How To Choose The Best Fungal Nail Treatment For You
Do I need a fungal nail treatment?
If you’ve noticed that one or more of your toenails has got thicker, slightly discoloured and yellow, and is perhaps getting brittle enough for bits to break off or even start separating from the nail bed, it’s pretty likely that you have a fungal nail infection . You can treat it at home using one of the products we recommend below.
If you’re not sure, show the nail to your local pharmacist, who’ll be able to confirm that you’ve got a fungal infection and not some other less common nail problem.
What should I look for in a fungal nail treatment?
Amorolfine, ciclopirox and pentylene glycol are among the most-used active ingredients of anti-fungal nail treatments. They restore pH balance, kill fungal and bacterial infections, and allow the nail to grow healthily from its base.
Urea also blitzes fungus and can be aggressive enough to kill the infected nail tissue completely. Be careful not to get a strong urea-based treatment onto healthy skin.
If the nail has grown very thick, you might want to file the surface first to help the solution penetrate it and reach the infected skin below. A couple of our recommended products come with files included.
Some fungal nail treatments double up as nail polishes, so they cover up the problem while also treating it. You can also get nail treatment pens, which make anti-fungal treatments really easy and safe to apply.
Best Natural: Healing Solutions Tea Tree Essential Oil
If you’re in search of a totally natural nail fungus treatment option or just an easy at-home remedy, Dr. Chen suggests tea tree oil. Naturally anti-fungal, “it’s been studied to be just as effective as clotrimazole, the active ingredient found in many over-the-counter fungal treatments,” she says. You never want to apply an essential oil directly to the skin , however, so dilute it with a carrier oil , before dabbing it onto the nail and surrounding skin. This tea tree oil, specifically, has more than 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, so it’s a total no-brainer.
One reviewer said: “I bought this to combat nail fungus. I’ve had it for years. No matter what I used, nothing made a dent. This was true until I tried tea tree oil. In a matter of days, my nails have started to clear up!! Highly recommend.”
Essential Oil For Fungus Nail
Before we start, I really want to clear this issue. Many people when searching for oils, buy the wrong oil and complain that the essential oil was not effective on toenail fungus.
The main difference between the essential oil, and the regular oil is the making of the oil. The essential oils are not extracted like the regular coconut oil or olive oils.
These oils are distilled liquids created through the plants. Essential oils are potent than the regular oil as they contain the essence of the plant.
There are so many essential oils available in the market which can be use used but here, we will cover the best of the essential oils to treat nail fungus.
Also, these essential oils have proven for the treatment of toenail fungus which, we have analyzed also from our patients.
So, Lets check and study each one of these essential oils, their methods to treat nail fungus, and the best of them available in the market which you can go for.
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How Soon Will I Be Able To See Improvement To My Toenails Or Fingernails After Treatment
It usually depends on the origin of the fungal infection. If it was at the root of the nail, improvement can be seen as early as 3 weeks. A continuous improvement will be gradual as the nail continue to grow out. Typically, a significant overall improvement will be seen after 3 months. As a rough estimate, toenails may take 9 12 months to grow out completely, and fingernails may take 6 9 months.
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What Is The Outcome For Someone Who Has Nail Fungus
With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months.
To clear the fungus, its important to:
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Use the treatment exactly as prescribed
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Apply the medicine for as long as prescribed
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Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist
Nail fungus can be stubborn. If you had a severe infection, its possible to clear the infection. A healthy looking nail, however, may be unrealistic, but you can expect the nail to look better and feel more comfortable.
Even with clearing, nail fungus can return. Youll find steps to reduce your risk in Tips: 12 ways to prevent another nail infection.
ImageGetty Images
ReferenceGold LFS and Rosen T. Onychomycosis: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. Dermatology News . March 2016:2-15.
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Best Supplements For Toenail Fungus
So, here are the top 5 supplements that you can use to fix the nail fungus.
Remember that these are not like regular medicines that you can just get from any shop and there is a reason for that.
The reason is that these are specifically created to fix the fungus on nails, skin or even hair and are not sold everywhere.
And these are supplements, not medicines.
However, it is just very simple to buy these online and also, for your information, you would get a huge discount too, by going through our reference.
Also, these are not something costly to buy, for the price you will pay for a home remedy, you can get these too.
