MORE AND more persons are becoming aware that those brown thickened toenails with the powdery substance beneath them are not normal and can be treated. Often it is the big toenail which is affected and it is usually preceded by a fungal infection between the toes. The hot, dry summer when we tend to go without shoes and frequent the pools, gyms or use changing rooms is the prime period to catch a fungal infection of the toenail (or onychomycosis).
Here are some tips to prevent toenail fungal infection:
Keep feet clean cool and dry
Wear socks made of absorbent material such as cotton
Apply antifungal powder to shoes daily, for example, Zeosorb AF
Wear shoes of the correct size, stay away from narrow-toed shoes and high heels. Any trauma to the nail will increase the chances of infection
Avoid walking barefoot in carpeted hotel rooms, bathrooms, showers, gyms, locker rooms and around pools.
Keep toenails short, cut them straight across
Treat fungal infections on the body and between the toes
Do not use the same clippers to cut normal and abnormal nails
Treat with oral antifungals or antifungal preparations that areapplied to the nail like a nail polish. Remember that results take some time to be appreciated as the nail grows at a very slow rate
Family members and close contacts should also be treated to prevent recurrence.
Dr. Clive Anderson,
dermatologist
