This may sound like a trivial inconvenience, but over time, such accumulated deposits of dirt can eventually form into fungus, and thus cause infection. The following is a list of the various treatments currently available for nail fungus, as well as an explanation and breakdown of how they work.

Oral Medication

This is the pretty standard remedy used to deal with nail fungus infections, and is typically dispensed by means of prescription, meaning that a doctor must prescribe it. These types of medication are used to promote the growth of the nails so as to repair and replace the infected part of the nail. However, it takes a comparatively long time for such medications to work, taking a minimum of 3 months for any results to be achieved and some brand names include the likes of Terbinafine, Itraconazole, and Fluconazole.

Antifungal Nail Polish

This remedy is especially worthy of explanation: normal nail polish tend to exacerbate current nail infections and so should be avoided. Anti-fungal nail polish is also dispensed by prescription and works in exactly the same way as normal nail polish does, meaning it is painted over the areas of infection. Given that this remedy can take the better part of a year, it is not hugely popular.

Topical Treatments

These treatments are typically used in conjunction with other treatment schedules and remedies so as to improve the recovery process.

Home Remedies

Home remedies is an excellent way to ensure that your nails are healthy and clean even during the course of whatever treatment, one of the most effective natural remedies is tea tree oil which has a number of positive and practical benefits, such as being a fungus killer as well as antiseptic all in one. An even more potent remedy can be achieved by mixing tea tree oil with some lavender oil will also gently soothe your skin and avoid irritation.

As useful they maybe, home remedies are cumbersome and require time and patience to actually concoct them and so if you are looking for a remedy that will incorporate all these great benefits into one “super-potion” then look no further than Zetaclear Clear Nails Solution.

Products like Zetaclear Clear Nails Solution contain tea tree oil as well as moisturizing ingredients like almond oil and jojoba oil to prevent dryness. Because of the differing factors and variables that affect and encourage nail fungus infection, in order to treat such infection more effectively it is necessary to utilise a combination of different treatments.

onychomycosis and tinea unguium are both scientific terms used to refer to fungus infections of the nails, and this sort of infection can affect both fingers and toes. Fungal infections of the nails accounts for a fair percentage of all afflictions of the nails, accounting for 20% of the total figure. In addition, 6-8% of the total population is currently suffering from a nail fungal infection.

The Signs of Nail Fungus

Despite such a high number of people suffering from such infection, many people seem to be totally oblivious to the fact that they are indeed suffering from a fungal infection, so what then are the symptoms of such infections? Well, the most obvious sign of fungal infection is discolouration of the nail, typically this is either a yellowish or whitish spot/blemish that appears just directly underneath the affected nail.

Such discolouration is more serious than merely being offensive to the eye, if left alone and not treated, then the fungus will be able to affect deeper into the nail, causing the discolouration to spread more widely throughout the whole of the nail, as well as thickening the nail. Finally, the nail will became flaky and very sensitive to touch, even a gentle tug will cause a great deal of pain. This is a result of the infected tissue nestling underneath the nail.

Classifications of Nail Fungus

In total, there are actually 5 classifications of nail fungus and each classification is dependent on the severity of the infection as well as the effect it has.

1. The most common type of fungal infection is the DSO or Distal Subungual Onychomycosis.
2. The rarest is the WSO or the White Superficial Onychomycosis.
3. The third type is the Promixal Subungual Onychomycosis, the second degree of nail fungus after DSO.
4. On the other hand, there’s the Candidal Onychomycosis. This type of fungal infection affects people who have prolonged and direct exposure to water.
5. And last but not the least, is the Total Dystrophic Onychomycosis or TDO..

Causes of Nail Fungus

The major factor that causes nail fungal infection is contamination which results because of fungus that comes from the dermatophytes genus of fungus. Dermatophytes is a particularly nasty type of fungus as they specifically attack and pose a threat to the skin due to their parasitic nature, and these fungal parasites are commonly found in moist warm conditions which is their ideal growing grounds.

They are practically invisible to the naked eye, and what makes them even more insidious is that they not only do they easily burrow under the skin, but so as to better conceal themselves, they do not cause any overt symptoms.

Toenail and Fingernail Fungus

More often than not, toenails are commonly affected by nail fungus rather than the fingernails.

Usually it is the toenails that are affected more often than the finger nails, this is a direct result of the exposure the feet have to the floor and other surfaces, which are a host to bacteria. Factor in sweaty socks and shoes, the accumulated sweat of a hard days walking… Think about it. The shoes are dark, moist, and warm providing optimal breeding conditions for fungus to grow, it is little wonder that the feet are the likely targets for such infection.

It is usually the toe nails that get infected most and most quickly, this is a direct result of their exposure to the floor and other damp surfaces, although this is by no means to say that the fingernails never get infected either. What are the symptoms of an infected nail then? Well, things to be aware of are discolouration/thickening of the nail, or an unpleasant smell. Whether out of embarrassment, or a failure to appreciate how serious they can be, many people end up delaying seeing their doctor and women are especially bad for concealing a nail infection by using nail polish to disguise it. This does nothing but worsen the infection, so ladies, swallow your pride and see the doctor. Your nails will thank you for it.

Don’t be worried, there are a number of different ways in which a fingernail fungal infection can be treated, there are non-prescription anti-fungal creams and lotions available at very reasonable prices. These are especially useful for people who are concerned with the possible side effects that tablets taken orally may pose.

