagious, and the fungus can effortlessly spread to the toenails and toes, activating different infections. There are more than three million instances of toenail fungus every year. Not all toenail infections emerge from an athlete’s foot or even from a fungus; a few are activated by mould or yeast. These are much tougher to cure than fungal infections. But you don’t need to worry if you are using the cream or doing some home remedies.
You can be at higher risk for toenail fungus in case you:
- Sweat a lot from your feet
- Have athlete’s foot
- Have diabetes
- Have a nail injury
- Walk barefoot in communal showers or swimming pools
- Have a skin injury near your nails
- Have poor circulation
- Have a weakened immune system
Toenail fungus may begin as a case of the athlete’s foot, spreading to the nails. Older people are at greater risk. As you age, the circulation worsens, leading to more brittle toenails, which can crack, permitting the fungus to grow. Your nails have also had more fungus exposure as you age, growing pretty slowly.
Trim and Thin the Affected Nail
Keeping all your nails trim, buffed, and adequately clean helps prevent the fungus from spreading to your other nails. Additionally, buffing your nail can permit topical antifungals to penetrate more deeply. Ensure to wash your hands right away after touching the affected nail, mainly before touching other nails.
Maintain Your Feet Cleanliness
First, you must prepare your nails for treatment by trimming and filing them once a week. Clipping toenails is one thing that relieves pressure on the nails and assists antifungal solutions in penetrating the nail. Use conventional toenail clippers and an Emory board to keep your nails short and thin. Make sure to disinfect utensils after every time use. Maintaining trimmed, clean, and dry nails will be necessary for treating toenail fungus and averting it in the future.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil emerges from the Australian tea tree. It is an essential oil that has always been traditionally used as an antibacterial and antifungal treatment. Early research showed that it could assist with nail fungus when used topically. However, some more research is needed. If you use tea tree oil for toenail fungus, use it topically.
Clean and Safe socks
Regularly changing your pair of socks and shoes can even cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also get washed in hot water to rid the development of yeasts and fungi growing on the fabric. Some shoes may even be machine dried. Drying shoes and socks in the sun is another option when cleaning your footwear. Make sure that you wear only clean and safe socks and shoes.
Also, when you permit your feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible, it can avert fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing only breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes are formed of bamboo, copper, or even speciality fabrics, and they may help you reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in the footwear. Hence, you can be sure that your feet stay clean and safe.
Apple cider vinegar
Another home remedy that can help you treat your toenail fungus is the proper use of apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is an antifungal ingredient that can easily be mixed with water to form a foot soak. The acetic acid component that is found in it helps whiten discoloured toenails and cease the infection of other toes. Try two parts vinegar to a single part warm water and soak feet for around twenty minutes daily. The ratio may even be one part vinegar to one part water for a more potent foot soak. If the smell is too overwhelming, essential oils can also make the experience quite pleasant. Also, if you want, you can even use White vinegar
as both are equally workable.
Use Black Tea
Soaking feet in your plain tea can also be beneficial in treating toenail or foot fungus. Black tea possesses tannic acid that dries out the feet, eradicates bacteria, and helps to shut the foot’s pores to reduce sweating. Boil two quarts of water, then add five to six tea bags. Permit the tea to cool and soak feet for around thirty minutes. Use this foot soak regularly if the need be.
You indeed find that your feet are cleaner and safer.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is something that can kill the fungus that emerges on toenails. You can quickly and directly wipe hydrogen peroxide on your infected toes or toenails with a proper clean cloth or cotton swab. Hydrogen peroxide may even be used in a foot soak. It would help if you mixed ⅛ cups of hydrogen peroxide (or various capfuls) with four cups of cool water and soaked your feet for simply 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse your feet with warm water, and then pat dry. Make sure that you dry your feet properly, and they should not stay wet.
Conclusion
So, you can always go for an excellent antifungal nail cream, or you can always use the home remedies discussed in this post for your toenail infection.