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What is Nail Fungus?

  • July 10, 2010 at 6:13 am



Nail fungus is caused by very small organisms infecting one’s finger and toe nails. Generally, nails are very sturdy and can easily defend themselves against any kind of infections. They guard you like a strong fence blocking out all sorts of fungi and infections. However, in the case that a fungus gets through and is able to infect the nails, the resistant power of the nails works against the infected individual and it gets very hard to handle the infection.

The nail turns out to be a very secure site for the fungus to develop and grow causing the infection to spread further, which is why it’s really difficult to get to the infected area and cure the infection. Nail fungus requires warm and moist environments to grow and spread. Therefore the possibility of nail fungus infecting the toenails is quiet high because the ideal conditions for nail fungus to grow, which are warm and moist surroundings, are provided by the use of shoes and socks.

Nail fungus is very much different from the athlete’s foot also known as tinea pedis, which mainly infects the skin of the feet, but some times they are found to exist together and can be induced by the same sort of fungus.

In the initial stages of infection, a whitish or a yellowish spot can be seen around the tip of your toe or finger nail. Your nail gets discolored, becomes thick and degenerate around the edges as the infection spreads further leading to an ugly and possibly agonizing problem. The fungus infection may also begin form the base and spread to the edges of the nail causing a red spot and one feels itchy. As the infection spreads through out the nail, the color of the nail changes to yellow-green or yellow-brown and white spots may also appear in some cases. The nail thickens causing pain.

Nail fungus can be infectious and flourish especially in places such as shower booths, locker rooms and baths. It may also spread through use of nail filers and cutters. The fungus can also be passed on from one nail to another.

What you can do to reduce the possibility of getting a nail fungus infection:

One should wash and clean hands on a regular basis. This will prevent one from getting infected. Also washing one’s feet and drying them out regularly along with wearing clean and dry socks and shoes will assist in keeping off the nail fungus.

It is very hard to cure a infection caused by nail fungus and there are good chances of it reoccurring. But many medications are available in the market that can help you to clear up the infection.

One should wash and clean hands on a regular basis. This will prevent one from getting the infection. Also washing one’s feet and drying them out regularly along with wearing clean and dry socks and shoes will assist in keeping off the nail fungus.

Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus

  • July 4, 2010 at 6:04 pm



The most common source of infection related to the toenail is due to fungus, which is clinically ranked in up to twenty percent of all disorders concerning toenails. Medically, such condition is termed onychomycosis. Among the worldwide population of adults, toenail fungus infections are found among six to eight percent. Amid the various types of fungus infections found in the afflicted toenails, the most prevalent form of onychomycosis is traced to a fungal condition referred to as dermatophytes, clinically referenced as tinea unguium. Due to the scope of such ailment, afflicted individuals are constantly in search of toenail fungus home remedies.

A toenail that is affected by such a fungal infection will have a thickness, in consistency. Its abnormal appearance will range, in discoloration, from yellow to cloudy-like or even brownish. The composition of such infected nails will be rough and crumble-like, in texture. Sometimes, the crumbling effects can evolve into the affected toenail, literally, falling off. Debris, created by the infectious fungus, will usually develop and accumulate beneath the nail, emanating a foul-smelling odor. Generally, such fungal affected toenails will not present any pain or other biological symptoms. However, the intensity of the ailment can make for discomfort in the wearing of shoes. As a result, those individuals suffering from such a malady will seek out toenail fungus home remedies.

In a determination as to the origins of sources in individuals contracting such toenail fungus, can be taken into consideration as to toenail fungus home remedies prevention. The two core causes of toenail fungus are either derived from areas that are damp or moist, and direct or indirect contact with another individual afflicted with such an infection. Such areas or social environments, as hotbeds for the propagation of fungal infections to the toenail, include public gyms, shower stalls or swimming pools. The fungus afflicting one toenail can easily spread to the other nails, due to such close anatomical proximity. Athletes and those other individuals that wear tight fitting shoes, socks or hosiery are at considerable self-risk towards the development of infectious toenail fungus. In some cases, individuals who fail to adequately dry their respective feet following bathing, exercising or showering can develop such affliction to the toenails, as well as with those who possess compromised immune systems, making an awareness of toenail fungus home remedies most prudent.

