What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose Toenail Fungus
Your healthcare provider will probably take a small sample from underneath your nail to further analyze it. Viewing the cells under a microscope can confirm a toenail fungus diagnosis. If the initial test is negative, a scraping can be sent to see if the fungus grows out in a culture. This also helps your healthcare provider identify the type of fungus.
What Are Other Treatment Options For Toenail Fungus
Common treatment options for toenail fungus include taking oral medications, applying topical antifungal medications, or a combination of both. Medications prescribed be a podiatrist offer a higher rate of success. Patients who don’t respond to prescription medicines may need to undergo laser toenail fungus therapy to effectively treat the toenail fungus.
Should I Cut Off My Fungus Toenail
If you have a toenail problem, your doctor will probably recommend one or more of the following treatment options: Trimming the Toenail Trimming the toenail is usually combined with medication, but having a podiatrist periodically trim the nail down is helpful and allows the medication to work better.
Also Check: How To Stop Picking Skin Around Nails
What Side Effects And Drug
The possible side effects of itraconazole include headaches, dizziness, stomach and bowel problems, and rashes. Itraconazole can also interact with a number of other drugs. These include cholesterol-reducing and blood-sugar-lowering medications, as well as certain sleeping pills. It is therefore important to let your doctor know about any medication you take. Itraconazole is not an option for people with heart failure . It also isnt suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Terbinafine can cause gastrointestinal problems and a temporary loss of taste and smell. It can also interact with certain antidepressants and heart medications. Overall, terbinafine has far fewer drug-drug interactions than itraconazole. Nevertheless, its still important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication. As a precaution, this medication should not be taken during pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding.
The studies only rarely reported on how often the different side effects occurred. But most people tolerate nail fungus medications well. Only a few people in the studies stopped treatment because of side effects.
But there is a very small risk of liver damage from taking itraconazole or terbinafine. For this reason, people with a liver disease are only given these medications if its absolutely necessary.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Gel Nails
Tea Tree Oil Garlic And Calendula Flowers
The allicin present in garlic possesses strong antimicrobial properties which are effective in dealing with fungus. Calendula flowers also contain antifungal properties. This combination is effective in treating moderate to severe nail fungus infection.
- Heat 3 tablespoon of olive oil on low flame.
- Add 4 garlic cloves and 10 shredded calendula leaves.
- Let it simmer for 7 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, strain, and let it stand aside overnight.
- In the morning, stir in 1 tablespoon of vitamin E cream or oil and 3 teaspoons of tea tree oil.
- Mix well and apply enough amounts of the mixture on infected nails.
- Repeat the process 3 times in a day.
Note: Store the remaining mixture in an airtight container for daily use.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Nail Tech License
Can You Really Pick Up Infections Or Nail Fungus At Salons
You can. Anytime your nails are getting wet, cut or filedor your cuticles are being trimmedit is an opportunity for bacteria and fungi to get in under the nail.
Both bacteria and fungi can cause nail infections and are very common in the environment. You can easily pick up a nail fungus, for example, at a swimming pool, from the gym floor, the dirt outside or even from a family member.
Also Check: Repair Nails After Gels
How Long Does Tea Tree Oil Take To Work On Nail Fungus
27.8 percent of participants in the research completely healed their nail fungus after using it topically every day for 48 weeks, while 55.6 percent of people reported some improvement in their condition after using it. Nevertheless, further research is required. The tea tree, which is native to Australia, is the source of tea tree oil.
Recommended Reading: Public Liability Insurance For Nail Technician
How Do I Know If My Toenail Fungus Is Dying
The top five warning signals that the fungus on your toenails has gone nuclear
Can A Nail Fungal Infection Be Prevented Or Avoided
Avoid situations that expose you to a fungus. This includes walking barefoot in locker rooms and having wet hands and feet often. This might be a problem for people who work in restaurants or house cleaning. People in a family can get nail fungal infections at the same time. This happens when their immune systems arent able to fight off the infection. Or it could be the infection is spread when using the same towels. It is important to routinely clean your shower, tub, and bathroom to lower risk of fungal infection.
