The biggest danger of having toenail infection is that it starts off as something seemingly benign. For most people, especially ones who may be too rugged for their own good, the early stages of fungal infection aren’t something to write home about. Of course, this eventually turns out to be a big mistake. As the infection spreads around their foot, they then start to feel unpleasant sensations from mild discomfort to outright agony. The discomfort stems from wearing regular footwear while the toes and toenails are misshapen and no longer fit well with most footwear designs. The agony is from the deep cuts that start to appear once the infection gains momentum and dries the skin up bad. Here are the first vital steps to take when a toenail infection becomes apparent.

1. Visit reputable dermatologists.

Dermatologists are most definitely the first line of defence for any skin care concerns. Sadly, not a lot of people consider them to be so. Instead, they depend too much on what they read from the Internet. There’s nothing inherently wrong with self-educating, but the problem arises if it’s something that can be affected by confirmation bias. Some people choose to believe that they have a less worrisome medical issue at hand simply because they’re too scared to accept that it’s something worse. And then there’s the likelihood of overlooking some symptoms that only dermatologists can easily correlate with the primary medical concern.

2. Use creams regularly.

Anti-fungal creams are obviously what sensible dermatologists will prescribe to patients who are experiencing an onset of toenail infection. Most of the time, extra medication is required only for cases that are already in its serious stages. With the use of creams on a regular basis, the problem can be controlled and subsequently treated. It goes without saying that not using cream regularly is ultimately a waste of money because the effects aren’t optimal and the infection won’t go away anytime soon. Consistency is the key.

Opt for natural ingredients. Anti-fungal creams that are loaded with chemical ingredients work well in most cases. But oftentimes with side-effects that can be unbearable. Pain isn’t a stranger for fungal infections that have already manifested deep cuts and peeling scales. To avoid this, it’s highly advised to find a good natural foot cream that has little to no synthetic chemicals in it. Another advantage of going natural is that the skin is more able to absorb it simply because said ingredients don’t have complex chemical structures.

3. Start separating socks from other laundry.

This one’s obvious enough, yet is oft overlooked out of habit. Just like how most people would forget putting on anti-fungal cream for the first few days, so are they likely to throw in socks into the same laundry bag as other garments. As much as possible, try to find ways to be reminded. Smart phones and computers can be utilized for this purpose. But then again, it’s easier to set reminders to apply cream at certain times of the day and another to be immediately told off by a smart device that you just threw your pair of socks into the pile of dirty underwear. It takes a lot of effort, but it’s definitely worth it.