Using FUNG.GU Properly

By Silvia Jimenez Krause MD

Founder, Toe Magic Products - Fung.gu Formulator, Recovered Fungus Victim

 

 

 THE FIRST TIME YOU USE FUNG.GU: 

 

• Take a picture of your infected toe nails from the top and if possible from the sides (this is an important step as it will show you your progress when you take pictures again in a couple of weeks)

• Trim your toe nails strait across.

• File down any areas that have thickened. Don’t overdo it as it can damage the nail bed. 

• If your toe nail has “separated” from the nail bed, try to clean the debris from beneath the nail and better if you can trim the portion of the nail that is already “detached” from the nail bed. That will allow Fung.Gu to penetrate all the layers of the nail. 

• For those of you with compromised blood flow for any reason, particularly diabetes, this step will be best done by a podiatrist (to avoid infections).

 

FUNG.GU.APPLICATION

 

• Apply 2-3 drops of FUNG-GU to each infected nail morning and night. Let it dry (absorb) for at least 2 minutes (consistency is the key for the success of this treatment)

• Depending on how infected your toenail is, you will see results starting in a couple of weeks, (or months if the infection is in an advanced stage)  If the infection is already all the way to the matrix, the healing will take more time as the nail has to grow new from the matrix. Be patient!

• The toe nail grows 1.62 millimeters per month. It can take up to 1  year to completely grow back. 

• This will be a good reference for your treatment and how long will it take for your “new” toe nail to grow back and out of the fungus. 

• Do not be discouraged. It takes time to get rid of this infection but you will be successful.

• Don’t believe the false advertising that says “get rid of toe nail fungus in 1 week”. 

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SPEED UP YOUR RESULTS:

 

If you want to speed up the healing of your toe nails, for the first 3 to 4 weeks of treatment (I strongly recommend) soak your feet 2 times per week for 15 minutes with the following formula:

2 cups of warm water 

1 cup of white vinegar

2 tablespoons of epson salt (a naturally occurring mineral-magnesium sulfate) (amazon, local health food store, super market)

5 drops of tea tree oil (amazon or the local health food store)

This soaking process will help to get rid of the fungal infection faster as the fungus cannot thrive in the acidic environment.   FUNG.GU ph is about 2.8

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UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM - INFECTION STAGES:

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Fungal nail infections are caused by fungal organisms (fungi). Most commonly fungi are “dermatophytes” and there are several stages of infection:

Early infection may show nail cracks, discoloration and/or white dots up on the nail. Fungi start to built up under the toe nail and will start to separate the nail from the nail “bed”.

This stage is often painless so most sufferers are not aware of the infection and don’t seek treatment. 

Without treatment, the infection will continue and get worse.

 

The following stage will show a thicker toe nail, they can break easily,  white or yellow patches can become bigger and separate further the toe nail from the nail bed. The patches can evolve to green or yellow green color, brown and then black.

Toe nail may become painful particularly when using shoes that create pressure to the toe nail (sports - high heels).

Fungus can spread and infect other nails and/or the skin around it.

 

Last stage will find very thick, brittle nails (they can crumble) and usually will have an oddly shape.

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Fungus build up under the nail can cause further separation of the nail from the nail bed and the infection can be all the way to the nail matrix (where the nail  grows).

This is an advance stage often with the entire nail infected by the fungus and much more difficult to eradicate.

 

WHO GETS THE INFECTION?

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Fungus thrives in a moist, dark and warm environment.

Men are more prone to toe nail infection than women because their toes are usually confined to shoes (moist, dark and warm environment). 

The older you are and if you have any condition that compromises the blood flow to your lower extremities (for example: diabetes- smoking), the more vulnerable you are to get the infection.

As you get older the toe nails can become more brittle and likely to crack, opening a door for the fungus to infect the nail.

People with a weakened immune system, prone to athlete’s foot, those who regularly spend time in the water, or who live with family members that have the infection, have a higher risk to get toe nail fungus than the general population.

Gym showers, swimming pools, locker rooms, yoga studios (were people walk barefoot) are places were fungus can spread.

 

TOE NAIL FUNGUS AND PEDICURES

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For both man and woman it is extremely important to understand the risk of getting a pedicure.

The salon can look very clean and they do “sterilize” the tools they use to trim your cuticles and nails, but they use the same “professional” nail files with several clients, as well as the basins to soak the feet. You can get infected if somebody before you had the fungus and the same nail files they used, are use for your pedicure, or the basin were not thoroughly disinfected.

But not to worry, I am not asking you to never have a pedicure again. The solution is ease. Purchase your own pedicure kit (amazon have many from $10 to $50). And don’t forget to included and bring your OWN nail files. 

After each pedicure, clean your kit with alcohol.

Discard the nail file after your pedicure. Use a new one each time.

 

AVOIDING REINFECTION 

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During treatment and following recovery

After showering or been in a wet environment (swimming pool) dry your feet thoroughly.

Trim your nails across.

File down the nail that have thickened.

Sorry ladies. NO use of nail polish recommended during FUNG.GU treatment. Not only nail polish can be toxic and further debilitate the nail, but your nail bed can’t “breath” and it will give the fungus a good environment to grow (darkness). FUNG-GU cannot penetrate the nail polish, keeps fungus from going away.

Disinfect nail clippers after each use.

Use the nail file once and discard.

Use shoes made out of breathable materials and socks made of natural fibers. Change your socks once a day (at least)

Do not shower in public places like gyms or locker rooms bare foot. Use flip flops in the shower or to walk around. 

Disinfect old shoes, particularly if you have use the shoes bare foot (fungus can still be there and re-infect). 

Toe Magic offer a prevention spray (SHOE-SPRITZ) for shoes, yoga matts, towels, gym clothing.

It is recommended to disinfect the insides of your shoes (particularly if you use your shoes without socks). The fungus can be living there and re-infect you.

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Fungus build up under the nail can cause further separation of the nail from the nail bed and the infection can be all the way to the nail matrix (where the nail  grows).

This is an advance stage often with the entire nail infected by the fungus and much more difficult to eradicate..

 

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