Is nail fungus in athletes as common as I think it is? If you are an athlete you may be aware of the fact that toenail fungus in athletes is exceptionally common. And Being an athlete doesn’t mean that you have to be a world-class athlete. By Athlete, we’ll refer to people who engage in athletic activities daily. These activities may vary from running to swimming, hiking, playing sports, or anything else that will involve moving and sweating. Toenail fungus infections might be scary to think about. Most people associate toenail fungus with uncleanliness but even the cleanest people can contract the infection. 

Origin of the infection

Why nail fungus in athletes is so common? To answer, you should first understand how toenail fungus occurs. Nail fungus occurs when fungal spores infect the nail bed under the nail. The fungus begins to grow there, and gradually infects the nail so that it becomes yellow, thickened, and possibly painful. It may even detach from the nail bed. But this means that the fungus would need to be able to reach the nail bed in the first place. Since the nail acts as a barrier, most people do not experience this. 

The main reason that toenail fungus in athletes is so common is that athletes, and especially those who are kicking a ball like soccer players, constantly experience trauma to their nails that results in them becoming cracked. The fungal spores penetrate through these cracks to reach the nail bed, thereby causing toenail fungus in athletes. If someone is playing a hand-based sport like volleyball or baseball, they may get nail fungus on their fingernails as opposed to toenail fungus. 

Another reason that nail fungus in athletes occurs so frequently is that athletes are required to wear snug shoes for hours on end, and inevitably end up sweating profusely in their shoes. Since fungus thrives in dark and moist environments, this ends up promoting toenail fungus in athletes even further. 

Treatment option

If you are an athlete who has gotten infected with nail fungus, you can easily get treated by seeking medical attention. You can schedule a free consultation with a doctor at one of over 150 locations by calling 1-(800) 672-0625, or going to https://www.lasernailtherapy.com/.