An especially popular antifungal lotion is Zeta Clear Antifungal Solution, because it is made entirely of natural oil, this means that there is no risk of harmful side effects nor will it cause any skin irritation or other unsightly blemishes. A common concern for men is that such lotions will smell too much like perfume, fortunately, there is no lasting smell with Zeta Clear, after all, who wants to end up smelling like an apothecary?

Whenever you use an anti-fungal lotion there are some basic steps you should carry out:

1.    Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, and scrub your nails vigorously with a brush to remove any dirt.
2.    Cut and trim your nails so as to remove any loose nails, loose nails can cause cuts on your skin which dramatically increases the chances of infection.
3.    Nail salons should be avoided altogether, the tools and instruments used in such places are shared, and more often than not (very worryingly) not cleaned properly.
4.    Avoid using nail polish, the ingredients of such solutions tend to weaken and damage weaker nails.

Being proactive and keeping your nails in good order will dramatically reduce your chances of a more serious medical condition and concerns further in time. If you ever carry out any household chores will mean that the nails are exposed to water, chemicals or general solutions that will cause damage to the nails, make sure that you wear rubber gloves. The reason for the gloves is that chemicals and water can over a prolonged period of time affect the strength of the nails, compromising and weakening them.

In its fully contracted stages of development, nail fungus can take up to a year in a worst case scenario to be properly cured, and the frustrating thing is, it requires attention and sooner rather than later. Nail fungus is not an issue that can simply be ignored, burying your head in the sand will not make the infection go away, or subside…instead it will simply become steadily more painful.

Nail fungus can affect both toe nails as well as finger nails, but toe nails are the most affected, and also the most severely affected. In the most severe cases, the infected nail(s) can become so weak that they fall off and make the surrounding area all the more sensitive and awkward to walk upon.

So how do you know if you actually have a fungus infection? Well, be on the lookout for any discolouration on your nail, so any unsightly yellow or white spots are a clear sign, and these are usually a prelude of what is to come, as the nails thicken and become brittle and crumble off. All of this may or may not be followed by a nasty odour from the infected area.

Another major reason as to why it is imperative that you deal with nail fungus as quickly as possible is that it is highly contagious, meaning that it can and will spread to other toes and digits very easily.

There is medication available for fungus infections, however these pose a number of concerns. Such medication tends to be rather costly, but even worse they have a number of side effects which cause damage and strain on vital organs such as kidneys heart and liver.

• Vinegar and warm water soak, apparently vinegar derived from apple cider is especially effective in stopping bacteria dead in its tracks, and retarding its growth.
• Listerine – when applied in its pure form is renowned for its antiseptic effects.
• Tea tree oil - soak a cotton ball and dab on infected areas.
• Olive leaf extract - is a highly effective antifungal treatment and will soothe the skin as well as clearing the infection.

You can see there are various natural and home remedies to try. There are also various topical treatments available. It would be a good idea to look into and even try some of the self-care treatments in order to avoid the problematic prescription medicines available.

Be wary of so called “quick cures” that offer remarkably quick results for the treatment/cure of nail fungus, regardless of how much lotions, medication and or creams you use, you will have to be patient, and wait at least several months for the infection to clear.

More often than not people are completely oblivious to the fact that they have a toenail fungus infection, blissfully unaware some would argue. So what exactly are the symptoms for a toe fungus infection? Toenails suffer from discolouration (taking on a sickly yellow appearance), have became sensitive to touch especially when you try to cut them, and have became much thicker then it is safe to say that there is a toenail fungus infection.

Toenail fungus infection needn’t be a major issue, there are treatments available that can treat it quite quickly, and safely. The following is a list and breakdown of five such treatments that are currently on the market.

The first line of defence is to apply an anti-fungal cream to the affected area(s) for a minimum of 6 months, this is a crucial first step, intended to ensure that the fungus does not return. Don’t worry about making an appointment with your doctor and dealing with costly prescription charges, most of these creams are readily available from over the counter, and are quite reasonable in price. These anti fungal creams can be used to tackle mild to moderate infections, and are applied directly to the infected nail.

Before using these creams however, make sure to undertake some basic precautions. Make sure you carefully review and examine the ingredient list before purchase so as to ensure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Thoroughly clean your hands (as well as the foot which you care going to apply the cream to) with warm water as well as soap.

The next treatment is medication, which is taken orally and is available on prescription. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with such methods, whilst such tablets are extremely effective in dealing with the infection, they pose a number of health concerns. Liver, kidney and even heart function can all be majorly compromised, so such a decision should not be undertaken lightly, and discussed with a doctor. A doctor will be better able to fully disclose and discuss all of the potential side effects, as well as other issues such as the severity and probability of such side effects. If you still have reservations then you may want to simply make use of creams instead.

The third treatment is a non-surgical nail removal, rather than conducting an operation, a special cream is used to weaken and eventually dissolve the nail, in so doing any and all infected tissue will also dissolve as well. Once the nail and the infected tissue have safely removed, a topical anti fungal cream is then applied to the infected area to ensure that there s no nasty return of the infection.  A major benefit to this form of treatment is that is relatively painless.

The fourth treatment is a surgical nail removal. This procedure is done if you have a severe or recurring nail fungus infection. Just like the process for non-surgical removal, an anti-fungal cream will also be applied directly once the infected nail is removed.

The final treatment is to apply soothing oils that are designed to trickle to the very roots of the fungal infection, and these oils help to soften your nails every time you apply the oil, and best of all they can be used as a preventative measure as well. So, when you apply the soothing oils every morning and every night, make sure to apply a small amount to non-infected nails to prevent the infection spreading there.