When To Contact A Doctor
Toenail fungus is typically not a significant problem for most people. However, if there are no improvements or complications occur as a result of home remedies, people should speak with a doctor and stop using the home remedy as soon as possible. It is also advisable to contact a podiatrist if a person notices any discoloration, thickening, or abnormality of the toenails.
Furthermore, people at higher risk for complications should seek medical treatment for their toenail fungus and avoid home remedies altogether. This includes those with diabetes or with weakened immune systems.
Put A Stop To Painful Toenails
How long have you been managing that dodgy toenail? A month? A year? More, maybe?
At first, a slight yellowing of the nail and ridges that thickened the surface didnt feel like the most urgent issue in your week. You figured it would grow out on its own soon enough. And yet its still there now, months later, getting more painful to touch every passing day.
Time to get it fixed. Not only are they a painful nuisance that can lead to difficulty walking, fungal nail infections can easily spread to other toes other peoples, as well as your own.
An Established Fungal Infection Is Hard To Eradicate But You Can Stop Its Spread And Improve Your Toenail’s Appearance
Toenail fungus isn’t 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. Most often, you should consider fungal toenail a condition to be managed rather than cured.
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How Do You Get A Fungal Nail Infection
Most fungal nail infections occur as a result of the fungi that cause athlete’s foot infecting the nails.
These fungi often live harmlessly on your skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places like the feet.
You’re more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you:
- don’t keep your feet clean and dry
- wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
- walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms
- have damaged your nails
- have a weakened immune system
- have certain other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease
Fungal nail infections can be spread to other people, so you should take steps to avoid this if you have an infection.
What Are Treatments For Toenail Fungus
Do you need to treat your nail fungus? Maybe it doesn’t hurt, and the yellow, thick nails don’t bother you.
But nail fungus doesn’t go away by itself. And if you don’t treat it, there’s a chance it could get worse. It could spread to other nails or through your body. It could cause pain when you walk.
There are a number of ways to take care of it, including:
Nonprescription options. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn’t look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract — but studies show mixed results.
Prescription polish and creams. Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. They may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure itâs really a fungus and to find out what type it is.
The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or they may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
Prescription medications. One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell them about any other meds youâre taking — some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
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Why Is Athletes Foot So Contagious
Athleteâs Foot is a fungal infection that affects the feet. Fungal infections can transmit through direct contact. Therefore, they can quickly spread if people do not take the necessary precautions. The causes of a breakout of an Athleteâs Foot may vary, but the root of the issue is fungi growth, which happens in damp or humid conditions. The infection usually appears between the toes, but symptoms can also spread to the bottom of the feet. Athleteâs Foot can be a recurring problem without proper treatment. If you are in need of treatment for Athleteâs Foot, schedule an appointment with our podiatrist in Port Washington to get started!
Causes Of Athleteâs FootSince a fungus is the cause of Athleteâs Foot, the environment is usually part of the issue. Fungi generally thrive in damp or moist environments, such as socks. Remaining in sweaty or wet socks after exercising or getting caught in the rain can allow the fungus to grow. Other damp environments that are known to facilitate the spread of Athleteâs Foot are public showers, pools, and locker rooms. Walking around these places barefoot puts yourself at risk of developing Athleteâs Foot.
SymptomsAthleteâs Foot usually manifests itself as cracked skin between the toes. However, there are other signs of this infection. These include:
1. Itchiness3. Blisters4. Dry or scaly skin at the bottom of the feet
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What Is Tinea Unguium
When a dermatophyte causes toenail fungus, the condition is called tinea unguium. A dermatophyte is a mold that needs a protein called keratin to grow. Keratin is the main structural material of your nails that makes them hard. Dermatophytes cause 90% of toenail fungal infections. Tinea unguium is also known as onychomycosis.
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How Soon Will I See Results After My Toenail Laser Treatment
On average, a toenail will replace itself every 9 -12 months. Healthy new nail growth will be visible within the first 2 months as your nail continues to grow following the laser treatment. As part of the treatment plan we highly recommend the use of a topical anti-fungal agent to prevent cross contamination and the use of an anti-fungal shoe spray to reduce the risk of re- contamination.
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Side Effects Of Toenail Fungus Medication
One of the many benefits of using a homeopathic remedy is that there are little to no adverse side effects. Topical treatments often prescribed to treat toenail fungus can potentially burn or blister the skin. Oral medications for treating onychomycosis can cause liver or gastrointestinal damage. Be sure to read your medications list of potential side effects. Consult your pharmacist, healthcare provider, or specialist if you are concerned about side effects of prescription drugs.
Triple Fungus Blast Or Tropical Creams
The laser treatment is an expensive way to cure the toenail fungus, a lot of people still believe that the toenail fungus can revive if we do not take proper care of our health and immune system.
In such a case, the Triple Fungus Blast can be the life saver. This supplement is designed and manufactured to fight the toenail fungus while maintaining your immune system at its best.
The Triple Fungus Blast is better than the topical creams and other supplement as it contains all the essential ingredients to kill the fungus and strengthen the good bacteria in the gut and blood.
Also, there are other home remedies to help getting rid of toenail fungus. These are not the best and can even be compared to laser technology or Triple Fungus Blast.
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Cons Of Using Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus
Its Still Considered Experimental Treatment
Because few studies have been done on the efficacy of laser toenail fungus treatment and none have been done on the long-term effects of the method, it is still viewed as experimental treatment with questionable success results.
Some Argue the Treatment is Ineffective
In a recent study done with the Noveon laser, only 1/3 of patients saw results meaning treatment could be hit or miss, depending on each individual case.
