It is not just the fingers that are susceptible to fingernail fungus, toenails are also at risk from it. Excessive thickening or softening of the nails is the primary symptom, though discoloration of them is also not uncommon. Often times, this fingernail fungus can be a very difficult condition to manage and can also cause some serious damage to the persons fingernails, which could eventually lead to nail loss.
The thing with nails is that they make a great barrier against infections; however, once infection (fungus) manages to get through, it the same protective barrier can make it very difficult for us to treat the problem.
Is fingernails fungus contagious? Yes, it can be contagious. The organisms that are responsible for the infection can easily spread from one person to another as a result of close contact. Note that no actual physical contact is necessary, as the organisms can even pass through the air should be it particularly moist.
And in what ways is fingernail fungus normally passed from one person to the next? Literal contact, such as standing with bare feet, or placing an uncovered hand, in an infected area is the main cause of new infections. With the using of contaminated items (shoes, gloves, towels, etc.) being another. If these items are left in damp or sweaty places, and are not regularly cleaned, then the likelihood of fungus growing in them significantly increases.
The increasingly popular trend of applying acrylic nails also contributes to the spread of fingernail fungus. The unnatural processes that nails undergo as result of this beauty treatment break into their protective barrier and increase the possibility of fungus getting inside. It's also quite possible that an already infected nail, which is showing as yet unnoticeable symptoms, has an acrylic nail placed over it, which then gives it a perfect, moist environment in which to develop.
Don't overly worry though should you find yourself to be infected with nail fungus as it can be effectively treated. If you have the infection already then you can try over the counter or alternative treatments. If those don't work then you should seek more potent medications which your health provider would prescribe for you.
You can save yourself a lot of time and effort though by focusing on prevention rather than cure. The best thing that you can do is to make sure that your nails are always well groomed, ventilated and dry. Not borrowing personal items from others, particularly shoes, towels, and nail care instruments is also an important precaution to take.
Remember that your nails, as insignificant and superficial as they may seem, say a lot about your state of health in general. Look after them, and give them the same care and attention that you give to the other parts of your body.
Author Resource:
Learn more about fingernail fungus and the remedies for it : Fingernail Fungus Or Zetaclear Review
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")