How To Treat Toenail Fungus
Despite what you may hear, covering your infection with nail polish or artificial nails will not get rid of toenail fungus, says the AAD.
There are a few different ways to get rid of toenail fungus, whether youre looking for home remedies or stronger prescribed treatments. Just know this, per Dr. Goldenberg: Treating toenail fungus is extremely difficult.
But the earlier you treat the nail infection, the more likely you are to cure it, explains, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York Citybased board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Treatment can take several months, even up to a year, as you need to wait for healthy nail to grow out, which is a slow process, he says.
If you prefer to go the natural route first, these are the home remedies worth tryingplus, stronger prescription options to ask about if the infection persists. It usually takes three months of treatment to cure a toenail fungal infection.
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
In rare cases, toenail fungus can cause an infection called cellulitis. Without prompt treatment, cellulitis may pose a serious danger to your health.
You should seek treatment guidance from a trusted healthcare provider if you have:
- Circulation problems.
- Redness, pain or pus near your toenail.
- A weakened immune system.
Editorial Note On The Review Process
F1000 Faculty Reviews are commissioned from members of the prestigiousF1000 Faculty and are edited as a service to readers. In order to make these reviews as comprehensive and accessible as possible, the referees provide input before publication and only the final, revised version is published. The referees who approved the final version are listed with their names and affiliations but without their reports on earlier versions .
The referees who approved this article are:
- Evan Rieder, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USANo competing interests were disclosed.
- Chris G. Adigun, Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USANo competing interests were disclosed.
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Soak In Listerine And White Vinegar
The combination of Listerines antifungal ingredients and vinegars acidity makes an inhospitable environment for fungi. This treatment is effective for green nails which may have whats called atypical organisms, says Dr. Goldenberg. If you have true toenail fungus, its less likely to work, though.
How to use it: Combine the two in equal portions and soak your toes in the solution, ideally for 45 to 60 minutes daily.
About Fungal Nail Infection
Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life. It’s not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted.
Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails.
The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis.
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Who Needs A Prescription Athlete’s Foot Treatment
People tend to regard athlete’s foot as a relatively minor and common skin infection, and that’s largely true. Studies suggest that anywhere from 15% to 25% of people will get athlete’s foot at some point in their life.
This doesn’t mean that an infection can’t turn serious, however.
Standard over-the-counter antifungal remedies are often enough to clear the fungus. When that’s not the case, prescription antifungals may be needed to clear the infection and prevent secondary infections .
Generally speaking, prescription medications are needed to treat athlete’s foot if:
- The infection hasn’t cleared after four weeks of self-treatment.
- The infection goes away but comes back repeatedly.
- The infection has spread to other parts of the body .
- You have developed a secondary infection, such as cellulitis.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
Home> What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus is an unsightly condition that can cause pain and embarrassment for those who are dealing with this condition. If you or someone you know is dealing with toenail fungus, getting treatment is most likely a priority. Our Best Foot Doctor offices in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens are highly experienced in treating cases of toenail fungus. If you have questions after reading this article or would like to schedule an appointment, you can give us a call today.
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How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Fast With Otc Treatments
You will find multiple options for over the counter medications that deal with toenail fungus. Here we will take a look at a few of the top names in the game to give you an idea of what is available as well as what you can expect from these various OTC products.
Emoninail is designed to penetrate the nail bed where the fungi lives thanks to a very effective and simple to use topical solution. One thing customers truly love about this product is their unique follow-up through a mobile app to help users get the best results as fast as possible. Another thing that customers appreciate very much is their money back guarantee. No results in 60 days? Full Refund! This product is backed by outstanding customer care and an impressive track record. Read more about Emoninail.
Zeta Clear This over the counter product offers a proven toenail fungus treatment. The company utilizes a powerful formulation that includes the FDA-recognized Undecylenic Acid along with other ingredients blended in therapeutic dosage. On its website, you can read that clinical studies have shown Zeta Clear to be up to 6 times more effective than similar OTC products! No wonder that for tens of thousands of people over the world ZetaClear has been the proper answer to the question how to get rid of toenail fungus as fast as possible. Read more about Zetaclear.
These OTC treatments offer some of the safest and fastest ways to get rid of toenail fungus.
> > Learn more about leading over-the-counter treatment
How Do Dermatologists Treat A Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail, cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.
To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:
Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months.
Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, its essential that you apply these medicines exactly as directed.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the following medicines that you apply to the nail to treat nail fungus:
Side effects from these medicines are generally mild. Possible side effects include redness and swelling, an ingrown toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment.
Antifungal pills, however, can cause side effects. Your dermatologist will watch you closely. Youll also need to have blood tests every month to check for problems.
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When To See A Medical Provider
If youve recently tried a home remedy for your toenail fungus but have not noticed an improvement in your symptoms, reach out to your medical provider for help.
Additional symptoms that warrant more immediate medical attention are:
- A fungal infection that doesnt go away or improve
- Toenails that are painful to touch, red, or drain pus
Step : Cleaning And Preparing Your Nails
Gather your tools. Calm your mind. Breathe. Clean your treatment space and make sure you wash your tools between each nail.
Part 1.1: Remove Excess Nail
- Cut nails: Cut the infected nails as low as possible without causing any pain.
- File nails:Using a nail file, lightly file the top, sides, and front of your nails.
- How this helps: Nail fungus lives and grows within the nail bed, directly under your nail. Your nails are actually protecting the fungus, so its important to remove as much of this barrier as possible before treatment.
