Understanding Nail Health
Have you ever looked down at your toes and noticed something wasn’t quite right? You’re not alone. Every day, millions of people worldwide glance at their nails and spot unusual changes. While healthy nails should look pink and smooth, like tiny windows on your fingers and toes, sometimes they’ll send you warning signals that something’s amiss.
Think of your nails as tiny shields – they’re actually pretty amazing! Made from the same stuff as your hair (that’s keratin), they work hard to protect your sensitive fingertips and toes from damage. But just like a shield can get rusty, your nails can face their own battles, especially with unwanted fungal visitors.
Fungi can grow anywhere on your body. Most of the time, they don’t cause problems. But when they grow too much, you can get an infection. Common fungal infections include athlete’s foot, jock itch, thrush, and ringworm.
Fungi love warm, damp places, like the spaces between your toes. When you get a nail infection, it usually affects your toenails more than your fingernails. Often, it starts with athlete’s foot, as both come from the same type of fungus. While you can treat athlete’s foot easily with cream, the cream can’t get under your nail to kill the fungus there. This means your nail can get more and more infected.
These infections spread very easily from person to person. You can catch them from shower floors or swimming pools. More people are also getting infections from nail salons that don’t clean their tools properly.
Over a million people in the UK have nail fungus at any time. It’s easy to treat if you catch it early, but it can become very painful if you ignore it.
How Can You Tell If You Have a Nail Infection?
The infection usually starts at the edge of your nail. You might notice it turning slightly yellow-brown. As it gets worse:
- The colour spreads to the middle and base of the nail
- The nail starts to lift away from your toe
- The nail becomes brittle and breaks easily
If you don’t treat it, your nail might change shape or fall out. This can make walking hurt.
How Do You Treat It?
You can buy treatments from the chemist for mild cases. But it’s best to see your doctor, as other things can cause nail problems too. Your doctor might:
- Look at a small piece of your nail
- Give you tablets to kill the fungus if it’s bad
If you have diabetes, see your doctor right away if you think you have a nail infection. It could lead to serious problems if you don’t treat it.
How to Stop Nail Infections
Here are some easy ways to keep your nails healthy:
- Use anti-fungal sprays or foot powders often
- Wash and dry your feet well, especially between your toes
- Go to good nail salons or use your own clean tools
- Wear flip-flops in public showers and near pools
- Choose shoes and socks that let your feet breathe
- Change your socks every day
- Let wet shoes dry for two days before wearing them again
- Try not to use fake nails or nail polish too much
- Don’t wear trainers for too long, especially if your feet get sweaty
- Treat athlete’s foot quickly before it spreads to your nails
Taking Action
Remember, healthy nails don’t have to be just a dream! While fungal infections might seem scary, you’ve got plenty of weapons in your arsenal to fight back. Start small – perhaps by popping some flip-flops in your gym bag or treating yourself to a fresh pack of breathable cotton socks.
Think of nail care like tending a garden – a little regular attention goes a long way. Keep an eye out for early warning signs, just as you’d spot weeds before they take over your flower bed. The sooner you tackle a fungal infection, the easier it’ll be to get your nails back to their naturally healthy state.
If you’re ever unsure about changes in your nails, don’t play the waiting game. A quick chat with your GP could save you months of discomfort down the road.
Photo by Anthony Cunningham for Zoom Health
Zoom Health is a leading UK supplier of Home Health Tests and Earplugs
