Over The Counter Remedies
Antifungal creams and lotions are available without a prescription at your local drug store.
Theyre not expensive, but they dont always work to get rid of the fungus.
Its possible that a sickness treated this way will go away for a period before reappearing. Youll have to try something else if that happens.
Is It Fungus Or Melanoma
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can develop on the nail bed. It has a dark brown or black color and can be mistaken for toenail fungus or another toenail problem like a bruise. Melanoma is much less common than toenail fungus, but it can be life-threatening if not caught early.
Both toenail fungus and melanoma can appear as a dark stripe on the toenail and may increase in size over time. The toenail can become split and damaged in both conditions.
Toenail fungus is more likely to cause thickening of the toenail and a buildup of material underneath it. Melanoma causes the skin of the nailbed to change color, which does not happen with toenail fungus, but it can be difficult to see.
Because melanoma can be very aggressive, its important to have your doctor examine a darkened toenail. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis of toenail fungus by looking at clippings under a microscope and of melanoma by taking a biopsy.
When To See A Doctor About Toenail Fungus
If you are experiencing persistent toenail fungus or pain is present, you may need to see a specialist. A dermatologist or podiatrist may be able to assess your symptoms and send a small sample of the affected toenail or flesh to a laboratory to be analyzed as there are various types of fungi and yeasts that cause onychomycosis. Knowing the specific cause of your foot fungus can help identify what route to take to treat your condition.
Nail changes can also be caused by underlying conditions, like psoriasis and diabetes, so its important to seek professional medical advice if your condition persists or worsens. Bacterial and fungal infection of skin in diabetes patients often result in hospital admissions, and in severe cases, can result in amputations. If you are at a higher risk for infection, you should skip home remedies and seek professional medical treatment.
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Why Does Toenail Fungus Hurt
Toenail fungus hurts because the fungal spores tend to invade your skin cells under the nail and try to invade your body. The process is painful, just like any other infection on your body, initial pain is more like a pressure, from the thickness, but after a few months it will become as painful as nerve pain, when it gets pressed into the flesh .
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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.
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Toenail Fungus Treatment Complications
Here are some things to think about when deciding on a nail fungus treatment.
If you have a disease like diabetes, your doctor will make sure you treat nail fungus. This illness often makes you more likely to have other problems from minor foot issues.
You may not be able to take antifungal pills because of side effects or because they donât work well with other drugs you take. If that’s the case, try a product that goes onto your nail. Your doctor will call this a topical treatment.
Be patient. Your nails may not look “normal” after treatment. It can take as long as a year to 18 months for your nail to grow out a fungus.
How Fungi Infect The Nail
Onychomycosis, or toenail fungal infection, is an invasion by a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, damp environments. Fungal spores are in the air, and they will grow if they land on a receptive surface like your toenail. They feed off the nail tissues, burrowing into the skin under the nail. Over time the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won’t reattach, and a new nail won’t grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base.
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What The Experts Say
The most common presentation of toenail fungus is a white/yellow discoloration of the nail that is thick and filled with yellow/white keratin debris. The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies.Orit Markowitz, MD, founder and CEO of OptiSkin treatment center in New York City.
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What Are Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms And Signs
- Fungal nail infection usually does not cause any symptoms unless the nail becomes so thick it causes pain when wearing shoes. People with fungal nail infection usually go to the doctor for cosmetic reasons, not because of physical pain or problems related to fungal nail infection.
- As the nail thickens, however, fungal nail infection may interfere with standing, walking, and exercising.
- Paresthesia , pain, discomfort, and loss of agility may occur as the disease progresses. Loss of self-esteem, embarrassment, and social problems can also develop.
- Severe cases of Candida infections can disfigure the fingertips and nails.
Symptoms or signs of fungal nail infection based on subtype
Fungal nail infection is divided into subtypes that can be identified based on where the infection appears to be located relative to the structure of the nail.
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Laser Treatment For Fungal Nail Infections
Laser Treatment for fungal nail infections is now available at Podiatry Care. The team at Podiatry Care are the first to incorporate leading German laser technology to deal with fungus affecting toe nails and have over 5 years experience in administering laser treatment.
You may have spoken with your Podiatrist in the past about treating fungal nail infections. Without doubt it is one of the more difficult conditions to successfully treat. Until now messy and ineffective topical creams and ointments along with hazardous oral anti-fungal medications have been the only treatment available.
Often the side effects of the drugs and the inability of the medication to penetrate the nail and nail beds have meant poor compliance and subsequently very poor outcomes. The introduction of the 1064 Diode laser has meant we can now treat this embarrassing and often extremely stubborn condition with a success rate of up to 80%.
The treatment is safe, requires no anesthesia, there are no side effects and is a walk in, walk out procedure.
The patients love the ease of the procedure. The technology is so advanced that the only perceivable sensation is a slight warming effect. Even the most affected nails can be treated, with a great improvement in the appearance of the nails in 3 to 4 months following laser treatment.
Call Podiatry Care and ask about our special GAP FREE* assessment to see if you qualify for Laser treatment of your toe nail fungus.
Preventative Steps To Take
While you cant always help your risk factors for toenail fungus, there are some preventive steps you can take:
- Bring your own sterilized instruments, such as nail clippers, to a nail salon.
- Keep your toenails short and clean to prevent nail trauma that can lead to cracking. If you have difficulty trimming your own toenails, your doctor may recommend seeing a podiatrist to help.
