Can Thick Toenails Cause Complications
Untreated toenail infections can cause some complications. Over time, the infection can get worse, and symptoms may become more severe. Toenails might thicken to the point that they cause discomfort when you try to wear shoes, or even make it more difficult to walk.
If you have preexisting medical conditions, treatment can be vital so that the fungus doesnt contribute to secondary infections or complications.
How Effective Are Topical Treatments
So far, only a few studies have looked into topical nail fungus treatments with nail polishes or creams. Because these studies had weaknesses, the results should be interpreted with caution. Amorolfine has not yet been well studied. Ciclopirox polish and treatment sets with urea and bifonazole cream were tested in a few studies.
Research on the effectiveness of nail polish containing ciclopirox showed that, after one year:
- About 10 out of 100 people who did not use ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 32 out of 100 people who used ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, treatment with ciclopirox got rid of the fungal infection in about 22 out of 100 people. But even if the fungus had gone away, the cosmetic result wasnt always satisfying. The nails only looked healthy after treatment in 7 out of 100 people.
Treatment with sets containing urea and bifonazole cream was tested in one study. It was compared with a treatment in which only urea cream was applied and the nail was removed, but without applying bifonazole cream afterwards. Three months after treatment was completed, it was found that:
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 41 out of 100 people who only used urea cream.
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 51 out of 100 people who used both urea and bifonazole cream.
Explaining The Cost Of Laser Toenail Fungus Treatment
Having toenails with a fungal infection can be embarrassing. In an effort to cure fungal nails, many people turn to over the counter treatments, which while inexpensive at first, rarely see long term solutions, and cost more over time. Others turn to more dramatic solutions, which can be painful and extremely expensive. Laser treatments, using the newest technology to destroy fungus at the source, have a high success rate and offer long term results. Considering the long term results, the cost of laser toenail fungus treatment is one of the best priced treatment methods available.
Also Check: Is There Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus
Overview: What Is Nail Fungus
The CPSA gratefully acknowledges Yuliya Lytvyn, PhD, MD candidate, University of Toronto, Richie Jeremian, PhD, MD Candidate, McGill University, and Charles W. Lynde, MD, FRCPC, DABD, FCDAfor assistance in the preparation of this report. June 2021.
Nail fungus affects about 8% of Canadians. In 90% of patients, it is caused by fungi and less commonly by yeast . The fungus usually invades the nail at the free edge and then spreads down the side toward the base. Less often, it starts from the base and moves upward. Infection may also occur in patches or streaks on the nail surface. Nail fungus infections are progressive, recurrent, and contagious. Therefore, nail fungus is challenging to manage due to difficulty in diagnosis, frequent recurrences, long-term treatment periods, and potential side effects of oral medications.
Page 1 of 5
Donât Miss: Best Treatment For Fungus Toenails
How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Nail Fungus
To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. Its important to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a skin infection caused by fungus like athletes foot.
To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out whats causing the problem.
Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?
Be sure to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.
You May Like: Does Medicaid Cover Toenail Fungus
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.
Dangers Of Using Bleach For Toenail Fungus
Bleach may actually cause toenail fungus to worsen and increase the likelihood of a toenail infection.
According to an article in the Asian Journal of Research in Dermatological Science, use of topical bleach can increase the risks for fungal infections because it can damage the skin and nails. This allows opportunistic fungus to come in through the damaged skin or nail and cause an infection.
You May Like: Laser Toenail Fungus Removal Price
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.
Tips To Prevent Fungal Nail Infections
Making a few simple lifestyle changes can help prevent a fungal infection of the nails. Taking good care of your nails by keeping them well trimmed and clean is a good way to prevent infections.
Also avoid injuring the skin around your nails. If youre going to have damp or wet hands for an extended amount of time, you may want to wear rubber gloves.
