Toenail Fungus Infection Treatment
As a rule, toenail fungal infections require medical treatment. Over-the-counter products might help some of the symptoms, but itâs a temporary fix. To completely eradicate the fungus and keep it from spreading to other nailsâor peopleâprescription medicine is necessary.
Fair warningâthis isnât a âone and doneâ kind of treatment. âItâs a one year for cure with both orals and topicals, says Dr. Lipner. âOrals are taken for three months, and topicals are taken for one year.â You canât just blame fungus for that.
Toenails grow on average about one millimeter per month, and it takes a least a year for an entirely new, healthy toenail to grow. Treatments vary depending on the type and severity, but typically antifungal medicines are applied to the toenail daily or weekly, while you also take antifungal medicine pills.
Itâs rare, but when medication doesnât resolve the problem, the toenail is surgically removed or non-surgically with a chemical applied to the nail. The nail can grow back, but if the fungus is persistent, a dermatologist can treat the nail so it doesnât grow back.
Other Options For Foot And Nail Fungus
Oral antifungal medications offer a different approach to treating nail fungus. Studies have shown the most effective treatments to beterbinafine and itraconazole. They help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected portion of your nail.
Oral medications are generally prescribed for foot fungus and nail fungus related to
- A history of cellulitis.
- Pain or discomfort resulting from the nail infection.
The course of treatment generally lasts from 6 to12 weeks, but full results are not realised until the nail grows back completely, which can take up to four months. Recurrent infections are common, particularly if your feet become warm and moist inside your shoes.
Antifungal drugs for foot fungus may cause side effects from mild to extreme . This course of therapy is not recommended for people suffering from congestive heart failure, who have liver disease or take certain types of medications.
Other treatment options for nail fungus
Your doctor may also suggest these nail fungus treatment options:
What Kind Of Doctor To See For Toenail Fungus
If you notice unusual changes in your nails you need to see a foot nail doctor, who is a podiatrist. A podiatrist deals with all your foot, ankle, heels, and nail issues. They effectively offer toenail fungus treatment Houston and recommend surgical treatment where necessary. Some people prefer visiting a dermatologist, but then the specialist must be able to diagnose and treat skin, hair, and nail conditions.
Toenail fungus is caused by dermophytes fungithat thrive on the keratin andthe skin keratin is a component of the nails and the hair. The fungus gets under the nail bed in addition to causing discoloration, which is one of the visible symptoms, it grows and it destroys the nail growth. The nail may fall off, become brittle, thicken, and harden. The condition can be very challenging to get rid ofsometimes.
Home remedies do not cause any harm, however, relying on them when looking to get rid of the fungus can be risky. This is because most of the time you do not have the correct diagnosis and it could be dangerous for your health. If left untreated toenail fungus causes deformity and severe pain.
If home remedies are not improving your fungal toenail, you may want to consult a nail fungus doctor at DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center. Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale, a foot and ankle specialist will provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. She has many options for toenail fungus treatment in her Houston office
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Possible Causes Of Toenail Fungus
First off, how did we get to this point? What might have started with a little yellowing has turned into a full-on fungus. And you really just dont know what to do because youre not certain what caused it in the first place.
The truth of the matter here isit could have been caused by a whole number of thingspoor circulation, diabetes, psoriasis, environmental factors like keeping your feet in water too long or being in a locker room that is hot and humid most of the time, etc. The reason behind your toenail fungus could also be a combination of all these things. A fungal infection can spread and get much worse than it already is. If youre starting to see or feel these symptomsyou might want to consider going to a doctor:
What Are Possible Treatments For A Toenail Fungus
Often our patients are proactive and take over-the-counter products. However, often those medications do not solve the problem long-term. Even if you find relief from your symptoms, repeat infections are common. Thats why it is imperative to have your condition properly diagnosed by our expert podiatrist who will recommend and prescribe the besttreatment for you! Your podiatrist at Weil Foot & Ankle may suggest a combination of prescription drugs and topical approaches to solve your problem or recommend the most advanced non-invasive Lunula Laser Treatment for toenail fungus.
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Which Medical Treatments Can Help My Toenail Fungus
Oral antifungal drugs help clear the infection from inside the body, allowing healthy nail growth to replace infected sections. You usually take the pills for six to 12 weeks and see the final result after four months or more.
Medicated nail polish is another option for toenail fungus. You paint layers of medication on your toe for a week and then clean the accumulated medication and start over. This treatment may take a year of daily application to see results.
Dr. Yamini can also prescribe a medicated cream that you apply to the nail after softening it with water, a file, or urea lotion. If your nails dont respond to medication, Dr. Yamini can remove diseased portions of the nail and apply an antifungal medication directly to the infected area.
