Causes of Nail Fungus

What Causes Nail Fungus

The average human body is host to a variety of microorganisms, including fungi, which usually live quite happily on the skin without doing any harm. However, some of these may multiply rapidly to form infections, such as fungal nail infections. This can happen incedentally or be caused by something quite insignificant such as a stubbed toe. The microorganisms responsible for fungal nail infections include:

• Dermatophytes, this is the most common cause, also responsible for athlete’s foot 
• Yeasts (like Candida, which is responsible for thrush)
• Moulds in rare cases
• Other fungal organisms

Over 90% of fungal nail infections are caused by the same fungus that is responsible for athlete’s foot. 

Spread of Infection

Quite often a fungal nail infection develops because a fungal infection of the skin, like athlete’s foot, isn’t treated early enough so the fungi spread into the nails. Once in the nails, the infection is much harder to treat than if it’s on the skin, because the fungi can penetrate the lower levels of the nails where it’s harder for treatments to reach.

The infection can also spread to other nails or from person to person, e.g. by using shared towels or from communal bathing areas. It is also advisable to avoid walking barefoot around the house especially on carpeted areas. So it's really important to treat a fungal nail infection as soon as you realise you have it. For the most though the infections takes hold after they have realised that anything is wrong.

Nail Fungus can be treated by prescription and non prescription treatment - the longer you leave the condition the worse it will become. A fungal nail infection will simply not go away of its own accord.

Before researching the available treatments it is highly advisable to understand exactly what you are introducing to your body.

Prescription only treatments such as Lamisil are highly effective but can also lead to other health problems.

Some natural fungus cures and topical solutions promise much but fail to deliver effective treatment.

Home remedies such as the vinegar nail fungus cure can be effective but if used when the first initial signs of the fungus start to appear.

To discover which anti fungal remedies give you best chance of success in ridding your nails of the condition click here