fungal infection – Hello Doctor

How to prevent and treat ingrown toenails

June 17th, 2019 by Content Editor

An ingrown toenail is a common, painful condition that happens when the side edge of your toenail grows into your skin. As the nail grows in further and further, it digs in and causes pain. The nail breaking through the skin can create inflammation and over time, your toe could become infected.

The big toe is most commonly affected and common signs include pain, redness and swelling. You may have an infected ingrown toenail if there’s a foul odour, it’s hot to the touch, and if there is swelling and oozing.

What causes it? 

An ingrown toenail develops from everyday activities. Common ones include improper trimming of the toenail or a shoe that doesn’t fit properly. An injury from nail picking or pedicures could also be to blame.

Athletes often have ingrown toenails as they sweat more than most people. Sweat can make your nails and skin soft. When this happens, the thin nail can eventually split and pierce the softened skin.

Other reasons include poor foot hygiene, repeated pressure on your toes, being overweight and a fungal infection.

Treatment and prevention

Avoid cutting your toenails too short or unevenly at the corners. Cut them straight across.
Make sure your socks and shoes fit properly, you should be able to wiggle your toes easily.
If you’re an athlete or do physical activities often, try going barefoot for an hour or two afterwards.
If there’s an infection, soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts or a mild detergent. Later, apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage the infected area.
If there’s no infection, soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts. Once the skin is soft and the inflammation has decreased, use a clean nail-cutter and clip the affected area. Apply an antibiotic ointment afterwards.
If you experience a lot of pain and can’t treat it yourself, see a podiatrist immediately to remove the ingrown toenail.
Try tucking a small piece of cotton or waxed dental floss under the edge of the ingrown toenail to help with proper nail growth. Soak the cotton or dental floss in medicinal alcohol beforehand. Talk to your doctor before trying this.

Good to know

If your ingrown toenail doesn’t heal after a week or is infected, see your doctor immediately.
A toe protector can help with ingrown toenails. Toe protectors are rings that fit around the affected area or cover the entire toe. It helps cushion your ingrown toenail to lessen or prevent pain. Some kinds come with a medicated gel that helps soften your nails to make trimming them easier.

References:

Is mould causing your asthma?

June 17th, 2019 by Content Editor

Mould spores are extremely small and can only be seen if enough of them grow together. Clumps of mould spores appear in different colours, like white, yellow and green, depending on the age of the spores. They look fuzzy or rough and give off a musty smell.

Mould blooms in dark, moist places. Common indoor places for it to grow is on wallpaper, flooring, tiles and window frames. Outside, it’s common for it to grow on rotting wood, fallen leaves, grass and grains.

Although mould seems harmless, research shows that it can have a big impact on those with asthma. that’s because individual mould spores are so small they can be spread into the air and inhaled.

If you notice that your asthma symptoms get worse around mould, you may be allergic to the spores. Here’s what you need to know.

How does mould affect asthma?

Asthma is when the airways of your lungs become inflamed and narrow. This causes symptoms like coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. If you have a mould allergy and are asthmatic, breathing in mould spores could cause your immune system to overreact. This can cause sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. It can also make your asthma symptoms worse.

On the other hand, if you aren’t allergic to mould, you won’t react to it at all.

Protect yourself from mould

With a mould allergy, your safest bet is to avoid it completely.
Stay away from areas where there is visible mould.
Manage your asthma symptoms. Take your preventative medicine as prescribed and your inhaler when needed. Carry it with you when you go out.
Check for water leaks under your sinks, fridge, dishwasher, bathtub and shower.
Keep your home well-ventilated by opening the windows regularly. This will prevent mould build-up.
Rake your garden to get rid of loose leaves.
Avoid storing clothes in damp cupboards, packing clothes too tightly together and drying clothes indoors.

Good to know

If you think you have a mould allergy, talk to your doctor immediately. Tell him about your symptoms.
If you have a mould allergy, you should get any mould indoors or outdoors removed with the help of a professional. You shouldn’t do this on your own.
Get advice from mould inspectors. For example, from Home Inspection Services South Africa. This is particularly important if mould covers more than one metre squared or is caused by rising damp.
When mould is being removed indoors, keep your windows open to get rid of any spores.

References:

Stop a rash in its tracks

May 15th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve noticed a patch of redness on your skin. It’s slightly swollen and scratchy to the touch, and itchy beyond belief. It’s a rash.

A rash is an irritated area of skin. The affected area may become bumpy, scaly or red in colour. A rash is usually caused by skin inflammation, which can have many causes. These include allergies, medications, cosmetics, and diseases like chickenpox, measles, and eczema.

Rashes are common at all ages, and almost everyone will have some type of rash at some point. Treatment will depend on the cause, but most rashes can be treated at home. Here’s how:

Wash the affected area with mild soap and warm water. Don’t scrub your skin.
Gently pat dry. Avoid rubbing.
Apply an unscented moisturising lotion to the area. If the rash is very itchy, use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Calamine lotion may also help with itchiness and discomfort.
If the itch becomes too much or stops you from your normal daily activities, try an antihistamine.
Let the rash breathe. Leave the area exposed to air as much as possible.
Wear clothing made from natural fibres like cotton. This allows the skin to circulate over the affected area.
If you experience any pain, take a painkiller.

