Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is more prevalent than most of us know. It’s not a cosmetic problem—this is a problem that must be addressed. Misconceptions about toenail fungus cause people to overlook symptoms, make inefficient and poor choices in terms of treatment. Let’s debunk six misconceptions about toenail fungus to make it easier for you.
1. Toenail Fungus Is Only Cosmetic
Toenail fungus is a matter of looks, many believe, but it can have a lot more repercussions. As unsightly, thick toenails, such toenails may appear to have the biggest problem, but untreated fungal infection can cause a lot of misery, a lot of agony, and even secondary infection. In extreme cases, infection can extend to surrounding tissue, creating such maladies such as athlete’s foot.
Without proper care, extreme cases could necessitate surgical toenail extraction. Having proper care and early care keeps such complications at bay.
2. Poor Hygiene is the Exclusive Cause of Toenail Fungus
We're tempted to believe fungal infection occurs through poor hygiene, but not necessarily. Toenail fungus is a fungal organism that lives in warm, moist environments. Having poor hygiene can make you a target, but it’s not one of many factors.
The Role of Hygiene in Toenail Fungus
Good care for your feet keeps infection at bay, but can’t totally rid your toenails of infection. Keeping your feet regularly cleaned and dried, trimming your toenails, and wearing new socks keeps your feet healthy. Yet even with perfect care, infection can occur.
Other Common Risk Factors
Age, genetics, and shared wet environments (such as a locker room or public showers) have a lot to do with fungal infection. Wearing tight shoes or trauma to toenail can make one susceptible, too.
3. Over-the-Counter Remedies Don't Work
Over-the-counter (OTC) products for toenail fungal infection are convenient and easy to access without a prescription. They are affordable and come in various forms, such as creams and sprays, making them versatile and practical. Many OTC treatments are effective when used consistently, providing a viable solution for mild to moderate infections. They serve as an excellent first line of defense, potentially preventing the need for more expensive prescription treatments and empowering individuals to manage their health proactively.
4. Toenail Fungus Goes Away Naturally
Toenail infection doesn't go away with no care at all. Letting it sit and fester can make it worse over a period of time. Nail fungus could progress if left on its own.
What begins with minor discoloration can become thick, brittle toenails painful to walk and painful to clip. In extreme cases, infection can slow toenail growth and extend to surrounding toenails.
Prompt intervention keeps longterm toenail and surrounding tissue damage at bay. Toenail infection removed early in its development raises success odds and reduces healing time.
5. You Can Get Toenail Fungus Once, but Not Twice
Once infection sets in, don’t rely on your immune system remembering and not allowing a repeat infection to occur. Unless preventive care is taken, it can and will.
Why It Keeps Returning
Lack of proper care, failure to remove fungi in shoes and off of surfaces, and re-entry into contaminated environments can cause re-infestation. As with colds, fungal infection comes and goes with ease when proper care isn’t taken.
How to Stop It
To discourage reoccurrence, disinfect your shoes, use antifungus sprays in your shoes and on your feet, and don’t go bare in shared environments. Correct care and breathable socks will make a big impact, too.
6. Shoes Protect from Toenail Fungus
The myth is out which states shoes keep your feet safe from fungi. In reality, improper shoes can make it worse.
How Shoes Can Worsen
Shoes with non-porous materials trap sweat and form warm, moist environments fungi enjoy. Shoes that fit too closely can cause trauma to your nails, opening them to infection, too.
The Best Footwear
Use breathable materials, such as mesh or leather, in your shoes to discourage moisture collection. Ensure proper fit to spare your nails unnecessary strain. Changing pairs and allowing shoes to dry between use will discourage fungal infection, too.
Conclusion
Toenail fungus isn’t an embarrassing disease, but a medical one with consequences that can worsen with inattention. Misconceptions about its cause, its remedy, and its reoccurrence make many unprepared for effective care when it occurs. By debunking these misconceptions and taking preventive care, your chance of not getting fungal infection, and effectively treating it, will rise. Last words, remember that by acting early, a suitable choice of OTC products could take care of the problem with ease.