Can I Wear Nail Polish If I Have Toenail Fungus
Although the nail will grow with or without polish, its best to skip the pedicures for a while. While it can be tempting to hide the condition, nail polish can trap moisture from the nail bed, making it a welcoming environment for fungi. Nail polish can also interfere with topical treatments. Switch to socks and sneakers for a more comfortable way to hide toenail fungus.
How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Nail Fungus
To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. Its important to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a skin infection caused by fungus like athletes foot.
To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out whats causing the problem.
Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?
Be sure to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.
How To Practise Good Foot Hygiene
Whether you decide to have treatment or not, you should still practise good foot hygiene to stop the infection getting worse or spreading to others.
- Keep your nails clean and trimmed. Avoid cutting the cuticles.
- If your fingernails are affected, avoid repeated hand washing and use of detergents and other chemicals. Wear protective gloves.
- If your toenails are affected, good foot care is important wash and dry your feet well, and check them regularly for cuts and rubs.
- Treat any other fungal infections such as athletes foot.
- Keep your feet cool and dry by wearing breathable footwear and cotton socks as fungal infections like warm and damp places.
- Wear clean socks every day.
- Avoid high heels and shoes with narrow, pointy toes that may injure your nails.
- When using shared showers, eg, at the swimming pool, wear protective footwear.
- If you need help from a podiatrist , your doctor will be able to refer you to one.
- Dont share nail clippers and scissors with others.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Fungal Nail Infection
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first, but as the infection progresses you may notice the following symptoms:
- Change in colour of some or all of your nail turns yellow, white, blue, purple or black.
- Thickening and change in shape of the nail, making it difficult to trim.
- Pain or discomfort, particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger.
- Brittle or crumbly nails pieces may break off and come away completely.
- The skin near the nail may itch, or crack.
Take Care When Getting A Pedicure
Having a pedicure can increase your risk of fungal nail infection. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of infection when getting a pedicure:
- Before you go for a pedicure, its important to make sure the salon you choose is clean and that the staff routinely sterilizes the instruments. Speak up about the tools and methods you prefer.
- Foot baths or bowls should be cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectant between clients.
- Salon technicians should not tear or cut your skin with the tools they use during a pedicure. Bugs in foot bowls can enter through a cut and cause an infection.
- If you have broken skin, eg, from a bug bite, scratch or cut, don’t use a foot bath.
- Ask the salon technician to avoid cutting your toenails too short.
- Having artificial nails increases your risk of nail infections.
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What Else Do You Need To Treat Toenail Fungus The Urgent Fungus Destroyer
Now, many people must be wondering if the foot soaks for toenail fungus treatment are enough or not. So, there is a clear answer, which is NO. Alone foot soaks cannot do any good. You need to focus on the foods you eat, and supplements you take while suffering from toenail fungus.
Worry not, we have got your back in this regard. The Urgent Fungus Destroyer is a complete package, it is a supplement that would support your body, particularly the immune system to kill toenail fungus.
It has the mushroom complex, catâs claw, and a lot of ante-oxidants which are pretty important to kill the stubborn toenail fungus. You need to have these supplements for at least two to three months to see some results provided that you have tried all the effective foot soaks too.
Nail Fungus: Polish Cream Or Tablets
Nail fungus can be very persistent. Topical treatment with nail polish may take up to one year. Tablets for treating fungal nail infections usually have to be taken for several weeks or months. They are much more effective than topical treatments, but they have more side effects.
Brittle nails and a whitish-yellowish or brownish discoloration are typical signs of nail fungus. The nails may also become thicker and change shape. The affected part of the nail sometimes detaches from the nail bed. The treatment options for nail fungus include nail polishes and creams as well as tablets. Nail polishes and creams are available in pharmacies without a prescription.
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Treating Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment may not be necessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome cases, antifungal medication may be recommended.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment, but if you’re not bothered by it you might decide it’s not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, may cause side effects, and isn’t always effective.
Whether or not you decide to have treatment, you should still follow the self-help advice below to help stop the condition getting worse or spreading to others.
What Is The Reduction Of Finger Dislocation Procedure
If your finger dislocation is not severe, the doctor can immediately fix your finger dislocation by externally manipulating and putting your bone back in its original position. This is known as a closed reduction. Before they do this, you might get a local anesthetic medication to numb your finger.
- During the procedure, the doctor will gently restore your finger to its correct position by gently pushing or pulling it. The doctor will do another X-ray to confirm the success of the reduction procedure.