- Dont share personal care items like fingernail clippers or pumice stones with another person.
- Throw away or treat potentially infected footwear.
- Wear clean socks and wash socks after use.
- Wear sandals when walking in a locker room, public shower, or any other places where fungus is likely to grow.
Toenail fungal infections have a high rate of recurrence, even after youve treated them. Thats why its important to couple treatment measures with preventive ones to give yourself the best chance for keeping your toenails healthy in appearance.
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Treating Nail Fungus At Home
How To Prevent Toenail Fungus
Because fungi are everywhere , they can be present months before they find opportunities to strike and before signs of infection appear. By following certain precautions, including proper hygiene and regular inspection of the feet and toes, chances of the problem occurring can be significantly reduced.
- Regularly clean and dry feet to resist disease. Follow a strict regimen of washing the feet with soap and water.
- Change socks and hosiery daily and change out shoes on a regular basis.
- Clip toenails straight across so the nail doesnt extend beyond the tip of your finger or toenails.
- Wear socks that are made of synthetic fiber to wick away moisture. Cotton and wool socks dont wick away moisture as fast as synthetic fiber does. This can be helpful in denying a hospitable environment for the fungi to grow in.
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What Are Fungal Nail Infection Treatments
Medications
In the past, medicines used to treat fungal nail infection were minimally effective. Fungal nail infection is difficult to treat because nails grow slowly and receive very little blood supply. However, recent advances in treatment options, including oral and topical medications, have been made. Newer oral medicines have improved treatment of fungal nail infection. However, the rate of recurrence is high, even with newer medicines. Treatment has certain risks, and recurrence is possible.
Surgery
Laser Treatment
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.
You shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.
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How Long Does It Take To Recover
You need to be consistent with the treatment in order to see results. It usually takes a few months for the nail to heal completely. Healing time depends on how severe the infection is and how quickly your body responds to the treatment.
The fungal infection is cured when youve grown an entirely new nail thats free from infection.
You can continue the tea tree oil treatment after the nail has healed to ensure that the nail fungus doesnt return.
Its important that you use a high-quality tea tree oil for best results. Here are some things to look for when buying tea tree oil:
- The oil needs to be 100 percent pure.
- Buy an organic oil, if possible.
- Look for a tea tree oil that has a 10 to 40 percent concentration of terpinen. This is one of the main antiseptic and antifungal components of tea tree oil.
You can buy tea tree oil online or at a local health store. Always buy from a brand that you trust. The supplier should be able to answer any questions you have about their product.
Research your brands and manufacturers. Essential oils can have issues with purity, contamination, and strength. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt regulate essential oils, so its important to purchase from a supplier you trust.
Laser Treatment For Fixing Toenail Fungus
Now, you know that toenail fungus could be painful if you ignore it from the start. So, let me tell you that you need to treat and fix your toenail fungus as soon as possible when you notice it on your nails. And one of the fastest and most effective methods to do so is by using laser treatment for the fungus on your toenails.
You may think it could be a bit costly, but it is the most effective and the fastest method to treat toenail fungus. The success rate of laser treatment is also very good. You can also check the laser treatment for toenail fungus review on fixnailsfungus.com and information about laser treatment there.
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There Is A Wide Range Of Options With Varying Success Rates
Other than keeping your toenails trimmed and perhaps painted, you may not pay much attention to them â unless a problem develops. Healthy toenails are pink, shiny and smooth, but a fungal infection can cause them to become discolored, thick, brittle and even painful.
Toenail fungal infection, known as onychomycosis, is a common but challenging condition toenail fungus treatments include a wide range of options with varying success rates.
Causes of toenail fungus
Fungal nail infections are usually caused by fungi called dermatophytes that infect the skin beneath the nail yeast is another common culprit. Toenails are especially vulnerable to infection when your bare feet contact damp surfaces such as showers, swimming pools and locker rooms. If you have athleteâs foot, the infection can spread to the nails.
Wearing closed shoes such as athletic shoes for extended periods also can contribute to infection if your shoes and/or socks are damp from perspiration or heat. Moreover, if your shoes fit snugly enough to put pressure on your toes, they can damage the nail bed, making it more susceptible to infection.
People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes or circulatory problems, also may be more prone to toenail infections.
Symptoms of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus symptoms can develop slowly over time and may go unnoticed at first. Symptoms can include:
Toenail fungus treatments
When to see a doctor for toenail fungus
Preventing toenail fungus
And When You Start Taking This Amazing Solution In A Short Time
- Youll completely eliminate the dangerous toenail fungus that affects millions without side effects⦠without expensive medical bills⦠and without the torture that most people go through to see progress right away!
- You wont have to worry about doctors visits or other embarrassing run-ins with people wholl judge you for your unsightly nails.
- And you will see and feel the difference in your toenails for the rest of your life.
Just imagine when you wake up, look down at your toes to see the fungus is GONE⦠knowing you and your loved ones are safe from the same humiliating fungal diseases that have plagued you and millions of others like youâ¦
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Who Is Susceptible To Fungus Infections
Fungal nail infections can have a wide variety of causes. Each cause is treated differently. Some risk factors raise the possibility of getting a fungal nail infection, despite the fact that many of the reasons are avoidable. A fungal nail infection is more likely to occur if you:
diabetes is a condition that results in impaired circulation. They use artificial nails and are over 65 swim in a public pool while suffering from a nail injury.
