Natural Remedies Heal Nail Fungus and Discolored Nails Safely

The medical term for nail fungus is onychomycosis. Despite the commonly used term fungal nails, onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail. The prevalence in America is about two to three percent, but some have reported it as high as thirteen percent. Nail fungus affects men twice as often as it affects women. The prevalence among elderly individuals and diabetics is twenty five percent. In the 1800s, fungal nails were very rare.
The increased prevalence is linked to the increased exposure to fungus through the use of showering facilities in gyms, the use of hot tubs, saunas and public pool areas. There is an increase in occlusive footwear, an increase in sporting activities, an increase in diabetes and increase in age of the general population. The risk factors for developing nail fungus are increasing age, male gender, nail trauma, sweaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygeine, foot fungus and a compromised immune system.
Athlete's tend to have a higher rate of fungus infection than non-athletes. The moisture in the shoe combined with repeated nail trauma increases the chance of infection. Hikers, runners, backpackers, soccer, basketball and tennis players, athletes wearing loose fitting shoes that allow jamming of the nails against the shoe and any individual wearing shoes that toe tight are at high risk.
One of the most important steps in preventing nail infections is to keep nails well trimmed, but not over trimming them. Cutting nail too short can cause small cuts and tears, which could allow fungal organisms to penetrate your nail bed. To prevent toenail fungal infections, keep your feet as dry and clean as possible at all times. Change socks and shoes frequently. If you have athlete's foot, treat it regularly. Do not share nail clippers with anyone else, as it is possible to transmit the fungus.
Treating nail fungus is very difficult. If you have fungal nails that cause pressure, pain or infection, consider talking to your doctor about prescription medications or nail removal. Make sure you take precautions to prevent re-infection and take multiple approaches to eradicate the problem. If your fungal nails are only unsightly and don't cause any discomfort, try a weekly application of an over the counter topical along with methods to prevent re-infection.
There are a number of treatments for nail fungus. The most aggressive and effective way to treat the fungus is with oral anti-fungal medications. The most commonly used medications are Itraconazole and Terbinafine. Both medicines can be quite expensive as they need to be taken once daily for three months. With both medications there is a long list of benign side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, headache, taste disturbances and dizziness.
There are other options besides oral anti-fungal medications. The most effective topical medication is Ciclopirox lacquer. This medication is only available by prescription and is also quite expensive. A few other prescription medications help decrease the thickness of the fungal nails. Unfortunately, they are not very effective. Side effects include burning and redness around the nail.
There are many home remedies and over the counter products that you can purchase. Some home remedies include bleach, tea tree oil, grapeseed extract, and Vics VapoRub. With any home remedy or non-prescription topical, you must understand that the effectiveness of the treatment is fairly low, less than ten percent. If you do try one of these therapies, make sure to use it every day. In general, these treatments are considered very safe.
Combination therapy can help increase the effectiveness of the treatment. If you choose to take an oral medication, make sure you use a topical anti-fungal agent. Nail removal is also an option. Once the nail is removed, the topicals can reach the nail bed and they become more effective. Nails will grow back in over a period of eight to ten months. Permanent nail removal is reserved for those with chronic ingrown nails, ulceration under the nails or pain from the fungal nails.
Natural nail fungus remedy represents a revolutionary advancement in the fight against nail fungus. Its therapeutic agents deliver a pronounced healing effect against infected nails. It combines organic homeopathic medicines to combat nail fungus and key botanicals to sooth damaged skin tissue. The lipophilic formula absorbs deep into skin tissue, where it works to effectively treat nail fungus and promote healthy skin tissue. To learn more, please go to http://www.forcesofnatureusa.com.