- A splint will be wrapped around your affected finger or taping of your affected finger will be done to its adjacent finger to secure the alignment. You need to wear the splint/tape for three to six weeks.
If your finger dislocation is severe that it cannot be manipulated externally, your dislocated finger may need to be repaired surgically. The same reduction will be performed by opening your finger surgically, and the procedure is known as open reduction.
If you have an open fracture in the dislocated finger, you will be put on antibiotics and given a tetanusvaccine.
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Is Treatment Necessary
Most mild fungal nail infections are only a cosmetic issue, not medically serious and can safely be left untreated.
See your pharmacist or doctor for treatment if:
- the nail/s are painful or they bother you
- you are at risk of complications from the infection, eg, if you have diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or connective tissue disorders.
Many nail conditions can look like a fungal infection such as an old injury, a bacterial infection, psoriasis, or onychogryphosis . Your doctor may take a small sample of your nail to confirm if it really is a fungal infection.
When To See A Doctor
In most cases, toenail fungus is considered a cosmetic problem. Still, it may cause serious complications for some people.
If you have diabetes, toenail fungus may lead to foot ulcers or other foot problems. According to a 2012 study, chronic toenail fungus is a significant risk factor for bacterial cellulitis of the leg.
If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, you shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.
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What Is Nail Fungus
A nail fungus is the regular fungus infection often seen as a redness or brittleness of the nail. It disfigures the nail and can eventually eat it completely.
The nail fungus can occur due to several reasons, the worst part is you will never know the underlying reason for nail fungus unless you witness the destruction of your nail.
The most common part where you can observe fungus is your toenail and then, you can also observe the fungus on your fingernails too.
Reasons for toenail fungus
The following are some common reasons for the emerging of nail fungus.
- Unclean and poor hygiene of foot.
- Wearing extremely tight socks, people often do it in winters.
- Any chronic disease that is infecting your immunity.
- Having a foot circulatory issue, it is common in people with low blood pressure.
- Going to unprofessional saloons for poor pedicure services.
- Wearing tight shoes.
Symptoms of toenail fungus
Identifying if you are suffering with nail fungus or is it something else is very easy.
The symptoms of the nail fungus are very common and you can easily find out that it is time to find the best treatment for nail fungus.
- Your nails will have blue/purple/green spots on them.
- The nails will become brittle.
- The toenails will develop a rough surface.
- Nails will come off without cutting.
- Redness around the nails.
- Pain under or around the nails.
- Sometimes bruises and a burning sensation.
Types of treatments for toenail fungus
We have divided the treatments into two parts.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Fungal Nail Infection
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first.
As it progresses, the infection can cause:
- discolouration of the nail it may turn white, black, yellow or green
- thickening and distortion of the nail it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim
- pain or discomfort particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger
- brittle or crumbly nails pieces may break off and come away completely
Sometimes the skin nearby may also become infected and be itchy and cracked or red and swollen.
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Drs Remedy Nail Polish
If you are already having the toenail fungus infection, then choosing this nail polish can be a wise option. It will help in making your toenail healthy.
How is it?
This amazing nail polish contains all the needed organic ingredients that are required to cure the toenail fungus.
We understand that it gets really embarrassing to visit different places with damaged toenail.
Therefore, many people try to cover their nails with nail polishes.
In such cases, one needs to think of a safe nail polish with organic ingredients. The Drs remedy nail polish has biotin, and essential oils in it.
These will not only make your nails look good, but will also cure them gradually.
Pros
Which Prescription Products Treat Nail Fungus
The best products for nail fungus are prescription medicines you take by mouth or topical liquid medicines you apply to the nail.
Prescription medicines commonly used to treat nail fungus include oral and topical treatments, such as:
- topical efinaconazole
- topical ciclopirox
- oral terbinafine
- oral itraconazole
Oral antifungal medicines tend to work better than topical ones, but are associated with greater side effects and drug interactions. In some cases, your doctor may decide to combine treatments, or use laser or photodynamic therapy. Speak with your podiatrist about these techniques.
In the most severe cases, your doctor may recommend you have surgery to remove part or all of the nail.
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Treatments For Fungal Nail Infections
Treatment isn’t always needed for a mild fungal nail infection because it’s unlikely to cause any further problems and you may feel it’s not worth treating.
