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Posts Tagged ‘infection prevention’

Fungus Spread and How to Treat It

Overview

Finger nails are one of the first things a person sees when you extend your hand for a hand shake.  It can be an indication of a person’s overall health and how they feel about themselves.  Actually this holds true for any gentleman in a high powered business situation.  The appearance of a nail infection can present someone in a negative light. Nail fungus is contagious to yourself and others and can be cured.

Causes

Fungus as with other types of contagions live microscopically on our skin without any thought of ours.  Routine cleaning of the nail and skin surfaces is not successful when it comes to this type of infection.  Fungus is always around the nail.  As with any other infection prevention is the best form of treatment.  Anyone’s immune system under attack, that is not up to par, is more likely to become ill.  Therefore it is the best policy to do whatever is necessary to achieve this end.  There are those who feel that the established theory, that it is possible to acquire such a infection with bare feet in public places not true.  Fungus is a contagious infection and easy to acquire.  Why a multitude of people can be exposed to the same thing at the same time and not all be infected with the fungus is a question not able to be answered.  Fungus is found in a multitude of simple areas, such as garden soil and the air.  More research will have to be done to answer the host of questions this presents.

Treatment

As previously stated a good immune system can be your best friend. There are many factors that can put your immune system in jeopardy.  Stress is the number one factor, followed closely by the strain of chronic illness and poor nutrition as a follow up.  Surprisingly even the most obese person can be malnourished.  A good diet, balanced and high in antioxidants, will help prevent this type and any other type of infection.  An adequate intake of vitamin C is essential for warding off disease.  Diet is an important part of prevention as a fungus is difficult to treat and cure.  Medications are available, although they can be successful, treatment may be stretched over a long period of time.

Remedies

There are some home-made folk treatments that some people will swear by and others will say are a myth.  The use of vinegar and water soaks is one.  Another is the application of Vicks VapoRub on the affected nails.

Symptoms

Since there is no rhyme or reason as to why you may develop such an infection it is best that you know how to identify it if you are one of the unfortunate ones.  Your nail will exhibit a small yellow or red dot at its tip.  This will be followed by the change of the appearance of the nail.  It will thicken with the deposit of the fungus debris under it.  It will change in shape, become opaque and dull in color, and have a flakey and ragged appearance.