You can also try an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal is known to reduce swelling and soothe irritated skin. Simply add half a cup of finely ground oatmeal to a warm bath and soak up. Pat your skin gently when you get out, and avoid harsh rubbing as you dry. If getting into a bath full of oatmeal doesn’t appeal to you, there are many over-the-counter oatmeal bath mixes, lotions, and soaps you can try.

What not to do

Don’t use fragranced soaps to clean the rash.
Avoid touching and scratching the area. This may worsen the rash and lead to scars and infection.
Don’t wear wool and synthetic fabrics next to your skin.
Don’t use strong detergents to wash your clothes. Rather use a mild soap.
Stay out of the sun. Keep the area cool and moisturised. Heat can dry out the skin and worsen the rash.

When to see your doctor

Get medical help immediately if:

The rash does not respond to treatment or gets worse.
You experience any new symptoms like increasing pain, fever, dizziness, vomitting, and diarrhoea.
The rash lasts longer than two weeks.

References:

Eight ways to walk away from athlete’s foot

March 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your feet have been itching fiercely for the past few days and it looks like you haven’t had a pedicure in this lifetime. If you’ve been careless about where you’ve been walking, you may have athlete’s foot.

Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet and can spread to your toenails and sometimes, your hands. This fungal infection is called athlete’s foot because it’s commonly diagnosed among athletes.

It’s not seen as a serious or incurable condition, but can sometimes be hard to treat. If it’s combined with lifestyle diseases like diabetes or a weak immune system, you should reach out to one of our doctors on Hello Doctor app.

Know the symptoms and causes so that you can treat this irritating issue as soon as possible.

Itching culprits

Walking barefoot in public places like changing rooms at the gym, public showers and swimming pools.
Sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person.
Wearing tight fitting, closed-toe shoes.
Keeping your feet wet for a long period.
Sweaty feet.
Minor skin or nail injuries on your feet.

Symptoms

Itching, stinging or burning between your toes.
Blisters on your feet.
Cracking and peeling skin.
Dry skin on the soles or sides of your feet.
Raw skin on your feet.
Discoloured, thick and crumbly toenails.
Toenails that pull away from your nailbeds.

Put you best foot forward

Keep your feet clean and dry.
Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
When indoors, wear socks without shoes.
Wear socks to absorb sweat and change them twice a day.
Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.
Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers.

Ditch the itch
Athlete’s foot is usually treated with antifungal over-the-counter medication. You can speak to your pharmacist about your options. If an OTC medication doesn’t treat your fungal infection successfully, talk to your doctor to prescribe something stronger to clear up your infection.

Homecare

Soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar to dry out blisters.
Keep your feet clean and dry.

Good to know

Use tea tree oil and olive oil to soothe itchy and sore feet.
Soaking your feet in warm salt water can heal your athlete’s foot in time if it is not severe.
Lavender has antifungal properties. Add a few drops to water and soak your feet for relief from itchiness

References

10 things to know about Eczema

July 22nd, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Here’s an inside scoop into the doctor’s office: If you go to your GP complaining of a red, itchy rash, your doctor’s first thought is “It’s probably eczema.” Why? Because – statistically – it probably is.

That doesn’t mean you don’t need to be examined. However, after just a quick look and a few questions, your doctor may very likely dispense a small tube of lotion to clear up your eczema in a few days.

Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions. If you’ve ever had a rash, it may very well have been it. So here are 10 facts for that day when you have the itch that you just can’t… stop…scratching:

Eczema is also called “Atopic Dermatitis”, and due to this allergic component, eczema sufferers often develop hay fever and, or asthma.
Eczema is an inherited, chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually appears in early childhood. Up to 20% of children suffer from eczema before the age of 5 years.
The name eczema is derived from the Greek word meaning “to boil over” and describes the red, scaly and itchy patches of skin. Sometimes, tiny blisters containing clear fluid can form and the affected areas of skin can leak fluid. This is a sign that the inflammation has become infected. See your doctor immediately if the rash looks infected and you have a fever.
The rash is usually seen on hands, feet, wrists, ankles, neck, upper chest, eyelids, the inside bend of elbows and knees. Babies often have a rash on the face and scalp.
Eczema is caused by a person’s inability to repair damage to the skin barrier. Once the skin barrier is disrupted, moisture leaves the skin and the skin will become dry and scaly. Most people with eczema find that their symptoms are made worse by common aspects of daily life, such as hot weather, frequent showering, soap, and overheating in bed at night, tobacco smoke and some foods.
Eczema is diagnosed from your history and examination, and cannot be cured. Eczema is not contagious.
Topical and oral medication can treat the itch and cortisone based creams and medicines lessen the inflammation. Antibiotics are used to treat infections.
Additional therapies include wet dressings, light therapy and stress management.
Take 15 minutes long lukewarm baths to rehydrate the skin, use mild soaps without dyes and perfumes and follow by using moisturisers twice daily can help ease the symptoms.
Wear cool, smooth textured cotton clothing and always wear protective gloves when using washing dishes, and wear cotton gloves inside rubber gloves.

Dr Ingrid de Beer for HelloDoctor.com