Other ways to prevent fungal infections of the nails include:
- washing your hands after touching infected nails
- drying your feet well after showering, especially between your toes
- getting manicures or pedicures from trustworthy salons
- avoiding being barefoot in public places
- reducing your use of artificial nails and nail polish
Products to help you avoid nail fungus
If youre prone to excessive moisture around your fingernails or toenails, consider buying:
Don’t Miss: Pedicures In St George Utah
What Makes It Bettertechnology
The technology used in the PinPointe is extremely outdated nowadays. The machine may look sleek and modern, but there are no improvements to the laser from the original model. The wattage for the PinPointe is only 4, while the Cutera is an 80 watt machine. Additionally, the PinPoint has a spot size of 1mm while the cutera has a 5mm spot size. The spot size is the area that the laser is actually delivered to and is able to treat at one time. The extremely small size of the PinPointe means it is very easy to miss some of the surface area of the nail. With the Cutera, it is easy to make sure you cover everything on the nail by overlapping partially when you move on to treat a new area. This not only makes the treatment more effective, but makes it much quicker to do as well. What would once take 40 minutes to an hour now only takes 15-20 minutes and the process is completed without the risk of missing areas.
The Best Nail Fungus Treatment: What Really Works For Yellow Crumbly Nails
Riverchase Dermatology
Nail fungus isnt pretty. The nails can become misshapen, thick, crumbly and brittle. They may turn a nasty color yellow, green or brown. Fungal infections of the nail can also produce a slightly foul smell. If youve developed toenail fungus or fingernail fungus, youre no doubt searching for the best nail fungus treatment, one that will restore your nails to normal as quickly as possible.
So, how to get rid of nail fungus fast? Unfortunately, its not easy. It may take trial and error to find the best nail fungus treatment for you, and no treatment for nail fungus can get rid of it overnight.
There are many over-the-counter nail fungus medicines available, but they may take two months or longer to work, if they work at all and the nail fungus may return. Topical medicines treat the fungus on the skin surrounding your nail but arent as effective at killing fungus in the nail bed.
If you think you have nail fungus, see you dermatologist to make sure. The dermatologist can make an accurate diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan.
Your dermatologist will likely trim the infected nail and scrape away any debris under it, which helps get rid of some of the fungus. The doctor may take a sample of the fungus to identify which type is causing the infection, which helps them decide the best treatment. Your nail fungus treatment plan may include any of the following.
You May Like: Will Nail Salons Do Nails With Fungus
How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
Toenail fungus is notoriously tricky to treat. You may need to treat tinea unguium for several months to get rid of the fungus. Still, toenail fungus often comes back.
A skin specialist or foot doctor can explain your treatment options. If you have a mild case that doesnt bother you, your healthcare provider may recommend no treatment.
Tinea unguium treatment options include:
Oral antifungal medication
You can take a prescribed oral antifungal medication to treat the fungus. Options include terbinafine , itraconazole or fluconazole . Youll need to take the medication every day for several months . Your healthcare provider may use blood tests to check for potential medication side effects. These medications can affect your liver and interact with other medications, so oral antifungals arent for everyone.
Topical medication
You can regularly apply a topical medication right onto your nail. The medication treats the fungus over time. Topical medications are most effective when paired with oral medications.
Laser treatments
Your healthcare provider will direct a high-tech laser beam and special lights at your toenail to treat the fungus. Lasers are U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for temporary increase of clear nail in nail fungus, but theyre not a cure. Cure rates for laser treatment are lower than oral and topical mediations. Your healthcare provider wont typically use lasers as first-line treatments for nail fungus.
What Causes Toenail Fungus And How To Prevent It
Unfortunately, the warm and moist environment inside your shoe can make you vulnerable to fungal infections. When these occur on the toenail, doctors call the condition onychomycosis. Fungal skin infections commonly called athletes foot can often affect the foot as well.
One of the you get a fungal toenail infection is when fungus invades small cracks in your toenail. Some people are at greater risk for this occurring, including those with:
- circulation problems, especially related to the feet
- history of injury, surgery, or damage to the nail
- impacted immune system function
You May Like: How To Apply Impress Nails
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.
What Is The Best Office For Laser For Nail Fungus
Are you wondering if our office might be the best office for your laser treatments? Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Because we offer three treatments for one price instead of just one treatment, our office is generally more successful than other offices in treating nail fungus.
- When comparing to other offices in New York City, our doctors do more lasers than most, resulting in more experienced doctors.