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Best Overall: Ariella Nail Fungus Treatment For Toenail And Fingernail
No matter whether you’re trying to treat your fingernails or toenails, this Amazon fan-favorite nail fungus treatment will do the trick. Shoppers repeatedly rave about how it’s out-performed many similar products they’ve tried and how easy it is to use. To that point, it touts a super convenient and mess-free brush-on applicator, and the liquid formula dries very quickly. The brand promises you’ll see results in 2-4 weeks, and recommends applying the treatment 2-3 times per day to help eliminate discoloration and strengthen nails.
One reviewer wrote: “This is the only product that has worked on a nail fungus I’ve struggled with since high school. After decades of covering it with acrylic toenails, I decided to attack this at its roots. The pen-style allows easy application of the product. It also absorbs quickly into to the nail.”
Why Does It Develop
A fungal nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so this type of environment can cause them to naturally overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections.
Fungi that are already present in or on your body can cause nail infections. If you have come in contact with someone else who has a fungal infection, you may have contracted it as well. Fungal infections affect toenails more commonly than fingernails, likely because your toes are usually confined to shoes, where theyre in a warm, moist environment.
If you get a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon, be sure to ask how the staff disinfects their tools and how often they do it. Tools, such as emery boards and nail clippers, can spread fungal infections from person to person if theyre not sanitized.
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Where To Buy Kerassentials At The Best Available Price
Kerassentials is exclusively available on the official website of the product kerassentials.com. It is not available in general pharmacies or stores, but that is a good thing because ordering through the official website ensures that the product you receive is 100% authentic and not a rip-off of the original product. It is better to play safe when it comes to supplements and topical skin treatments because using fake products can worsen the infection instead of making it better.
Kerassentials retails at $69 per bottle but the price reduces to as low as $49 if you purchase bundle deals. The prices and discounts are as follows:
- One bottle of Kerassentials costs $69 with free US shipping.
- 3 bottles of Kerassentials cost $177 at $59 per bottle with free US shipping.
- 6 bottles of Kerassentials cost $294 at $49 per bottle with free US shipping.
Each bottle of Kerassentials has a supply worth 30 days which means it can be applied 4 times a day, 2 times in the morning, and 2 times at night for 30 days. The manufacturer recommends using Kerassentials for 4 to 6 months for best results. The bundle deals are a better option so that you do not have to reorder every month. There is no auto subscription so you would need to place a new order whenever you run out of Kerassentials. Only buy Kerassentials through the official website to avoid any scam. Heres the direct link to purchase Kerassentials
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Nail Fungus Case Studies
Sandy Getzky
The following analysis of nail fungus case studies represents The Global Nail Fungus Organization’s efforts over the last 10 years to gather and present real life stories of people suffering from finger and toenail fungus and their means of treatment. If you have nail fungus, or have successfully removed it from your life please share your story: Nail Fungus Treatment Survey.
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Ways To Safely Treat Toenail Fungus At Home
Stocksy/Design by Cristina Cianci
Toenail fungus sounds funky, but believe it or not, its much more common than you think. Thats because the pesky foot issuewhich most often presents as yellowing, cracking, and thickening of the nailscan be caused by everything from slower-growing nails and excessive sweating to athletes foot and walking barefoot in communal areas such as pools, shower rooms, gyms, and the like.
Most infections are caused by tinea species, but can involve harder-to-treat species of dermatophytes,” says Francisco Oliva, DPM. He adds that infections usually occur when theres a combination of issues affecting the toenail. Sometimes there is an injury to the nail at some point, he explains. The effects can be delayed for months and years. Once the fungus invades the nail, the keratin layer of the nail becomes a difficult barrier to penetrate.
What Are The Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus
The only good thing about toenail fungus is that its usually painless. Unfortunately, that can end up being a problem in the long run as people ignore it and allow it to grow.
The symptoms of toenail fungus arent the same for everyone, but they typically involve the following:
- Discoloring your toenail and making it appear yellow or brown
- Creating white spots on your toenail
- Making the toenail look dark, chalky, or cloudy
- Causing your toenail to grow much thicker
- Distorting the shape of your toenail
- Weakening your toenail and making it crumble
- Emitting a foul and unpleasant odor
- Cracking or breaking your toenail in one or more places
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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
- 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.
Common Home Remedies For Fungal Toenails
With any home remedy, its important to continue treatment for at least two weeks after the infection appears to be gone. This helps ensure that all the fungus is killed and prevents reinfection. You should also avoid sharing towels, shoes, socks, or other personal items with someone who has a fungal infection. If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation, see your doctor before using any home remedies for fungal infections.
Here are a few of the most common home remedies:
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Orange Oil: Remedy For Nail Fungus Infections
To get rid of toenail fungus, orange oil is also a good option. It can be applied with the help of a dropper between toes and on and under toenails, daily. Let it sit for at least one hour. Orange oil can also be used with an equal amount of any carrier oil.
Note: It is advisable to test some diluted orange oil on a small part of the skin before applying it to the infected area as it can cause allergic reactions and can have side effects.
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.
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Check If It’s A Fungal Nail Infection
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can get them on your fingernails, too.
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Staying One Step Ahead Of Toenail Fungus
An established fungal infection is hard to eradicate, but you can stop its spread and improve your toenailâs appearance.
Toenail fungus isnât a pressing health problem. Yet a fungal infection can ruin the appearance of your nails and cause pain as it lifts the nail away from the nail bed. And fungal infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of. âYou may want to consider fungal toenail a condition to be managed rather than cured,â says Dr. James P. Ioli, chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womenâs Hospital.
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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.