Whether you decide to have treatment or not, you should still practise good foot hygiene to stop the infection getting worse or spreading to others.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you’re bothered by the appearance of the affected nail, or it’s causing problems such as pain and discomfort. They’ll probably recommend:
- antifungal tablets tablets taken once or twice a day for several months
- antifungal nail paints special paints applied directly to the nail over several months
- nail softening kits where a paste is used to soften infected parts of the nail, before they’re removed with a scraping device
A procedure to remove the nail completely may be recommended in severe cases. Laser treatment, where a high-energy laser is used to destroy the fungus, is also an option. But this is only available privately and can be expensive.
You can reduce your risk of developing a fungal nail infection by:
Nail salon equipment can sometimes be the source of fungal nail infections. If you regularly visit a salon, make sure any equipment used is properly sterilised between uses.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Toenail Fungus
Treating toenail fungus with apple cider vinegar is also a common practice. Apple cider vinegar is a common kitchen staple available in almost every house.
Many people wonder how the apple cider vinegar can kill toenail fungus? well, the apple cider vinegar has two acids, the maleic acid and the acetic acid.
Both these acids are meant to disturb the pH of the toenail fungus and ultimately kill it.
Having apple cider vinegar as a treatment of nail fungus is quite long. It will take almost 6 to 7 months to kill toenail fungus.
To get fast results you need to add it in your diet as well to strengthen your immune system.
All its ingredients are very common, and you can have them whenever needed, but instead of taking each antifungal and immunity booster you must have a single supplement for it.
Ways to use apple cider vinegar to treat toenail fungus
- Make a foot soak, making a foot soak is quite easy and it will only take a few minutes. Add two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in two liters of water. Soak your feet in it for almost 30 minutes a day.
- Mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda. As baking soda is already a home remedy for nail fungus, mixing it with apple cider vinegar will only reinforce its effect. You need to make a paste of the two and apply on the nail fungus with a Q-tip.
Pros of using apple cider vinegar for nail fungus
- Anti-microbial.
Cons of using the apple cider vinegar as a remedy for nail fungus
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Fungal Nail Infection Treatments
Early treatment of fungal nail infections may prevent damage to or loss of the nail and treatment at any stage may reduce discomfort and improve the nails appearance. However, fungal nail infections can be difficult to treat, and can recur following successful treatment.
Also, because nails grow slowly, it can take up to a year for the appearance of the nail to return to normal, even if treatment is successful. To check if your fungal infection has been successfully treated, your doctor may make a small scratch on the normal-looking new nail growing from the nail bed. As your nail grows, the appearance of the new nail growing behind the scratch is monitored. If the nail behind the scratch remains normal-looking, the infection has been treated and no further treatment is needed the abnormal nail in front of the scratch just needs to grow out.
Fingernail infections can generally be cured more quickly and effectively than toenail infections.
How Effective Are Tablets In Treating Nail Fungus
Tablets for the treatment of nail fungus have been tested in several studies. All participants had an infection on their toenails caused by a skin fungus. Overall, the study results showed that tablets are considerably more effective than nail polishes or creams.
One year after a three-month treatment with terbinafine:
- About 17 out of 100 people who didnt have this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 76 out of 100 people who had this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, the treatment with terbinafine got rid of the fungal infection in about 59 out of 100 people.
Itraconazole also proved to be effective. After one year,
- 7 out of 100 people who didnt have this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 43 out of 100 people who had this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, the treatment with itraconazole got rid of the fungal infection in about 36 out of 100 people.
Some studies directly compared itraconazole and terbinafine with each other. They confirm that terbinafine is somewhat more effective than itraconazole.
Treatment with breaks is thought to be about as effective as continuous treatment. But that has only been looked into in a few studies.
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A Pharmacist Can Help With Fungal Nail Infections
Speak to a pharmacist if the look of your nail bothers you or it’s painful.
They may suggest:
- antifungal nail cream it can take up to 12 months to cure the infection and does not always work
- nail-softening cream it’s used for 2 weeks to soften the nail so the infected part can be scraped off
The infection is cured when you see healthy nail growing back at the base.
Fungal Nail Treatments Which One Is The Most Effective
Fungal nail infections continue to be a serious problem for many Australians, with up to 25% of the population affected at any one time. Highly contagious, fungal nail infections can affect people of all ages and if left untreated, can cause more serious health issues in addition to being unsightly and embarrassing. At The Walking Clinic Canberra, we have a longstanding reputation for being the best podiatrist Canberra locals turn to for expert advice and treatment for a wide range of foot and toenail problems. The management of fungal infections depends on the type, extent and severity of nail involvement, symptoms and pre-existing conditions. Although it is challenging to treat, there are typically three common treatment options, and we have broken them down below.
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