Yellow toenails are a sign of toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I think some mad scientist came up with the name “onychomycosis” for something as insidious as toenail fungus. This little microscopic organism is the cause of endless embarrassment and frustration for millions of people.
This microbial monster gets itself under your toenail and begins to take root. Before you know it, you are experiencing itching and burning toes. As the spores grow, the infection gets worse. It can spread around your toes creating even more inflammation; itching and scaling can take place.
After leaving its warm environment to settle into yours, the fungus starts growing. You might begin to experience brittle, splitting nails, especially the big toes. Like termites working on a piece of wood, the spores start leaving material under your toenails which can cause odor and infection.
These foot fungi like to grow in moist warm public areas like spas, locker rooms, swimming pools and public showers. They lie in waiting on the smooth tile floors. If you’re the type of person that likes to walk around in bare feet or little thin flip-flops, you’ll need to guard against fungal infections.
How to cure yellow toenails
First and foremost, insist on caring for your feet with proper hygiene practices. Always wear clean socks, be sure to rotate your shoes and keep them all thoroughly dry. The last thing you’ll want is to spread your infection to your other toes. Natural remedies such as olive or tea tree oil might help in combination with such common household items as vinegar or even Listerine. Note that such remedies need to be used for prolonged periods of time. I am talking 6-12 months of soaking your feet in the aforementioned oils every day before the fungus will start to disappear.
Wash and thoroughly dry your feet after using public facilities. Be sure to wear clean dry socks and keep your toenails clipped neatly. Antifungal creams are also sold over-the-counter and may be of some help. The main thing to keep in mind is that any natural product that you try may be effective during the initial stages of infection, but might be ineffective during its advanced stages.
If you decide to try a household remedy, you’ll need to be patient. They may not all work within the same time frame. Truthfully, some of the over-the-counter brand remedies were just as unpredictable. Although, there was one particular yellow toenail cure that cleared up my fungus and improved my nails. I’m happy to say the problem has not returned; I couldn’t believe it worked as well as it did.
