Toenail fungus treatment

Toenail fungus treatment

An infection in the toenails or fingernails is quite a common occurrence. It is unsightly and embarrassing to discuss, but may not be accompanied by any kind of discomfort or pain, so people suffering from these infections often do not get them treated promptly.

A nail fungal infection can continue on indefinitely, and possibly spread to other nails or cause fungal infections in other locations of the body, so it is important to get it treated as soon as possible.

Diagnosis

Toenails and fingernails can become infected by a fungal infection called onychomycosis, otherwise known as ringworm of the nail. It is more common in toenails. A fungal infection in your toenails is visually obvious, as the nail itself will grow thicker and become ragged at the end, with significant discoloration. The infection is usually only painful in severe cases, and will separate from the toe (a condition known as onycholysis).

Other finger and toenail fungus symptoms may include patches of irritated skin (rashes) in a different area of the body that is not infected with the fungus. It is presumed that this rash is an allergic reaction to the fungus. There may also be pain in the tips of your fingers and toes, and the infected nail may have an unpleasant smell.

Several different types of pathogenic fungi cause toenail fungus, most are commonly found in temperate countries, and some in the tropics. They are usually contracted by people who spend a lot of time with their nails submerged in water.

Fungi do not need sunlight to reproduce, as they are microscopic organisms that can perform anaerobic respiration. This is why they flourish in warm, dark, damp conditions often found in a person’s shoes.

People with poor circulation are at a higher risk of contracting a nail fungus, as the infection is fought by the body’s antibodies, and a lower blood flow means less antibodies going to the extremities to fight infection.

Men are at a higher risk of nail fungal infections, as they perspire more than women, and perspiration is a factor in helping a fungal infection. Wearing thick, insulating socks also increases the risk substantially.

Nail fungal infections can, if left untreated for a significant amount of time, cause permanent damage to the infected nail and cause subsequent infections in other nails. Also, the fungi causing the infection can be transmitted through water, so if you visit a public swimming pool or baths, or share a bathroom, you can transmit the infection to other people.

It is important to get a correct medical diagnosis for nail fungus, as the symptoms are very similar to other disorders of the nail or nail bed, such as yellow nail syndrome or a tumor on the nail bed itself. Consult your doctor and they will be able to perform this for you.

Treatment

Toenail fungus treatments can be either anti-fungal medications (antibiotic treatments) or topical treatments such as anti-fungal creams. There is evidence to suggest that a combination of topical and systemic treatments can be more effective than using one or the other separately.

Topical toenail fungus medication, such as Lamisil, containing butenafine and/or cicloprioxolamine have been scientifically shown to be effective at toenail fungus treatment, but they must be applied daily for very long amounts of time, at least a year but often over several years. It has also been shown that amorolfine is actually slightly more effective than cicloprioxolamine, but it is less commonly used.

Other toenail fungus medicines may include terbinafine. Terbinafine is another active ingredient in topical creams has also been shown (in a 2002 scientific study) to significantly reduce fungal infections over other common anti-fungal treatment ingredients such as griseofulvin or itraconazole.

Recently, some physicians have begun to use lasers treatments for toenail fungal infections, however this method of treatment is in its infancy and has not been conclusively proven to be more effective than systemic or topical treatments, although the one study that has been done on it did show a positive effect.

Prescription systemic courses of anti-fungal treatments can last for over 12 weeks, and often prevent the fungus from reproducing rather than destroying it, so you may have to wait for the nail to grow out for the infection to fully disappear.

Natural toenail fungus treatments are popular but are not scientifically confirmed. Tea tree oil is a popular choice, but there is not enough evidence to recommend it outside of folklore on the subject.

Other home treatments include extract from grapefruit seeds as they are supposed to be anti-bacterial or microbial, and extract from the snakeroot leaf. Snakeroot leaf extracts have been shown in scientific studies to affect onychomycosis on a superficial level, but the studies also confirm that modern medical treatments are more effective and reducing the level of the fungal infection.

Vinegar is an old home toenail fungus treatment, and studies have shown that soaking the nail in vinegar can prevent bacterial growth. Feet should be placed in a solution of 2 parts water (warm) and 1 part vinegar for 15-20 minutes, and thoroughly washed with water afterwards. This can cause skin irritation, so do not use this technique more than three times per week.

If the nail is severely infected and causes extreme discomfort for the patient, a doctor may suggest surgically removing the nail to remove the infection or further risk of infection to other nails. A new nail should grow to replace it within a year of the operation, but it is not guaranteed that it will, and the digit may no longer have a nail on it.

As with any orally taken treatment, consult your doctor if you have any existing medical conditions or if you’re already taking any kinds of oral treatments. It is important to ensure that the treatments don’t contain counteractive ingredients, as there is the possibility that these can cause serious harm to your body if taken in certain amounts.

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