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Nail fungus is a common problem that often starts out as athlete’s foot and progresses into a chronic fungal infection causing nails to discolor and become thick. The infection is caused by a growth of organisms called Tinea Unguium or Onychomycosis under the nail. The area under the nail remains dark and often damp creating a perfect place for this fungus to grow.
Since this area creates such a perfect place to grow fungus it is difficult to cure once it gets started. The thick darkening nails with a pale flakey substance under them are tell tale signs that a fungus is growing under the nail. Fungus can cause nails to yellow and even become crumbly and flake apart as well as causing them to grow to a thickness that is nearly impossible to cut with normal nail clippers.
The odor from this fungus is unpleasant and can linger in your socks and shoes. Once fungus is under one nail it takes only a matter of time for all of your nails to catch this infection. Fungus spreads from one nail to another and from one person to another with relative ease.
Removing this starts by cutting back the area that the fungus is growing underneath and cleaning it thoroughly. This may be difficult as the flaky substance is not as easy to remove as it might at first appear. This is also a treatment that takes time and patience. It can take a year to get a toenail to grow back so if you have had to cut it back very far to remove the fungus from underneath it can take time to get the nail back to full length.
Removing the nail alone won’t cure the fungal infection. Taking antifungal supplements daily for 3 months can help to keep the fungus from coming back. There are medications available with a prescription as well as natural supplements available over-the-counter.
Once you have done the initial clean you need to brush it with undecylenic acid. This is an organic fatty acid that is derived from castor oil by cracking it under pressure. Undecylenic acid is used in anti-dandruff shampoos, anti-microbial powder and in perfumes. This is a natural fungicide that can be used to treat the itching and burning that you can experience with athlete’s foot as well as curing the fungal infections that can appear under the nail.
Some people treat fungal infections by soaking their feet in bleach diluted with water or treating with a combination of peroxide and vinegar. These treatments can work but they take vigilance and patience as none of these will work instantly.
Once nail fungus starts it is difficult to cure. Treating it at the very first symptom is your best bet for fast removal. Curing it after nail fungus has been around for a long period of time can be frustrating
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