In most cases, toenails that turn white or yellow indicate a fungal nail. The cause is a fungal infection, which causes the nail to become thickened and crumbly. It is a common problem and many people struggle with unsightly and sometimes painful toes. Good treatment is important to avoid continuous problems and deterioration. What can you do about deteriorating nails and how can you treat fungal nails?

Treat fungal nail

• Our footwear and poor maintenance cause nail fungus
• How can you get a fungal nail?
• How do you recognize it?
• Fungi grow at favorable acidity levels
• What do doctors prescribe for treating nail fungus?
• Home remedy to reduce the risk of fungal nails
• Further measures

Our footwear and poor maintenance cause nail fungus

Having a fungal nail does not look nice, it hurts a little, but you can live with it. It is a fungal infection of one or more nails. It can occur on the hands, but mainly occurs on the feet. This condition arose from the moment people started wearing footwear in ancient times. Yet few people know that fungal nails are caused by fungi. Of all people in the Netherlands, probably 7% have a fungal nail, with the risk of the fungal infection increasing as the person gets older.

How can you get a fungal nail?

If you have a healthy body and therefore healthy skin and nails, the micro climate is favorable, meaning that fungi can cause virtually no damage. If health deteriorates, which often applies after the age of forty, the risk of mold increases. If we clean and dry less thoroughly, the nails may grow poorly and the nails will remain moist. Optimal conditions for the formation of fungi. If you also visit swimming pools, saunas and other places where many people exercise and shower, the risk of a fungal infection increases.

How do you recognize it?

If a nail is turning white or yellow, then there is clearly something wrong. You most likely suffer from a fungal infection. If the infection also progresses into the nail, the color may become yellow-brown, and the nail may become thicker and crumbly. It usually starts with the big toe, after which the infection spreads to other toenails. The fungal infection can also cause athlete’s foot, which manifests itself in small painful cracks between the toes.

Fungi grow at favorable acidity levels

In general, the body has an acidity of 5 to 6 pH. If health declines, the pH value can become out of balance in various places on the skin, allowing fungi to gain the upper hand. We wash ourselves a lot with soap, where the acidity is around a pH value of 8, while pH neutral is a pH value of 7. The more acidic, the less chance of mold formation. Normally, an ordinary body offers sufficient standard protection through a favorable acidity level. Due to soap and reduced resistance, the acidity can become unbalanced, causing fungi to take over, with all the consequences that entails.

What do doctors prescribe for treating nail fungus?

An advanced fungal infection resulting in a fungal nail means that the fungal infection has penetrated deeply. For this purpose, internal and external medications are prescribed by the treating physician. You should take internal medications such as itraconazole and fluconazole for three to six months. In addition, you should usually apply anti-fungal ointment or urea ointment (20-40%) to the nail. It is important that the shoes and socks are also treated with a fungicidal sprinkle or talcum powder.

Home remedy to reduce the risk of fungal nails

If you see the color of your nail change from pink to white or yellowish, it is time for you to take action. An antifungal ointment cannot penetrate all holes and cracks. One method to combat the fungal infection is by improving the acidity of your toes. You can of course use this method at any stage of the fungal infection. Take your own natural acetic acid normally found in your kitchen and pour a generous dash of it into a bowl. Add clean water. Place your toes and feet in the solution. You can do this for a few minutes a day. Acetic acid has an acidity with a pH value of 2 and in a water solution it can tackle fungi present on the feet. In combination with the aforementioned medical treatment and the acid bath, the fungi can be quickly eliminated.

Further measures

There are a number of factors that can cause a fungal infection. Here are some steps to reduce the chance of a fungal infection:

• always dry the feet thoroughly, including between the toes;
• reduce sweltering conditions by avoiding nylons, plastic socks and shoes;
• wear open footwear so that moisture and sweat can be removed;
• limit soap use because it deteriorates the pH value;
• if you come into contact with other people – such as in washing facilities or swimming pools – it is better to wear slippers.

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