- Cutera Laser treatment is our specialty. It is the most advanced and modern treatment currently available that is FDA approved.
- As mentioned above, we are willing to adjust our treatments to increase our success rates while still maintaining the safety of our patients.
- Our doctors are young and ethical. They stay up to date with the latest information and believe in the value of keeping our patients happy and safe.
- We believe the best representation of our work are happy patients that are willing to voluntarily refer other people to us. We dont believe in gimmicky sales tactics.
- Our prices are the lowest in Manhattan and the New York City area.
Recommended Reading: How Much Do Nail Tech Make
Nail Fungus Consumer Review
If you have been affected by toenail fungus you are certainly not alone as an estimated one out of every four adults will experience onychomycosis at least once before the age of 40 making nail fungus treatments a growing business. The over the counter market is currently crowded with creams, sprays, powders, and lotions intended to kill the microscopic organisms that cause nail fungus and there are also a handful of prescription medications to consider, not to mention a list of some home remedies that some swear by.
Whos At Risk For Fungal Infections
There are many different causes of fungal nail infections. Each cause has a treatment of its own. Although many of the causes of a fungal nail infection are preventable, some risk factors increase the likelihood of developing one. Youre more likely to develop a fungal nail infection if you:
- wear closed-toe shoes, such as tennis shoes or boots
Nail infections occur more often in men than in women, and the infections are found in adults more often than in children. If you have family members who often get these types of fungal infections, youre more likely to get them as well.
Older adults have a high risk for getting fungal nail infections because they have poorer circulation. The nails also grow more slowly and thicken as we age.
A fungal infection of the nail may affect part of the nail, the entire nail, or several nails.
Common signs of a fungal nail infection include:
- a distorted nail that may lift off from the nail bed
- an odor coming from the infected nail
- a brittle or thickened nail
You May Like: Pinpoint Laser For Toenail Fungus
Prevention And Treatment Of Toenail Fungus
Once its taken hold, toenail fungus can be hard to kick. Here are some techniques for the prevention and treatment of toenail fungus.
Anyone who enjoys wearing open-toed sandals in the summer knows how good it feels to have healthy-looking toenails. But good looks arent the only reason to keep your toenails in top shape. Fungal infections of the toenails also known as onychomycosis dont go away on their own, and if left untreated, the fungus will spread and can eventually destroy the nail.
If you have comprised blood flow, theres even more reason to safeguard your toenails, since youll have trouble healing, says Ami Sheth, a doctor of podiatric medicine in Los Gatos, California, and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association. And once you have a wound, you can get fungal skin infections, which can lead to a subsequent bacterial infection if the skin breaks down, notes Dr. Sheth.
However, because toenail fungal infections are typically painless, people are often unaware that they have a problem unless they are inspecting their feet regularly.
Dont Miss: Does Nail Psoriasis Go Away
More Than Three Laser Treatments For Nail Fungus
We also often do more than three lasers. We tell our patients up front that three may not be enough treatments. When patients return two months after the third laser we determine if they need additional treatments. We charge half price for these additional treatments. See our pricing page for details.
If after three treatments the laser has not worked for individual patients, we also often change the laser parameters. We adjust the power, speed and how many pulses we perform. If after the three treatments we feel it is not working, we will tell you that, rather than you spending more money on treatment that may not work.
Back on the topic of success rates, while we cannot guarantee results, we have been seeing positive results with the Cutera laser for nail fungus.
Also Check: How Long Do Nail Polish Last
How And Why Do You Get This Fungal Infection In The First Place
Were all exposed to plenty of fungi and often nothing happens. Thats thanks to our immune systems. But if something weakens our immune systems or gives them an extra run for their money, the fungi may win.
So, a compromised or weakened immune system of any kind is often the culprit and increases your risk of getting a fungal toenail infection. A diabetic or someone whose blood flow to the feet is compromised, for example, weakens your bodys ability to do its thing in your toenails. An injury to the toenail can also make it tougher for your body to fight off fungi.
Men tend to get toenail fungus more than women. Its also seen more in older people if their immune system weakens. If you smoke, youre at a higher risk.
If someone in your family has it or someone you come into contact with a lot does, youre usually at a higher risk too.
