On the market there is a wide choice of safety shoes, and at first sight they look all the same, although there are actually great differences among the various types. In this article my goal is to give you some advice about the best safety shoes against Onychomycosis.
I will try to give you an idea of what problems can be avoided by using the right kind of safety shoes.
I am sure this article will be a big help to you so that you will be able to choose the perfect pair of safety shoes for your problem.
Regardless of the cause this condition can become pretty unpleasant, but wearing the right kind of safety shoes and taking care of your feet can help to control the problem.
Contents
Safety shoes against Onychomycosis
What are the symptoms?
Although onychomychosis is normally considered as just a cosmetic problem some patients feel pain and unease. Such symptoms can be worsened by the use of certain types of footwear, by the type of activity you perform or by bad clipping of your toenails.
There are many species of fungus that infect the toenails. By far, the most common is Trichophyton rubrum, which has a tendency to infect the skin as well (hence it is also known as a dermatophyte). Depending on the pathogenic species the infection occurs in some specific ways.
Types of onychomycosis
It starts at the end of the nail and pushes it upward: in this case it is called “distal subungual onychomycosis” and it is by far the most common kind of nail infection in grown-ups and kids (about 90% of the cases). It is more common in the big toe than in the other toes. The rick factors include advanced age, swimming, athlete’s foot, psoriasis, diabetes, infected family members and a weakened immune system. It normally starts as a discolored spot in a corner of the toenail and then it slowly spreads toward the cuticle. Eventually, the whole nail becomes thick and fragile.
It starts at the base of the nail and pushes it upward: it is called “proximal subungual onychomycosis”. This kind of infection is much less common (about 3% of the cases) and is similar to the distal type, but it starts from the cuticle (the base of the toenail), slowly spreading toward the tip. This kind of infection almost always occurs in people with a weakened immune system.
Other types of onychomycosis
Yeast onychomicosis: this type of infection is not caused by a fungus, but by yeasts belonging to the genus Candida. Patients with this infection can also have associated paronychia. This yeast causes the toenails to become yellow, brown or white, and they can also thicken.
Superficial white onychomycosis: a doctor can usually scrape a white powder from the toenails of patients infected with this fungus. This condition is more common in tropical areas and is caused by a fungus called trichophyton mentagrophytes.
In all cases the use of good safety shoes appropriate for this condition can help reduce the symptoms and consequences.
What is the treatment of onychomycosis?
Clipping and filing your toenails regularly can help reduce the amount of fungus present in the nails, hence it is strongly recommended. That also provides relief from the pain caused by the thickening of the nails, due to pressure.
Creams and other topical and oral medicines
What is the treatment of onychomycosis?
The oral antifungal therapy works between 50 and 75 % of the cases, depending on the medicine. It can take 9 to 12 months to find out if the therapy worked, because that’s the time needed for the nails to grow. Even when it worked, the fungus can come back (20 to 50 % of the cases).
Some innovative treatments exist, which are still in a test phase:
The laser therapy (or photodynamic therapy) applies substances to the nails, which are activated by light of a specific wavelength.
Use of electrical current to facilitate the absorption of antifungal topical medicines in the toenail. This treatment is also called iontophoresis.
Use of a special nail polish, which modifies the nail microclimate, making it inhospitable for the fungus.
Further treatments of onychomycosis
A way to get rid of the fungus definitively is surgery. The surgical treatment implies the complete removal of the infected toenails. Nevertheless this only provides a temporary relief and the fungus can often be back unless you also take antifungal medicines in the meantime (oral or topical).
A series of factors can lead to developing a fungal infection. The most common cause is humidity.
What safety shoes against Onychomycosis should I use?
Wearing safety footwear with good ventilation and thermoregulation can help reduce the accumulation of sweat, so significantly reducing the risks of developing an infection. Moist shoes and socks are indeed the ideal environment for the growth of mold and funguses.
That’s why wearing appropriate safety footwear can help prevent the spread of funguses. Normally safety shoes are not washed very often, but in most cases fresh socks are a sufficient barrier for preventing the spores inside the shoes from reaching the feet. Moreover, washing your feet with water and soap everyday also helps to prevent fungal infections.
So, to sum up, here are my recommendations and tips:
- Wear breathable safety footwear (type S1 or S1P), made of breathable materials such as suede (ideally perforated) or textiles. Open shoes are the best: if possible a pair of safety sandals is your best option.
- your safety footwear should have a large toecap, so that your toenails don’t touch it (which may cause pain, especially if they are sick), so avoid models with a tapered shape.
- change your socks often and choose socks of natural materials, or of synthetic materials which let the air get through, so staying dry even when you sweat.
- it is a good idea having more than one insole, and rotating them so that you never use the same one two days in a row. This way they’ll always keep dry.
- after using your safety footwear, leave it to dry outside.
- Using disinfectant spray on the inner part of your shoes is never a bad idea
- in general, try to keep your feet dry and clean.
Best “BREATHABLE UPPER” picks by SafetyShoesToday
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Safety shoes against Onychomycosis: Conclusions
Those were some small tips to choose the right safety shoes for your fungus problem.
As soon as you learn these tips and wear the right kind of safety footwear for your needs, you will experience a better comfort at work!
I assure you, that if you wear the appropriate safety shoes you will live a better working experience!
What do you think about this subject?
Safety shoes against Onychomycosis. Do you have any points to add?
Leave us a comment below!
