The correct medical term for a fungal infection of the nails is “onychomycosis”, although people often call it “nail rot.”. Nail fungus can make your toe nails and even your fingernails look like they are rotting away when the nails turn an unsightly yellow and become unnaturally thick.

Toenail rot is far more serious than a simple cosmetic problem. It is not inherited. Nail rot is contagious. You should not ignore a nail fungus infection. Recent studies show that certain home remedies for nail rot can be very effective if the early infection is not ignored or covered up.

Toe nail infections are more common, but nail rot can also occur on the fingernails. A fungal infection of the nails is usually easy to recognize by thickened, brittle nails that lose their luster and become discolored – yellow, brown, black or even green. “Toe nail rot” is not an accurate description, even though that is what it may appear like to the toe nail fungus patient.

The fungi that cause the infection invade the skin through small cuts or separations between the nail and the nail bed. Warm, moist environments such as shower stalls are breeding grounds for nail rot infections. The fungus can be transmitted in public showers and swimming pools, old shoes with closed toes, or even home showers that are used by other people with fungal infections.

Athlete’s foot is caused by the same types of fungi from the same sources as the fungi that infect the nails, but athlete’s foot infections are limited to just the skin of the feet.

Fungal infections of the nails can spread from one nail to all of the nails, and the longer the infection grows, the harder it is to cure. If you notice a nail fungus problem early, you may be able to treat it with a natural nail rot remedy. However, because of the damage that can result from long-term infection, it is very important to seek medical help and to obtain access to prescription drugs rather than just relying on home remedies, if you are not quickly successful with a natural remedy.

A doctor can prescribe one of several medicines you can take in pill form. Prescription medications include itraconazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine. It takes many weeks of daily treatment to cure a nail fungus infection with oral medication, so be patient and complete the entire course of treatment rather than stopping just because your nails look better. Improved nail appearance does not mean the infection is completely eliminated. The medicine must be taken long enough to kill all of the fungus, or the nail rot “cure” will not be permanent.

Oral prescription treatments for nail fungus can have serious side effects, so be sure to discuss your options completely with your doctor before you agree on a course of treatment. Other medical treatments that your doctor might recommend include daily use of an antifungal nail lacquer (ciclopirox), or a topical cream with an active ingredient such as econazole nitrate. An untreated case of nail fungus could lead to surgery to remove the badly damaged nails.

After you have successfully treated your toenail rot, be sure to take precautions against re-exposure to the infection. If you want more information about toenail rot and its treatment, there are a number of informative articles at the Med News You Can Use Nail Fungus Articles Archive.

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