Since treatment correlates with the slow rate at which toenails grow, its important to be patient and consistent with your treatment. No matter how you treat your toenail fungus, reinfection is always a possibility. Check in with Dr. Yamini as soon as you can if you notice the fungus returning.
If your toenail fungus bothers you and hasnt responded to at-home treatments, contact Dr. Yamini online or over the phone.
How Can I Treat Toenail Fungus At Home
If you visit the drugstore, you can choose from a variety of over-the-counter antifungal medications. You may decide to use those or ask Dr. Yamini for his recommendations. Keep your nails clean and trimmed to help the medication penetrate.
Urea-containing creams may help you thin thickened nails so you can trim them.
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Podiatrists Foot & Ankle Surgeons Located In Arlington Tx & Mansfield Tx
If youre embarrassed by discolored, flaking toenails, youre not alone. Its estimated that a toenail fungus affects about 20% of all Americans. The doctors at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers offer conventional medical care for toenail fungus. However, the team realizes that a fungal infection can be hard to eliminate, so they also offer treatment with the HyperBlue PLUS® laser. If youre concerned about toenail fungus, schedule an appointment online or call one of the two locations in Arlington or Mansfield, Texas.
Can Toenail Fungus Be Treated Effectively
Toenail fungus can be extremely hard to treat, simply for the fact that constantly wearing shoes provides the perfect environment for growth. One of the best ways to help eliminate toenail fungus is to get rid of other types of fungus that may be present on the feet. The presence of athletes foot, yeast, and bacterial infections may make it extremely difficult for toenail fungus to be brought under control. It is also important to keep the feet clean. Wearing clean socks and using powder on the feet can reduce moisture which will, in turn, keep the fungus from growing and spreading. Antifungal ointments may be applied to the affected area as additional support for controlling the virus.
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If You Observe Certain Nail Changes
For prompt, effective treatment of your toe nail condition , you should see a podiatrist as soon as possible, especially if you notice certain changes to your nails. These abnormalities may include toenail deformities, discoloration, or thickening. By seeing a podiatrist as soon as possible, you can reduce the risk that youll suffer permanent damage to your toenails.
If you are in need of a foot doctor in Sugar Land, TX , visit Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists or call 281-242-3338.
How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
The standard treatment for a fungal infection begins with topical medication to eliminate the microorganism. When that treatment doesnt help, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungal medications. However, treatment with oral medication can take time time to cure the infection.
The doctors at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers offer another effective treatment that treats the problem: the HyperBlue PLUS laser. When your doctor uses the HyperBlue PLUS, the laser passes through the toenail and kills the fungus without damaging the nail or the surrounding skin.
You may need three laser treatment sessions to eliminate the fungus. When your treatments are finished, the fungus is dead, but the nail must grow out to clear away the damaged nail and replace itself with new nail keratin.
If you develop signs of toenail fungus, call Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers or schedule an appointment online.
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What Is The Outcome For Someone Who Has Nail Fungus
With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months.
To clear the fungus, its important to:
-
Use the treatment exactly as prescribed
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Apply the medicine for as long as prescribed
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Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist
Nail fungus can be stubborn. If you had a severe infection, its possible to clear the infection. A healthy looking nail, however, may be unrealistic, but you can expect the nail to look better and feel more comfortable.
Even with clearing, nail fungus can return. Youll find steps to reduce your risk in Tips: 12 ways to prevent another nail infection.
ImageGetty Images
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What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Toenail Fungus
The most effective toenail fungus treatment for you will largely depend on your symptoms and situation. Your provider will consider several factors before recommending a treatment plan thats customized to you.
Overall, oral antifungal medications may offer the most treatment potential. Pairing oral drugs with topical antifungal medication may make treatment more effective.
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Clearing Fungal Nails With Cutera Laser Genesis
Dr. Szpiro and Dr. Manchanda are experts in the treatment of toenail fungus through the use of laser therapy. Dr. Szpiro has also lectured extensively on laser treatment at the APMA Annual Scientific Meeting.
Toenail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is a very common infection of the nail. Initially, toenail fungus may present as white spots on the nail or black spots beneath the nail. Ridges will typically start to form, and the nail will seem rougher to the touch. As the infection progresses, the nail may thicken and become brittle, discolored, or misshapen. The growing fungus separates the layers of keratin in the toenail, which leads to the characteristic distorted look.
Toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to cure with over-the-counter medicines. From foot soaks to ointments, the efficacy of such treatments is extremely varied. Our practice, however, offers the Cutera Laser Genesis, advanced laser technology available to clear toenail fungus and a variety of other skin conditions through the Cutera Laser Genesis procedure. Treatment itself involves the delivery of pulsed laser energy to the targeted area of the nail and/or skin, where it passes through and is absorbed to reach the fungus. Cutera Laser Genesis is safe, comfortable, and effective.
