Burning, itching, foul smell and pain in the more severe cases are the dominant symptoms of this highly contagious infection. Another defining attribute of a fungal nail infection is the fact that it is extremely hard to treat, even with the modern prescription drugs and non-prescription treatments.

Nail Fungus Causes

Nail fungus infections are caused by one of various kinds of fungus - candida, various kinds of dermatophytes, and even molds. Fungus flourishes in moist and dark conditions, typically found under the nails, specifically on the foot. This is primarily because one's feet are often suffocated in shoes and socks and because feet are often sweaty.

Also, this type of fungus typically grows on the floors of structures connected to public places such as swimming pools, restrooms and gyms. This usually ends up causing a fungal nail infection on the feet , and is extremely contagious.

Symptoms Of A Nail Fungus

A noticeable odor, loss of the natural color of the nail, with burning, itching, and pain in severe cases are some common symptoms of suffering from nail fungus. After a while, the form and nature of the symptoms may change. For example, in some cases, the color and the odor may turn stronger. The nail may also dry out and show signs of crumbling. Rapid progress of these symptoms can be prevented through regular use of drugs and lotions. However, they cannot be reversed without fully treating the root nail fungus.

How To Treat A Nail Fungus

Treating a nail fungus is often extremely hard because the root fungus is difficult to reach under the nail for first-hand action against it. Even the modern prescription drugs and topical solutions require around a year for complete removal of all symptoms of fungal nail infections.

Studies undertaken to determine how effective various treatments are has shown that the current drugs are either extremely slow acting, or of dubious usefulness. Due to this, the current R & D for prescription drugs and medication is focused on discovering and applying anti fungal agents that are more potent that may help overcome nail fungus.

There are holistic home remedies for nail infections that have been reported to be extremely effective in treating nail fungus very quickly. Commonly used home remedies include green tea, its derivatives, and grape seed extract. It is noteworthy that there are no studies that indisputably proving these to be effective. In the same breath, one can make use of home remedies for nail fungus which are extremely effective and can treat nail fungus in under 3 weeks!