These are all Oral supplements that you can use easily to cure the nail fungus.
Oral nail fungus supplements
These are to repair the inefficiency of your body to tackle the nail fungus infection.
The severe toenail infection, which is not going anywhere for a long time, is a sign of some under-lying deficiencies and ill-health conditions.
To fight such fungus, you need to cure the internal body functions.
The nail fungus pill can be the best remedy to treat nail fungus when you are confused and tired of using many herbal remedies for nail fungus.
Because the fungal treating supplements for toenail is far more effective and faster than the homemade remedies for nail fungus.
Why? Because the internal body starts supporting the fungal infection when it is weakened.
So, lets see the most effective ones.
When Are The Different Treatments Considered
Most doctors recommend treating nail fungus with nail polish or cream if
- not much more than half of the nail is affected by the fungus,
- the base of the nail is not infected, and
- only some nails are affected.
Topical treatment is also usually recommended for children. One reason for this is that most oral medications arent suitable for children. Another reason is that children have thinner nails that grow more quickly, so its assumed that treatment with nail polish or creams is more likely to work in children than in adults. White superficial onychomycosis is also often treated with a nail polish or cream.
If several nails are infected by the fungus, or if the infection has spread out more on the affected nails, its usually necessary to take oral medication. And if the infection started at the base of the nail, its highly likely that only tablets will help.
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Bleach Toenail Fungus Treatment
Bleach is also an effective and one of the best home-remedies for nail fungus. many nail fungi infected person have reported that bleach has been an effective treatment to kill nail fungus.
Even though scientists are still researching on it, but it is undoubtedly a wonderful cure for many.
Most people who think it a useless activity to visit the clinics for nail fungus find it an absolute love. As it is available in almost every household.
The most wide-spread use of bleach as toenail fungus killer is as foot soaks.
Using the dilute bleach solution is fine, as the concentrated solution is a bit harsh on the skin. It may cause irritation as well.
Bleach is alkaline in nature, but it has the Hypochlorite ion, which is a great oxidizing agent killing all the microbes and bacteria.
How to use bleach to get rid of the nail fungus?
- You need a liter of water, and a tablespoon of bleach. Mix both he ingredients together and let them sit for almost seven minutes. Now, soak your feet in it for 30 minutes everyday till you see the improvement.
- Using it with petroleum jelly, you can apply as much as you want it is for the protection. Now take a Q-tip dip it in the bleach and apply on the infected spot.
- You can also have bleach pens to treat nail fungus as well. These are specially designed to work as a spot corrector.
Pros of using bleach for toenail fungus
- It kills the bacteria and other microbes on your skin.
- Affordable home remedy for nail fungus.
What Causes Nail 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. Moreover, if you have a fungal infection on the skin of your foot, this can also transfer to your nails.
Wearing closed 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.
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What Is The Best Medication For Toenail Fungus Management
The best medication for toenail fungus will depend on the individuals specific health problems, medical conditions, medications that the individual is already taking that may potentially interact with toenail fungus medications, and the individuals potential response to the treatment. It is advisable to always speak with your healthcare provider about the best medication for you. The table below includes a medication list of some of the most prescribed toenail fungus medicines as well as common starting dosages and side effects.
Who Can Treat Toenail Fungus
The medical term for toenail fungus is onychomycosis .
Onychomycosis accounts for 50% of all nail disease cases. Its commonly caused by dermatophytes *. It affects about 13.8% of North Americans, or about 79.9 million people*. So youre not alone. Onychomycosis occurs in 10% of the general population, 20% of persons older than 60, and 50% of those older than 70*.
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Thyme Oil For Toenail Fungus Treatment
Thyme/thymol oil is a very effective essential oil. If you are suing the oregano oil for nail fungus but want to have a change as both these oils can take months to show some results, you can alternate these two oils.
The reason why we are suggesting you alternate these two is the similarities in construction.
The oregano oil and thyme oil have an 85% similar structuring. Both have the strongest compounds for fungus and bacterial infections. They have the carvacrol, and thymol.
Along with it, the thyme oil has camphor, borneol, and linalool.
To use the thyme oil, you need to find a carrier oil, the best carrier oil for thyme oil can be the mustard and coconut oil.
However, if you feel annoyed by the mustard oil, you can try the olive oil or any other pleasant fragrant oil.
