Toenail fungus infection is also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium. It is a common nail infection that affects millions of people in the US alone. This type of infection may develop from different organisms like fungus, molds, and yeasts. The infection often appears after fungus interacts with a cracked nail or skin that surrounds the infected nail. This functions as the entry point for these organisms.
Symptoms
Nails that are infected with toenail fungus are often thickened, distorted in shape, with ragged edges, crumbly, brittle, dark yellow, and dull. It is also possible to find scaling underneath the infected nail, or yellow or white streaking, or perhaps having yellow spots found at the bottom of the nail. It is also possible for the infected nail to lift off the nail bed. Nail fungus infections may result in pain when left untreated, and the nail may even give off a foul odor. Dermatophytids are fungus-free skin lesions that are linked to fungal infections.
Risk Factors
Anyone can be infected with nail fungus, but this infection is more prevalent among the old people compared to the young and the men compared to the women. They often affect toenails than fingernails as well. There are also certain factors that contribute to being infected with toenail fungus infection. These include circulation problems, heavy sweating, family history of fungal infections, using artificial nails, being in a constantly humid and moist environment like a public swimming pool, locker room, and shower room, wearing shoes and socks that are without ventilation, having previous injury on the nail and skin, wearing tight footwear, and having slow-growing nails.
Diagnosis
For a proper diagnosis of toenail fungus infection, the doctor often examines the debris found underneath the nail by scraping it and using it as a specimen for tests like a fungal culture. This will determine the type of fungus that causes the infection. Doctors have to be careful in diagnosing fungal infections because they may have similar symptoms as other conditions like contact dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, yellow nail syndrome, nail bed tumor, trauma, and lichen planus.
Treatment
Treating toenail fungal infections may take time, it requires effort. Nail fungus treatment can be expensive too. You can choose from antifungal pills, topical treatments, and alternative medications. There are also over-the-counter solutions that you can choose from. These are terbinafine (Lamisil), fluconazole (Diflucan), and itraconazole (Sporanox). Treatment usually takes four months to complete. That’s the time when the infected nail is replaced by an uninfected one. In some cases, the doctor recommends a whole nail removal.
Some home remedies showed promising potential in treating toenail fungus. Examples of these include oregano oil, Vicks VapoRub, snakeroot extract, and others.
4Cinnamon Leaf Oil
One of the major home remedies for toenail fungus is cinnamon leaf oil. Cinnamon oil, in general, comes from a tree that has two botanical names: Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum vervun. These names refer to a tree of the name “True Cinnamon.” The cinnamon essential oil may be derived from the tree’s outer bark and its leaves.
It is known as the world’s oldest and most highly valued spice. It has been continuously used traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Cinnamon oil is popular in aromatherapy applications, and it is known to diminish feelings of faintness, depression, and exhaustion. It is also intended to stimulate libido as well as strengthen one’s immunity.
Cinnamon leaf oil specifically or cinnamon oil diluted in water may be used to treat nail fungal infections and other conditions like athlete’s foot.
