Nail Fungus

There is fungus among us

Fungal infections in the nail begin as white, yellow or light green spots under the tip of the fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus penetrates deeper below the nail plate, the entire nail may begin to crumble, discolor or thicken. Not only is this unsightly and embarrassing — but it can also be painful.

Symptoms of Fungal Infection

• Dull nail plate with no shine
• Brittle nails or crumbled nails
• Misshapen nail
• A foul odor emanating from the nails

Nail fungus and the bacteria that causes it is frequently passed from finger to finger, through the mouth. Nail biting is especially good at infecting new nails, because the mouth transports bacteria from nail to nail.

Treatments for Nail Fungus

A recent ad campaign by pharmaceutical company Novartis has done the unthinkable — bring the little fungus creatures to life as creepy, green cartoon characters. They’re seen ripping up nails and diving into soft vulnerable nail beds to create their disgusting infestation. Yuck!!!

On the serious side the new drug in the advertisement — Lamasil — is one of the first very successful anti-fungals on the market. Other effective drugs include Sporanox and Fluconazole.

A more natural, topical treatment regimen — such as that for Thick Nails — can be tried before medications.