One course of treatment within toenail fungus home remedies is the use of tea tree oil. Such oil contains natural antiseptic and fungicidal properties that can combat the fungus. As a source of treatment in the array of toenail fungus home remedies, combine pure tea tree oil with olive oil to the infected nail of the toe. For a preventative measure, amid toenail fungus home remedies, apply several drops of the pure tea tree oil onto the toenails, rubbing the nails adequately on a daily basis.

Another treatment for fungus infected toenails, as well as a preventative, as toenail fungus home remedies, is to soak the toes in antiseptic mouthwash. Such aggressive concentration of antiseptic immersion will result in healthy appearing toenails.

As a totally natural approach to the alleviation of toenail fungus, amongst the host of toenail fungus home remedies is yet another soaking-type treatment. Prepare either a basin or pan full of an equal parts combination of natural apple cider vinegar and warm water. Soak the affected toenails in the mixture for a period of fifteen to twenty minutes. To dry the feet, and, in particular, the toes and associated nails, use a hair dryer, placed on a warm setting. In using the hair dryer, the afflicted individual should pay particular attention to drying all of the moisture on, in between and around the toes.

A bedtime regimen, within the variety of toenail fungus home remedies, is to obtain such creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids. Simply apply such cream to the affected feet, focusing upon the toes and nails. Overnight, the application of this nature of cream will exfoliate the skin that is both rough and dense in texture, which are the areas susceptible to contracting and fostering the growth of fungus. Even if the toenails are not infected, a nightly routine of this practice, amongst toenail fungus home remedies, is an excellent consideration in preventative measure.

Feel Stressed Out? A Spa Visit May Be Your Solution

  • June 27, 2010 at 6:52 pm



If you are like most people, you are probably stressed out now. Be it work, family, money, parenting or relationships, stress is becoming a big part of our daily lives. No wonder more and more people (especially women) are interesting in getting away and unwinding in a relaxing spa. If you have not tried it before, it may be time to think about it now.

Why go to a spa? Because it is a good way to unwind and relax and get rid of stress. If you don’t have a proper way to unwind that stress within you, the negative results could be serious. A spa is one way of relaxing but of course it is not the only way. It just happens to be a good way that you might want to consider.

But there are certain things you need to know about spas before you go to one. For example, spas come in different formats:

1. specialized spas that are focused on beauty, like the ones that offer hair care services, nails, and tanning.

2. full service spas that not only offer nail care and hair care, but also body massages, body wraps, acupuncture, and many other services available for you to choose from. A full service spa is a better option and highly recommended.

Next thing you need to know is about making an appointment with your spa. You can make your appointment alone or with a group of friends if you want to. Going with a group of friends can be a fun and exciting, yet relaxing adventure. But if you would like to go alone, this is not bad idea too. Some women like to be alone so that they can literally forget all about their daily stress. If you are one of them, then going it alone may be a better idea.

Besides helping you unwind from stress, a spa visit may also help improve your appearance too. Many women go to spas to get their hair or their nails done at the same time. This all-in-one service may also include plastic surgery but you must be aware of the risks here since some of these practitioners are not licensed to perform such surgeries.

Another factor to consider is the cost of a spa visit. There are some spas where you can to pay for each service that you would like use. There are also others who will allow you to simply buy a day pass. You may also want to research each local spa that you have access to online. Make sure that you look at pictures because you want to visit a spa that has a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

To recap, a spa visit is a great stress reliever. It may not necessarily solve your problems but it can be a life saver because stress is a big killer. Diseases associated with stress are getting more and more serious these days. Once you are more relaxed, you become more calm and your thinking will get clearer too. That’s how you can think of solutions to solve all your problems too.