How to use thyme oil remedy for nail fungus treatment?
- Apply it directly, take a few drops of thyme oil and rub it on your entire foot. Many people think that applying it on the infected spot is enough, which is not. You need to detoxify the entire foot, because a lot of times the bacteria residing on the skin can support the growth of the nail fungus.
- Mix it in a foot soak. If you are making a foot soak of baking soda/Epson salt/ Hydrogen per oxide, mix a few drops of the diluted thyme oil in it.
- Make a paste with baking soda and thyme oil. It is a least known treatment and is mainly applied with clove oil, but you can shuffle the clove oil with thyme oil as well.
Cons of using thyme oil
What Types Of Treatments Are Available For Toenail Fungus
Until recently, toenail fungus treatment had been limited to topical anti-fungal creams/nail lacquer and oral medication. With limited success and many downsides, these treatments have become secondary to the more effective laser treatments.
The antifungal cream/lacquer has the lowest success rate, ranging from 5-12% . Unless you have extremely mild toenail fungus, topical treatments are very unlikely to effectively penetrate into, underneath, and around the affected toenail.
Prescribed oral medications work somewhat better . Howeverand this is big, however oral antifungal medications have significant medical risks and often interreact with other prescription drugs. Oral medications should not be prescribed without consulting a primary care physician, in order to ensure safety and protection during the months you would be taking these pills.
Side effects might include liver failure, rash, loss of taste, or change of taste , headaches, stomach discomfort, and lupus-like symptoms.
Topical medications require daily applications for at least a year, and often longer. Even then, a lifetime of application on some level is required to prevent a recurrence. Oral medications, similarly, require several months of pills and are usually associated with recurrence at some point afterward.
Studies show the success in clearing fungal infection through laser treatment was good enough for laser treatment to be FDA cleared and is now considered the ideal method to treat onychomycosis.
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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.
Top 5 Products For Nail Fungus Infections
Nail fungus is a very common condition that causes discoloration, white or yellow spotting, thickening and crumbling of the nail. It can be unsightly and sometimes painful. It is caused by fungi that get into the nail beds and multiply, leading to an infection. Several types of fungus can cause Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, including dermatophytes and Fusarium.
There are many products out there to treat nail and toenail fungus, some obviously better than others. Given a top quality product, containing ingredients clinically-proven effective in the fight against infections, nail fungal infections can be eliminated easily and swiftly.
But which ones are really effective?
We understand you want to eliminate your fungal infection fast to ensure your nails remain healthy and looking good and you want the very best nail fungus product to help you achieve that. To help you choose the best fingernail and toenail fungus treatment, we did the research on hundreds of products. We then identified the Top 5 products and put them under our microscope to ascertain superiority and effectiveness.
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What Is Keravita Pro Best Topical Treatment Toenail Fungus
Keravita Pro dietary supplement is made with natural ingredients. It provides the best support for those with nail fungus and others who might need an increase in essential vitamins or minerals. It helps improve hair, skin, and circulatory health, and boosts ones mood and general wellness. 60 capsules of Keravita Pro are worth one bottle. Each capsule is easy to swallow.
Keravita Pro was created by Florida businessman Benjamin Jones after a series of events that changed his life. He had suffered a great deal of toenail fungus as well as other foot and skin issues his whole life, and it had gotten worse years later. His wife, who was trying to transition to a healthier lifestyle, helped him overcome those issues by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Jones then collected all of the plant extracts that helped him to create a digestible supplement.
Why Is Emuaid The Best Treatment For Nail Fungus
Are you thinking about using the same old treatment that you have been using? How successful has it been so far in eliminating your fungus infected nails? Here is a list of reasons this topical treatment should be used before taking any medications or other topical treatments.
The price is low enough for everyone to afford.
The product works incredibly fast to remove the nasty looking fungus.
This is an all natural product that is a much healthier option to use than medications.
The product is environmentally friendly.
There are no harsh side effects for using this product.
With thousands of reviews for EMUAID®, there is little doubt that this is a great product that will help you in many ways. It will help to relieve you with your medical, mental, and physical issues. It is most commonly used to treat or prevent nail fungus. If you are ready to bring your confidence back, then you should go purchase this topical ointment today. You will be wearing these sandals you love in not time at all.
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