Proper toe grooming is critical for everyone, young and old, men and women. Otherwise, consequences of improper toe maintenance may result in fungus or ingrown toenails. Onychomycosis is another name for this nail condition that’s likely to happen to those with sweaty feet if their feet remain moist for a long time. Millions of people in the U.S are suffering from this condition, so we’ll dig a little more into it.
Are these conditions treatable before we look at the prevention measures and why the fungus occurs? Can urgent care fix ingrown toenails or fungus? Luckily, they can, and you can quickly find these centers in your community.
Causes of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus may occur from various organisms such as yeasts, molds, and fungi. So, when this comes in contact with a cracked nail or the area surrounding the nail, these openings may be a potential entry.
- This infection might start after some rash spreads to the nails, and this may appear as whitish and yellow spots (discoloration) under the nail bed.
- Those living in humid climates are also prone to developing these infections. Most of the fungus happens during the summer season.
- Frequent foot exposure to moist environments. And these can be swimming pools and footlocker rooms.
Though toenail fungus may be mild, if left untreated, it can become severe, harden the nails, and spread to other toes. At the same time, an untreated ingrown toenail can also lead to complications. And can Urgent Care fix ingrown toenails? Oh, yes. They are open till late, and you can also get treated on weekdays.
Toenail Infection Treatments
Fortunately, there are various treatments available for toenail fungus. These include drug-free alternatives, laser treatment, and prescription oral antifungal drugs.
And for severe cases, surgical removal may be the best option. But for mild fungal cases, home treatments such as baking soda, vinegar, and Epsom salt may be effective.
Home Treatment
Vinegar-it’s a safe home remedy treatment for toenail fungus. So, you need to soak the affected foot in a vinegar solution of one part vinegar to two parts warm water. Keep the feet soaked for up to 20 minutes per day.
Garlic-it has antifungal properties and can relieve someone with a toenail infection when used in a footbath. And you can also chop the cloves and put them on the affected area for 30 minutes.
Baking soda– there are two ways you can use baking soda to treat a fungal toenail. One is to add it to warm water and soak your feet. The second is to make a baking soda paste with water and apply it directly to the affected toenail. Let your feet stay there for about 10 to 20 minutes.
Epsom salt– you can mix a cup of magnesium sulfate with two quarts of warm water and soak your infected feet for 10 to 20 minutes, relieving the feet.
Zinc oxide-this mineral can act as a skin protectant and treat fungal infections by spraying or applying it to the affected area. Zinc helps to fight the fungus infection.
Your urgent care provider can refer you to an urgent care facility. It’s time to see your primary care when the home treatment has not worked and if the infection has spread to other nails. And can Urgent Care fix ingrown toenails?
Who is Prone to Toenail Infection?
- Athlete’s foot.
- Nail injury
- Diabetes
- Hyperhidrosis (sweating disorder)
- Psoriasis
- Poor blood circulation.
- Weakened immune system
Ingrown Toenail And Fungus Prevention
- Good grooming is essential.
- Wear comfortable-fitting shoes.
- If you have sweaty feet, ensure to change socks often. Using antifungal powder can also help with sweat.
- Ensure to trim your toenails straight across and not in a curve trying to match the shape of the front toe.
- Avoid walking barefoot in general areas such as swimming pools or locker rooms.
Diet
Sometimes, you could be having a diet that’s feeding the fungus. And if you want to improve your toenail fungus, then you must starve the yeast by doing the following:
- Reducing your carbs intake
- Avoiding alcohol
- Cutting out sugar
- Using coconut oil for cooking
- Use probiotics as your supplement.
- Add ginger and garlic to your food or drink.
In Conclusion
Hot season or not, fungus or ingrown toenail isn’t a pleasant sight at your feet. While fungal nail infections commonly affect the toenails, they can also occur on your fingernails. Sometimes the toenail infections are mild and treatable at home. But when it starts to spread, becoming severe, you have to see a GP. So, can urgent care fix ingrown toenail along with other infections? Yes, they can.