Ask The Doctors What Can I Do About Toenail Fungus
Dear Doctor: I had toenail fungus two years ago, and my doctor prescribed Lamisil. It took a long time, but it worked. Now the fungus, which is so ugly, is back again. Why is it so hard to get rid of, and are there any new treatments available?
Dear Reader: Toenail fungus is fairly common, but that’s not much consolation to the 6 million or so people in the United States who have to put up with it. It’s an often-unsightly infection caused by a microscopic organism called a dermatophyte that lives beneath the toenail. More precisely, it colonizes the portion of the nail known as the matrix, which is underneath the cuticle.
Initial symptoms are a yellowish or brownish discoloration of the toenail. As the infection progresses, nails will often become thickened, crumbly and malformed. Although the fungus affects the appearance of the nails, it actually lives on the layer directly beneath the toenail. That’s why it’s so difficult to treat.
Your nails are made up of keratin, a tough, fibrous protein. The same hard shell that protects your toes is giving shelter to the fungus. For topical medications to be successful in killing the fungus, they have to be able to reach it.
Anti-fungal creams and liquids are available, both in over-the-counter preparations and by prescription. But because nails are not porous, it’s difficult for the medication to reach the infection in concentrations great enough to kill the fungus. As a result, success rates for topical treatments are low.
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How Much Is Laser Toenail Fungus Removal
While laser toenail fungus treatment is FDA approved, very effective, and very successful, most insurance companies, unfortunately, do not cover it.
- See us for a no-obligation consultation to see if it is the right choice for you, as there are numerous options for toenail fungus treatment.
- See a toenail specialist like a podiatrist to see if this is the best option for you!
Stop Toenail Fungus In Its Tracks
Toenail fungus happens when tiny organisms called fungi begin to grow under your toenail. A fungal infection may require medicines or other medical treatment.
Toenails are especially susceptible to fungal infections because your toes are often in shoes, the perfect environment for fungal growth. Fungi like to grow in places that are dark, warm and moist.
You may be at a higher risk of toenail fungus if you are older, wear socks or shoes that dont allow air to get in and out well, walk barefoot in damp places like around pools, or have other foot conditions like athletes foot. Health conditions that affect your circulation or your immune system also make you more likely to get toenail fungus.
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Surgical Toe Fungus Removal Treatment
This is the last resort to treat the toenail fungus condition. The whole nail can be removed or part of it can be removed to allow a healthy growth of the nail. Sometimes the nail might be removed with some skin underneathit depends on the level of infection. This will ensure that the nail that grows back will not be susceptible to infections.
Over the counter remedies bought from your local drug store are not expensive. However, they are not as strong and might not completely clear the fungal infection. If they clear the infection for some time and it comes back, seek an alternative cureby visiting a podiatrist for further treatment.
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Key Takeaways About A Toenail Fungus
Your toenails can become infected by multiple types of fungus, the most common being dermatophytes. While toenail fungus can affect people of any age, older people and people with poor circulation to the lower extremities are more prone to infections. Proper foot hygiene is crucial to preventing toenail fungus, as is being aware of which public spaces are most likely to breed fungus and bacteria. Toenail fungus is not usually dangerous but can be difficult to treat.
The expert podiatrists at Weil Foot & Ankle Institute can help treat this issue using acombination of oral medication, medicated topical solutions, and Lunula Laser treatments.
if you have toenail fungus which has not responded to over the counter treatment, Weil Foot & Ankle Institute is here to help. Contact our office to schedule your next appointment today. We look forward to working with you to get you back to feeling your best.
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Toenail Fungus Treatment In Ohio
Toenail fungus infections can be easily treated with the help of an experienced podiatrist. Attempting to treat the infection without a professionals help can lead to more problems.
The experts at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care provide accurate and quick diagnoses as well as effective treatments for all toes of foot and ankle issues, including toenail fungus.
Our podiatrists provide the most advanced and effective treatments for your foot and ankle needs. To arrange an appointment, call one of our 18 locations across southwest Ohio. You can also request an appointment online.
What Is A Fungal Infection
There are two broad categories of fungal infections:
Dermatologists treat fungal infections of the skin, as well as fungal infections in hair and nails. Often, these infections appear as itchy, scaley, rashes on the skin.
Superficial infections are known by common names such as athletes foot and ringworm, or by medical names that indicate the fungus and location. These infections include:
Nail fungus, knowns as onychomycosis or tinea unguum, is the most common fungal infection with over three million cases a year.
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