You May Like: How To Do Nail Art At Home
How To Use Tea Tree Oil To Cure Your Toenail Fungus
NB: Tea Tree Oil is for topical use only and is not to be swallowed. A small percentage of people also seem to be allergic to topical application of the oil.
Toenail Fungus: What You Need To Know & Healing Options
Sandal season isnt a celebrated time for everyone. If you have noticed your toenails arent looking as smooth and healthy as they used to, and you are too embarrassed to slip on your leather sandals this summer, perhaps there is something more serious going on.
Toenail fungus often goes unnoticed, especially in the elderly, as most people may think its just part of the aging process. However, toenail fungus is quite a common infection and is prevalent among both young and older adults.
This post looks at how to identify, treat, and prevent toenail fungus and how Yeargain Foot & Ankle can help you heal.
Recommended Reading: What Do Your Nails Say About Your Health
Can I Wear Nail Polish If I Have Toenail Fungus
You may feel tempted to cover up a discolored toenail with nail polish. But if youre using a topical antifungal, you probably shouldnt use polish. Your healthcare provider may tell you not to wear it in any case.
Nail polish traps in moisture from your nailbed . Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse. However, your nail continues to grow with or without polish.
Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus
If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.
Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Recommended Reading: Lily And Fox French Manicure
What Kills Toenail Fungus Fast
How Can I Know That My Nail Fungus Is Healing
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Read Also: How Do I Stop My Nails From Peeling
Ways On How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is very unsightly. It is a common problem which can lead to discoloration of the toenails. If left untreated, it causes the toenail to crack, crumble, or create a dead toenail. The worst thing is, it can create a foul smell. So you can see now why people having a toenail fungus are so eager to get rid of it. Well it is impossible not to wear shoes so as to avoid the occurrence of infection. The best thing you can do is to do other ways to get rid of toenail fungus.
Give your Toenails Good Hygiene
You can avoid and minimize toenail fungus by keeping yourself always clean as well as your feet. Keep them always dry and groomed too. Fungus likes to stay in a moist place rather than a dry one. Keep your feet dry from water and sweat, change your socks often and wear dry shoes and for sweaty feet, wear open-toed shoes. Avoid going to public pools, showers and locker areas. If you cant avoid to, you can use shower shoes in this areas.
Give Feet a Smart Foot Care
Oral Medication
There are some oral medications that can be purchased to kill toenail fungal infection. You can consult your physician regarding this method. These oral medications must contain an active ingredient like terbinafine or itraconazole. These will enhance a new and healthy nail growth and stop the infection from spreading only you wont be completely fungus-free until the new nail has grown out fully and this takes several months.
Topical Medications
The Earliest Signs Of A Fungal Toenail Infection
The initial signs of toenail fungus are very subtle. They might not even register as a potential infection at all unless you know what youre looking for.
The earliest signs include:
- Unusual white or yellow streaks or spots in the nail
- Crumbling along the edges or tips of the nail, particularly where its discolored
- Flaking of the nail in certain areas
- Increasing distortion of nail shape
- Potentially more noticeable foot odor
The spots and streaks can be a particularly tricky symptom, as such marks can appear when you have bumped your toe against something as well.
The best way to tell the difference between nail trauma and a fungal infection is to keep an eye on the marks for a while. Marks from a nail injury will eventually fade or grow out as the nail does. Spots and streaks from a fungal infection, however, will gradually change shape and grow.
If you are uncertain of your symptoms, it is never a bad idea to err on the side of caution and have them checked out anyway. Even if it doesnt turn out to be a fungal infection, youll at least have the peace of mind of knowing.
Also Check: How To Grow Long Strong Nails
Scroll For Disturbing Toenail Fungus Pictures Below
The first symptom you may notice is a small white or yellow spot on the nail, this spot may be very small making it hard to notice. The small spot on the nail is the beginning stages of the fungal infection and with time will grow and progress to a much larger area, sometimes engulfing the whole nail. The lack of discomfort, and the use of nail polish in women, can allow this minor change to go by un-noticed.
