After you describe your
foot symptoms, the initial finger and toe nail fungus diagnosis is often made
by making a visual examination of the nail. The doctor can pinpoint any of the
obvious visible symptoms, including discoloration and thickening.

Odd colored appearance of the Nails make the Diagnosis fairly Easy
Your doctor will then ask
you about any factors that may increase your risk of finger and toenail fungus.
These include having a high-risk occupation, participating in sports, wearing
tight-fitting shoes or hosiery, neglecting your hand and foot hygiene, or
overusing finger or toenail polish.
Next, you may be asked
about your medical history, including any experience with poor circulation,
diabetes, HIV or other illness that may decrease your resistance to infection
or interfere with proper blood flow.
If applicable or necessary, the last portion of a
finger or toenail fungus diagnosis involves taking a small sample of the
infected nail and having it examined in a lab under the microscope. The test
involves the use of what is called Periodic Acid-Shiff (PAS) which turns any
fungi red. This will also help identify the exact type of fungi present so that
it can be more effectively treated.
One very effective
nail fungus treatment is Fungisil, which has
been proven to provide quick results with no harsh side effects that come with
prescription medications. Talk to your doctor about this alternative. Research
is also available on this web site about this over-the-counter
toenail fungus remedy that can
help cure nail fungus.