photo credit: ohdarling
Onychomycosis or more popularly known as fingernail fungus, begins when fungi enters the nail bed through a skin opening like a common scratch or wound. It thrives and grows in the moist area in between the nail and the skin, creating a yellowish or brownish discoloration of the nail bed eventually breaking the nails and may finally break and fall off. Here are a couple suggestions for treatment that will help cure finger nail fungus.

Fingernail fungi loves dark, warm and moist areas that’s why it is very important to keep your nails dry at all times. It’s most difficult when you bathe because you have to keep your hands dry at all times, but try to use cotton-flocked rubber gloves or a loose plastic bag and give it enough air for circulation so your hands wont sweat. If you are going wash the dishes, the laundry or any other activity that will make you contact your fingers with water, wear cotton-flocked rubber gloves or a loose fitting plastic bag. The objective here is to make sure that the nail bed is dry at all times.

Prevention
If you wear nail polish or artificial nails, for treatment purposes you have to take it off. Since fingernail fungi loves dark areas, exposing your nails to light will hasten the healing process. So if you have found out that you have fingernail fungus, remove your nail polish and artificial nails until it’s cured.

Home Remedies
Some home remedies to try include a fifty-fifty mixture of apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, and soak the hands for 45 minutes for several days. Try soaking your hands for a minute with a capful of Clorox bleach dissolved in a glass of water for several days and check if the fungus is gone.

Over The Counter Treatments
There are several over the counter topical medications found in every local pharmacy. The FDA has been regulating topical creams that are being used so it’s better to see a doctor and get a prescription for a much stronger formulation of fingernail fungus topical cream treatment. Some popular brands include “Naftin” and “Zetz Clear.”

There are a couple of medications available that you can take orally but, Leucatin and Lamisin are 2 oral medication brands that have proven its efficacy for treatment of such a condition. But for Lamisin, this requires a prescription so go have you fingernail fungus condition checked out first.

When to Seek Medical Help
Now you have noticed that your nails have changed from a yellowish tint to a green-brownish hue and its crumbling on the edges, do take it off. Painful as it may sound, it’s the last resort since the fungus has grabbed a hold; your nails have elevated a bit and have become sore and painful. But taking the nails off doesn’t mean that it is cured. This means that you condition has worsened and you most definitely need to seek medical help to get your fingernail fungus cured.