Read Also: Vicks Vapor Rub And Toe Nail Fungus
Treatment For A Fungal Nail Infection From A Gp
A GP can prescribe antifungal tablets. But before they give you tablets they should take a sample of your nail and have it tested, to find out what type of infection you have.
You may need to take antifungal tablets for up to 6 months.
The tablets can have side effects, including:
- feeling sick and diarrhoea
You cannot take antifungal tablets if you’re pregnant or have certain conditions. They can damage your liver.
Badly infected nails sometimes need to be removed. It’s a small procedure done while the area is numbed .
You May Like: What Is The Healthiest Nail Treatment
Living With A Nail Fungal Infection
If you have a nail fungal infection, some things can help:
- Keep your nails cut short and file down any thick areas.
- Dont use the same nail trimmer and file on healthy nails and infected nails. If you have your nails professionally manicured, bring your own nail file and trimmer from home.
- Wear waterproof gloves for wet work . Wear 100% cotton gloves for dry work.
- Wear socks made of wicking material . This pulls moisture away from the skin. Change your socks when they are damp from sweat or if your feet get wet. Put on clean, dry socks every day. Put over-the-counter antifungal foot powder inside your socks to keep your feet dry.
- Wear shoes with good support and a wide toe area. Dont wear pointed shoes that press your toes together.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms.
What Causes Fungal Nail Infections
A fungal nail infection occurs when a fungus infects a fingernail, toenail or the skin under the nail .
- You are more likely to get a fungal nail infection if your nail has been damaged through small cuts in the skin around your nail or through the opening between your nail and nail bed.
- You can get a fungal nail infection from sharing personal items such as nail clippers, or towels, walking barefoot in public showers or pools, or if you have athletes foot , where the fungus spreads from your skin to your nail.
- Smoking, having have certain other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease and taking medication that weaken your immune system can increase your risk of getting a fungal nail infection.
Don’t Miss: Chloe’s Nails And Spa
Get Rid Of Your Toenail Fungus Asap
Whether you are seeing early signs of a fungal toenail infection or your toes are already deep in the thick of it, there is no reason to wait any more to receive the treatment you need.
The longer an infection goes unaddressed, the firmer a hold it will have within the nail and the more challenging it will be to treat. We are still up to that challenge, of course, but we would rather save our patients as much time and effort as possible!
Our team at Family Foot Care & Surgery will carefully examine your case and provide our best recommendations for a course of action. The sooner the fungus is destroyed, the sooner your nails can heal, and the better you can avoid more substantial damage.
Call our offices in Milford, or Hamden, , to schedule an appointment with us, or fill out our online contact form if you prefer to reach us electronically instead.
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
Don’t Miss: How Much Do Acrylic Nails Cost
What Causes Tinea Unguium
A type of mold called a dermatophyte causes tinea unguium. Dermatophytes are fungal microorganisms . They feed off of keratin, a protein found in your fingernails and toenails. Keratin makes nails hard.
Dermatophytes are the cause behind 90% of toenail fungal infections. But other types of fungi can infect your toenails as well.
Toenail Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors
Toenail fungus is a fungal infection in the toenail. It happens when a fungus anything from mold to yeast to other types of fungus gets in the nail bed from a cut or break in the nail or repetitive trauma to the nail, and penetrates the nail itself, says Dr. Sundling. The nail then continues to grow with the fungus. Once a nail plate is infected with fungus, it will never not be infected, and you must wait to see how it grows out and whether the new nail growing behind it is healthy. The new nail rarely grows in healthy without treatment, says Sundling.
Toenail fungus is very common 14 percent of people have it in North America, according to an article published in the journal PLoS Pathogens and its more common the older you get, adds Sundling. Wearing shoes that are too small can damage the nail and make it more vulnerable to fungus, as can having a fungal infection on the skin of the foot and not treating it, which could expose the nail to fungus. You may be more at risk to toenail fungus if you have diabetes, or a weaker immune system.
Read Also: What To Do For Peeling Nails
