Toenail fungus or Onychomycosis is one of the most disturbing and uncomfortable fungi to have. It is caused by a type of fungus called dermatophyte (also a type of mold) which naturally grows on areas with a richer amount of keratin. Keratins in the body are commonly produced for the skin, hair, and nails. In other words, toenail fungus may grow anytime and in any condition of the nails and this is a natural process of our body.

There are a few people who maintain healthy and clean toenails. Is it possible to have it? How can we prevent having toenail fungus? Here are some tips that can help you:

1. Keep your feet clean and wash regularly.

  One of the most common reasons why people tend to have toenail fungus is because they never clean their feet. Dirty feet attract dust and there are some molds present and often get mixed with dust. Cleaning and washing the feet regularly prevents dust from staying too long on our toenails. Trimming the toenails is also a must in cleaning our toenails. The longer the nails grow, the higher the chance of having molds on your feet. Make sure to use the proper tools to cut your toenails.

2. Keep your feet fresh and dry.

The skin has these so-called “pores” and it keeps our skin stay hydrated and helps them breathe comfortably. These “pores” are also where your sweats come off and this allows the skin to release a certain amount of liquid and this process may also attract molds. Drying your feet can reduce the chance of attracting mold to your toenails.

3. Maintain proper hygiene.

Some are wearing the same socks for 3-5 days or even for weeks. Using the same socks can cause molds to grow in your toenails. Used socks contain sweat (sometimes you don’t even feel it) and trapped dirt and dust. No matter how secure and safe your shoes are, dirt and dust may still enter your socks through the air that passes through. These things are the primary requirement for molds to stay.

4. Use Fungus Treatment.

 If and whenever it comes to this point, fungus treatment creams are a great remedy and it’s effective to cure toenail fungus. It also prevents other toenails from developing another toenail fungus and reduces the chance of having infected toenails. Only use fungus treatment cream when needed.