We’ve focused our last two posts on fingernail problems because, even though toenail fungal infections are more common than fingernail infections, it’s easier to hide the problem away in shoes and socks.

Fingernails are, of course, much more visible than toenails. And apart from covering up with nail polish or artificial nails (not a good idea as we’ll explain in a moment) it’s hard to hide unsightly fungus fingernails. The yellow discoloration and thickened, brittle appearance commonly associated with fungus fingernails is right there for everyone to see.

When reading about fingernail fungus infections you’ll find information on the symptoms and what to do about them, but rarely do you see discussion about the emotional or psychological impacts of the disorder. We think this is an important omission as people who suffer from fungus fingernails often report loss of self-esteem, acute embarrassment and lack of social interaction.

Making matters worse

The natural inclination is to apply artificial nails and cover up the problem. But actually, this can make the fingernail infection worse. Fungi thrive in warm, dark, damp environments and by restricting air flow around the nail, that’s exactly the kind of environment that artificial nails help to create.

So artificial nails can cause the fingernail infection to grow faster and spread more. It’s a progressive disorder, and the more severe your fingernail fungus infection, the harder it will be to cure. To see what we mean by this have a look at our nail fungus treatment review chart to show you how different treatments are effective depending on the severity of the fungus fingernail infection.

Getting rid of fungus fingernails

Far better than covering up your fungus fingernails, is to seek treatment right away. There are a number of options available to you including natural remedies, home remedies and topical treatments. Some focus on removing the fungus while others work to boost your immune system and encourage healthy nails to grow. A good place to start your research is by comparing the different fingernail fungus treatments available to you.