futspa.com - Natural Foot and Skin Care Products

Toenail Fungus 101

• What is Toenail Fungus?
• How do I treat toe nail fungus?
• Who gets it?
• How do I use toe nail drops?
• How do I avoid it?

What is Toenail Fungus?

It is a living organism that thrives in dark, damp environments such as under and around nails. Fungal infections are very common on both fingernail and toenails. Toenails are more likely to be affected by fungus since it is attracted to a dark and damp environment which is more common on the foot than on the hand. In more severe conditions, affected nails can have a yellowish or brownish discoloration. They may thicken or become brittle over time, and may even shed. Sometimes the nails have crumbling edges. It can be unsightly, disfiguring, embarrassing, and at times, painful.

The nail itself provides a protective covering that allows the fungus to grow underneath. An accumulation of keratinous debris is usually found beneath the free edge of the infected nail.

Other names for toenail fungus are: onychomycosis of the nail plate, and tinea of the nails.

Who gets Toenail Fungus?

Some people are more susceptible than others, and contract it with mild to severe symptoms. Factors that permit this disease include:

• The abnormal pH level of the skin
• trauma to the nail
• poor hygiene of the foot
• susceptibility (such as decreased immunity) of the person who has contact with the fungus.

Some estimates are that over 10% of the North American population have fungus of the toenails, and it is one of the most common ailments that foot specialists attend to.

How do I avoid Toenail Fungus?

Prevention is the best cure!

Toenail and athlete's foot fungi like to grow in warm, moist areas, which include public areas such as spas, swimming pools, locker rooms, or showers. For short periods of time the it can live in warm puddles on tile floors, awaiting someone to step in and pick up the spores. If you can wear sandals, water shoes, or swimming booties they would help in keeping your feet from touching the floor directly. Some public swimming pool areas have small wade-through pools which help to keep the toenail and athlete's foot fungi in check. After your session at the pool or other public area, wash your feet thoroughly and dry them well.

Pure 100% cotton, wool, or silk socks are the best to wear because they absorb moisture from your feet (from sweating) and provide good ventilation. When you do get your socks damp, it is a good idea to take them off and dry your feet before putting on a fresh pair of clean, dry, cotton socks.

Synthetic socks such as nylon are not advised because they don't allow the moisture to pass through away from your skin.

The best shoes to wear are those that allow plenty of air and moisture exchange. Look for air-breather holes on the sides, natural materials (plastic shoes do not allow air and moisture to pass through), and a comfortable fit. If you have a fungal condition already, sprinkle into your shoes a good anti-bacterial product such as futspa Foot Powder.

Wearing nail polish is considered to be not a good idea as the polish may encourage fungal growth. The fungus is sealed beneath the toe nails in a dark, moist, warm environment that it loves to grow in. We have heard of a report that a woman couldn't get cured until after she removed her polish.

Of course, if you know of someone with toenail fungus or any communicable disease for that matter, sharing of towels, washcloths, shoes, or other personal items should definitely be avoided.

Washing and thoroughly drying your feet really helps. Because toenail fungi likes warm, damp environments, if you keep your feet dry, the fungus will find it hard to survive. When drying your feet, use a towel vigorously to remove dead skin and improve circulation.

Fungus and bacteria alike flourish in damp environments, so try to keep your feet as dry as possible. To vigorously fight the toenail fungus, take your socks off and go without them as often as you can. Also, it is important to keep your feet and toenails very clean on a daily basis. Use a nail brush to scrub away dirt, dead fungus and nail tissue, paying particular attention to underneath the toenails. Keeping your toenails cut as short as comfortably possible will help keep the fungus in check.

How do I treat toenail fungus? Are there natural treatments?

Prevention is the best cure. Be aware!

For some people it can be difficult finding natural treatments to fight the embarrassment, disfigurement and the physical pain of toenail fungus, There are some internal medications available as prescriptions such as itraconazole (Sporonox), fluconazole (Diflucan), griseofulvin (Fulvicin), and terfinabine (Lamisil), but they have been shown to sometimes have side effects such as upset stomach, headaches, and liver damage. Read more at "In the News". Mixing these oral medications with some other drugs can be extremely dangerous. Really! They are very expensive as well, some of them can cost over $900 for just the treatment medications. There is a powerful reason why they are available by prescription only.

There have been recent studies that shows there is only about a 35% - 50% complete treatment rate after 72 steady weeks of using Lamisil or Sporanox!

Try an alternative natural product. futspa Nail Drops are natural, inexpensive, safe and easy to use, and effective.

This special futspa toenail fungus solution contains a natural essential oil synergy of tea tree, lavender, and thyme. Tea tree oil is a potent natural antiseptic and fungicide that will help fight your fungus. We are one of the very few companies who tell you the full ingredients.

How do I use futspa Toenail Drops?

Only one or two drops twice a day at the growing base of the nail helps to restore healthy feet. The handy small bottle has a built in dropper that is easy to use, and the large bottle comes complete with a free dropper bottle.

It is important to realize that any toenail fungal treatment is dependent on continual daily use until the infected tissue is eradicated, and then still more time until complete new toenails are grown. When it appears that the fungus has been beaten, you must continue using futspa Nail Drops (or any other treatments) until new nails are in place.

These healthy and wise living tips/methods mentioned above, combined with futspa Toenail Drops will help eradicate the most persistent fungi on your toenails or fingernails.