The most confounding aspect of a nail fungus infection is how difficult it is to attack the fungal agents that lie underneath the nail bed. These agents, called dermatophytes, hide under the nail bed because of the warm, damp, dark environment that gives them a place to multiply. In order to cure nail fungus, these elements must be reached with an ant-fungal solution that will kill them off over time.
Essentially dermatophytes infect the skin or nails by stealing nutrients from keratin tissues. Without these nutrients, nails are unable to ward off the attacking fungal agents and the dermatophytes can continue to invade and multiply. Just like the agents that cause the common cold, fungal agents are able to prey on a host species once the immune system is compromised.
Nail fungus presents a much more complicated situation than other fungal infections due to the presence of the nail as a protective shield. Ringworm and jock itch are also fungal infections but are much more easy to remedy since the dermatophytes are exposed and can be treated directly. With nail fungus, the fungal agents cannot be directly attacked. This is one of the reasons for the popularity of oral medications for more severe infections. The oral treatments attack the fungus from within the body with powerful ingredients. However, this is also the reason why these medications often have quite severe side effects. Topical solutions, like Funginix, are often quite effective to cure nail fungus but need to be applied very regularly and very precisely and even then, it is never positively known whether the solution is getting all the way to the place where the dermatophyes hide.
Finally, the quickness with which these agents multiply is the reason why it is so important to begin treatment as soon as any sign of a nail fungus infection is detected. During the earliest stages of nail fungus, the dermatophytes are not buried deep under the nail bed yet. They are easier to attack and there are fewer of them to kill. Be sure to regularly check your nails if you feel you’ve been in a situation where a nail fungus infection could be present. Regular care for your feet and hands will also go a long way towards warding off nail fungus.