nail fungi Archives - Healthhype

9 Tips for Toe Fungus Treatment and Prevention

Dr. Chris — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:41:45 +0000

Be it on the toe, the toenail or between the toes, a fungal infection is common and fairly difficult to cure. The problem with toe fungus is that it tends to recur – once you have it the chances are pretty good that you will get it again. It is commonly thought to be a problem with hygiene but even if you are obsessive about your personal hygiene, a fungal infection of the toes can still occur. But there is no need to live with it. A toe fungus is easily treated and somewhat preventable. There is just no guarantee that it will not recur again within weeks, months or even years later. Why does fungus prefer the toes? Toe fungus is part of a fungal infection of the feet. Medically it is known as tinea pedis but most of us refer to it as athlete’s foot. The web of the toes and toenails are commonly affected areas as compared to other parts of the feet. Athlete’s foot is caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that only infects the outer layers of the skin. The fungi have special enzymes that can “dissolve” the tough protein of the outer skin [...]

The post 9 Tips for Toe Fungus Treatment and Prevention appeared first on Healthhype.

5 Fungi That Grow On Your Skin, Hair And Nails

Dr. Chris — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 23:56:16 +0000

Fungal infections of the outer surface of the body is not uncommon in the world. It has been estimated that 70% of the world’s population will suffer with a fungal infection of the skin at some point in life. The vast majority of cases are not serious. It may be persistent or recurrent but a fungal infection of the skin rarely leads to any serious complications. However, these fungal infections can still be quite distressing for a person – apart from the symptoms like itching which may be a bother, it can also cause unsightly skin rashes that can prove to be embarrassing. Why do we get fungal infections? Fungi live on and even in our body, domestic animals and the soil among other places. Some people may never develop a fungal infection of the skin and despite fungi being prevalent in the environment a skin infection is unlikely to occur unless the ideal conditions exist. A break in the skin, dampness or dryness of the skin, close contact with a person who is infected and the use of public amenities are some of the main risk factors for developing a fungal infection of the skin. These conditions are not [...]

The post 5 Fungi That Grow On Your Skin, Hair And Nails appeared first on Healthhype.

Acrylic Nails Health Problems – Nail Fungi

Dr. Greg — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:29:09 +0000

What are Acrylic Nails? Acrylic nails are a clear heat sensitive plastic often referred to as false nails. They cover most of the nail plate (refer to parts of the nail) and are fairly hardy and resistant to different environmental conditions. The term acrylic nails is now widely used to describe all manner of false nails including fiber, silk and gel nails. It may be applied as a pre-molded film or more commonly as a liquid mixture that can be shaped once it dries. Primarily used as a beauty accessory, acrylic nails also provide additional nail length and mask brittle and discolored nails. Once fitted, the false nail provides a new surface for buffing and painting. Can Acrylic Nails Damage my Natural Nail? If fitted properly, acrylic nails are usually not problematic. However long term use and poorly fitted nails can seriously damage the nail bed and hamper natural nail growth. The most common problem associated with acrylic nails is a fungal infection that may develop between the false and natural nail (ochynomycosis). Long term use of acrylic nails can also hamper natural nail growth resulting in severely deformed finger nails. This may cause a number of defects including fingernail [...]

The post Acrylic Nails Health Problems – Nail Fungi appeared first on Healthhype.