Nail Care Secrets

  • June 6, 2010 at 2:54 am



Manicures, pedicures, artificial tips, paraffin treatments,
nail jewelry – the nail care industry is booming, with nail
salons seemingly on every corner.

Why is this, do you suppose? There was a time when only the wealthy had regular manicures, but now it’s commonplace. Whether you go to a salon weekly, or choose to buff and polish your nails at home, it’s important to take care of your fingertips.

Take a look at your hands. What do they say about you? Think
about what they say to others. Are your hands rough, red,
irritated? Or, are they smooth and pampered?

Are your cuticles ragged? Or have you cut or pushed them back?
Hot pink, French tips, or clear-coated, it’s not the color
you wear that matters. What really matters is the condition
of your hands and nails, and you can improve the state of
your nails by taking a few simple steps.

Protect your nails

Wear gloves when washing the dishes or the kitchen floor.
Do not use your nails as tools. They aren’t meant to scrape
the price stickers off your new picture frame. Be sure to
apply sunscreen all the way down to the tips of your nails.
Sun damage affects nails, too.

Moisturize your nails regularly

Every time you wash your hands, you need to moisturize your
hands. Keep hand cream in your purse. Have a bottle in each
bathroom of your home and one at the kitchen sink.

Nails need to breath

Every so often, leave the polish out of your manicure routine.
Let your nails get a little oxygen.

Do not use nail products containing formaldehyde

It’s not used in biology class anymore. Don’t use it on your
nails, it’s not safe.

Gelatin really does work

You thought it was a myth when you heard it as a teenager,
but it’s true. Eating gelatin helps your nails grow strong
and healthy.

Nutrition

Water, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein from meats and
fish, and vitamins (multi and E, in particular) all stimulate
nail growth.

Sterilize, sterilize, sterilize

Keep your home manicure kit clean. At the salon, purchase a
set from the nail technician. The salon will label it, store
it, and use it just for you.

They’re inexpensive and essential to protecting yourself from fungus and communicable infections. Don’t be shy, be sure your manicurist knows that you take cleanliness seriously.

Nail Dystrophy-Skin Disorders

  • June 5, 2010 at 6:51 am



Damage to the nail as a result of trauma or specific disease results in nail dystrophy. Nail dystrophy is defined as the presence of misshapen or partially destroyed nail plates. Soft, yellow keratin often accumulates between the dystrophic nail plate and nail bed, resulting in elevation of the former. Various aspects of nail dystrophy are discussed below.

Trauma

Trauma to the tips of the digits occasionally results in the formation of a subungual hematoma. The severe pain that accompanies this problem can be relieved by piercing the nail plate with a heated needle or paper clip. Large subungual hematomas result in sloughing of the nail plate weeks to months later. Permanent scarring with nail plate thickening and ridging sometimes accompanies trauma. Scarred nails seem particularly predisposed to the subsequent development of Onychomycosis. Unfortunately, surgical removal of the scarred nail plate is simply followed by regrowth of an equally dystrophic nail.

Onychomycosis

Fungal infection is a very common cause of nail dystrophy. The great toenail, in particular, seems prone to infection. Infection of the fingernails occurs only in nails previously traumatized or in tinea manum with subsequent involvement of the nail. The likelihood of Onychomycosis increases with age; children are rarely if ever affected.

The first sign of Onychomycosis is the development of a small area of Onycholysis (separation of the nail plate from the nail bed) at the distal tip of the nail. Shortly thereafter, a buildup of soft yellow keratin occurs in the space created by the onycholysis. This is accompanied by further lifting of the proximal nail. Eventually, the process results in a partially destroyed, heaped up, misshapen yellow nail. The entire process is asymptomatic unless a thickened toenail begins to press against the top of the shoe.

Most Onychomycosis is due to infection with Trichophyton rubrum, but in a few cases Epidermophyton flocwsum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes may be recovered. Infection with mentagrophytes is usually associated with a mild form of Onychomycosis in which portions of the superficial nail plate whiten. Treatment is the same regardless of which organism causes the disease. Orally administered griseofulvin (or rarely ketoconazole) is required if treatment is desired. For all practical purposes, topical therapy with currently available agents is never curative.