Possibility for Tissue Damage in Some Cases
As with any medical treatment, there is a slight risk involved. Though it is rare, some doctors argue that there is a possibility for skin and tissue damage when the laser beam is directed to the deepest levels of the nail.
Its Expensive
Toenail fungus removal lasers two being the PinPointe FootLaser and the Cutera GenesisPlus are quite expensive for medical facilities to purchase, so the fees for patients to use them are quite high. One laser toenail fungus removal session could cost anywhere from $600 to $1500 and its a process generally not covered by health insurance.
Before deciding whether or not to try laser toenail fungus removal, be sure to consult with a podiatrist or a dermatologist about your condition. Toenail fungus comes in many forms and can look like other foot diseases and ailments, so its important to get a positive diagnosis and professional advice before spending money on expensive treatment options.
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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.
Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus Did Not Prove Effective
Becker and Bershow reviewed the scientific studies of laser therapy for toenail fungus and found no effective results in randomized, controlled, clinical trials. In addition, the therapy was not painless and recurrence of fungal infection was high.
However, the authors of the literature review acknowledged that reinfection is so common with nail fungus that it is possible that reinfection, not recurrence of the original infection, was responsible for the unpersuasive results.
Another study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, noted that laser treatment did not produce a cure when tested on humans with toenail fungus. The researchers noted that only one kind of laser light was tested. Nevertheless, they stated about their results: In vivo treatment did not result in onychomycosis cure meaning that the testing of laser treatment on human patients did not produce a toenail fungus cure.
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Does Tea Tree Oil Work
Results from scientific studies supporting the use of tea tree oil to treat nail fungus are mixed. Some of the research points to tea tree oils potential as an antifungal, but more studies are needed.
According to a 2013 study, tea tree oil was effective in reducing growth of the fungus Trichophyton rubrum in nail infections. T. rubrum is a fungus that can cause infections such as athletes foot and nail fungus. Improvements were seen after 14 days.
This study used an in vitro model, which is sometimes called a test-tube experiment. In in vitro studies, the experiment is done in a test tube instead of on an animal or human. Larger human studies are needed to expand on these findings.
Combining tea tree oil with standard medicated creams is also an option. A small 1999 study found that participants were able to successfully manage toenail fungus by using a cream that contained butenafine hydrochloride and tea tree oil.
After 16 weeks of treatment, 80 percent of participants who used this cream cured their toenail fungus with no relapses. No one in the placebo group cured their nail fungus. Further studies are needed to determine which of these ingredients is most useful in treating nail fungus.
Results of a 1994 study found pure tea tree oil was equally as effective as the antifungal clotrimazole in treating fungal toenail infections. Clotrimazole is available both over the counter and by prescription.
How The Hyperblue Plus Laser System Helps
The FDA-cleared HyperBlue PLUS laser system works by using specific wavelengths that penetrate through your toenail to kill the fungus that lives in the nail plate and surrounding tissue.
Unlike traditional treatments, which include topical and oral antifungal medications, the HyperBlue PLUS laser targets fungus embedded in your nail beds beneath your toenail, which is hard to reach with other therapies. But you can rest easy knowing the laser doesnt affect healthy nails or the surrounding tissues.
The HyperBlue PLUS laser treatment typically involves three sessions over eight weeks, though the number of sessions depends on each patients individual needs and may be useful in preventing future infections. The process is fast and easy, taking 10-30 minutes, and doesnt cause any discomfort or side effects.
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Nurses Know That Home Remedies Knock Out Nasty Nail Fungus
Many people have been reluctant to go to a doctors office because of COVID-19. Unless something is really serious, the risks may seem too great. Nasty nail fungus infections just dont seem like that big a deal, but the longer they persist, the worse they get. When a condition is not worrisome, we are OK with home remedies. To be on the safe side, people with diabetes and those with psoriasis should have their discolored or deformed nails checked by a doctor.
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 If Nail Removal Is Considered
With laser therapy, topical medications, and oral antifungals in our arsenal, we almost never have to actually remove toenails to treat a fungal infection. It does still remain a rare possibility, however, if the case is extreme or continues to come back.
Why not consider nail removal earlier? Because when nails are fully removed, it doesnt necessarily guarantee that the new nail will grow in properly. The nail can grow back misshapened, thickened, or even with fungus re-infecting the toenail – leading you back to square one.
If the new nail comes back in an unpleasant manner or the fungus just continues coming back no matter what, we can treat the underlying nail matrix to prevent new nail from ever growing again . This does not place your nails at any real disadvantage, but its still nice to be able to keep your toenails if you can!
What Are The Risk Factors For Toenail Onychomycosis
The most prevalent predisposing risk factor for developing onychomycosis is advanced age, which is reported to be 18.2% in patients 6079 years of age, compared to 0.7% in patients younger than 19 years of age. Further, men are up to three times more likely to have onychomycosis than women, though the reasons for this gender difference are not clear . Moreover, the low prevalence of infection in people whose spouses have onychomycosis compared to the prevalence among their children suggests a genetic risk factor . Though extremely rare, one study reported four family members from seven unrelated groups with a common genetic trait who developed a dermatophyte infection of deep tissues that proved fatal .
Other risk factors include diabetes and conditions contributing to poor peripheral circulation . In fact, onychomycosis may represent an important predictor for the development of diabetic foot syndrome and foot ulcers . Patients who are immunosuppressed, such as those with HIV infection and those undergoing cancer therapy, are also predisposed to fungal nail infection . There is at least one case report of a toenail infection caused by Fusarium that developed into a fatal systemic infection in a lymphoma patient following a bone marrow transplant .
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