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Toenail fungus is characterized by discolored nails which become yellowish and brown in color with streaks or spots marking the nail and thick nails that are difficult to trim and thus overgrown. Foul smelling debris is often found accumulated under the toe nail and eventually the nail may even break or crumble. Toenail fungus usually occurs due to exposure to warm and moist places such as swimming pool dressing rooms, shower stalls or public gyms where the fungus gets amply opportunity to thrive and multiply. It is also common amongst people who wear tight fitting shoes all day long and are prone to heavy sweating in the feet. Toenail fungus can also be caused by an abnormal pH level of the skin and improper hygiene habits in foot care. There are several simple home remedies for treating toenail fungus but above all it is important to wash your feet carefully after you have been to the swimming pool or gym. Always dry your feet thoroughly after a shower, dusting some talcum powder on your feet to absorb the excess sweat before you wear your shoes. You should wear only cotton socks and avoid wearing shoes made of synthetic fiber, giving your feet a chance to breathe. It is important to keep your toenails trimmed properly and to avoid using nail polish so that your nails can breathe. You should also avoid sharing towels, socks and shoes with other people especially those who already have toenail fungus.
Apart from this, there are several home remedies for treating toenail fungus. Tea-tree oil known to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties can be mixed with some olive oil and applied directly on the nails. Alternately you can mix the tea-tree oil with lavender oil and apply it on the top edge and surrounding skin of the skin using a cotton swab, several times a day. This will keep the infection in control and also soothe the irritation in the skin surrounding the toe. A mix of oregano oil and olive oil can also be applied on the affected toenails since oregano oil also has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties and olive oil is also known to have anti-fungal properties. However remember not to continue with this treatment for more than 21 days. Garlic juice applied to the toenails is also beneficial in treating the infection. It is also recommended to apply creams containing alpha hydroxy acid on your feet before going to bed. This helps to soften and remove the rough skin on your feet where the fungus usually grows and thus prevents the infection. Apart from this you should make sure that your diet includes probiotics found in yoghurt and kefir and reduce your intake of refined sugars and carbohydrates.
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