Most fingernail infections will clear after 3 to 6 months of continuous therapy. Toenails, because of their slower growth rate, will require 9 to 12 months of treatment. Nearly all fingernail infections respond to therapy, but the response rate for toenail infections is considerably lower. Moreover, the recurrence rate, once treatment is stopped, is extremely high. Consequently, many clinicians discourage treatment of toenail Onychomycosis.

Psoriasis

Nail dystrophy occurs in a considerable proportion of patients with psoriasis. Most often, nail changes follow the development of cutaneous lesions, but on rare occasions they may precede any other clinical evidence of the disease. Several types of nail dystrophy are recognized. The specific clinical appearance depends on whether the pathology occurs in the nail matrix or nail bed.

Onycholysis occurs as the result of nail bed involvement. In early lesions the normally smooth, curvilinear distal junction of the nail plate with the nail bed becomes irregular; later, deeper levels of separation occur. In advanced disease, soft yellow keratin accumulates between the nail plate and nail bed in a manner clinically indistinguishable from that which occurs in onychomycosis.

Another type of psoriatic lesion occurs between the plate and bed. This results in the appearance of sharply marginated, yellow-brown, nonpalpable color changes in the nail plate. These changes have been likened to “oil spots.”

The earliest reflection of nail matrix disease is the development of ice pic stippling or pitting on the surface of the nail plate. This type of pitting occurs primarily in patients with psoriasis, but it can also be seen with eczematous disease of the hand and in alopecia areata. More advanced involvement of the nail matrix, in concert with nail bed disease, leads to the development of grossly misshapen nails. These more serious nail dystrophies are often accompanied by inflammatory, arthritic changes in the distal interphalangeal joint.

There is no widely acceptable, effective treatment for psoriatic nail dystrophy. Topical steroid therapy used under finger cot occlusion can be tried, but the degree of improvement is usually disappointing. Steroids injected into the nail matrix are more efficacious, but the considerable discomfort associated with multiple injections discourages most patients. Improvement following the long-term use of topically applied fluorouracil has been reported in a few patients. Systemic therapy with methotrexate and etretinate usually leads to clearing of the nails, but the benefits of these agents must be balanced against their toxicity. Concomitant improvement in nail dystrophy often occurs during spontaneous or therapeutically induced remission of the accompanying cutaneous lesions.

Nail Tek Citra

  • June 4, 2010 at 8:34 pm



Any self respecting salon technician would make sure to have a selection of nail care products available for their clients to take home with them. In fact, the Nail Tek Citra Formaldehyde Free Display is an excellent choice for the technician looking to make a little extra money on the side.

I am a big fan of all formaldehyde free salon products. They are safer for the environment and safer for people. As formaldehyde is infamous for you retaining the eyes and mucous membranes as well as causing headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, difficulty breathing and can trigger asthma. As well formaldehyde has been known to cause allergic reactions in people and it’s considered a possible human carcinogen by the U.S. environmental protection agency. Even worse formaldehyde can be absorbed through the mucosa membranes from inhaling the fumes.

However, Nail Tek, has a selection of formaldehyde free Nail Lacquers that are specifically designed to moisturize the nail as well as protecting it. This display contains twelve pieces individually boxed that customers can purchase at their leisure. The display contains;

Three bottles Citra one
Six bottles Citra two
Three bottles Citra three

The Citra one formula works to develop stronger and more flexible nails. While the Citra two formula works to heal soft and peeling it owns making them harder, stronger and more resistant to breakage. And finally the Citra three works to moisturize and strengthen dry, brittle nails.

Citra claims to be safer and more natural than other nail treatments. The company uses what they call Assistive Science. It’s a science that focuses on encouraging the body in its own natural growth processes. It’s a great option for the salon technician looking to endorse a safer environment and to help their clients develop strong and flexible nails.