How Long Does Toenail Fungus Take To Go Away

October 19, 2021

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What Tests Might I Have For Toenail Fungus

Why does it take so long for a fungal toenail infection to go away?

Your 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. It also helps your provider identify the type of fungus.

Does Toenail Fungus Ever Go Away On Its Own

Onychomycosis even the name isnt all that attractive. But when it strikes your toenails, the effects can be downright unsightly. Toenail fungus is an incredibly common, and tenacious, condition to deal with. Once it takes hold, the fungal infection seemingly mocks your every effort at eradication, which is where we come in.

At Jeremy Moran: Foot & Ankle Specialist, our team of podiatric specialists understands the difficulty that this seemingly simple problem poses. A fungal infection in your toenails, though not dangerous, is an unwelcome guest that can take up residence and plague your toenails for months, and even years.

If youd like to explore how we help our patients in Tomball, Texas, wave goodbye to toenail fungus, once and for all, read on.

What Is The Treatment Like For Laser Therapy

If you come to our Premier Podiatry and get our non-thermal cold laser therapy, youll start with a nail fungus evaluation to determine if you have onychomycosis and what the best course of treatment is.

The treatments are done in our office, which makes it easy for you. The treatment lasts about 12 minutes and is pain-free.

And theres no downtime. Well laser your fungus and youll get up and leave as nothing happened. Typically, youll come in for four treatments. But it depends on you and what your podiatrist recommends.

The laser destroys the fungus but the effects it had on your nail dont go away until the new nail grows in and pushes it off the nail bed so it can be cut off like you would when you trim your nails. It usually takes six to 12 months for a full new nail to grow in.

In addition to treatment, you can get basic care techniques from your podiatrist to keep fungus at bay going forward.

Also Check: How Do You Cure Toe Fungus

Nail Fungal Infection Treatment

Prescription medicines can treat a fungal nail infection. Oral antifungal medicines help a new nail grow. This will replace the infected nail. You may need to take antifungal medicine for 6 to 12 weeks. Some oral medicines are not safe for people who have liver problems. They are not safe for people who have a history of congestive heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have one of these conditions. Your doctor will decide which medicine is right for you.

Apply topical treatments to the top of your nail. Topical medicines usually do not cure fungal nail infections.

In severe cases, a doctor might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.

Risk Factors For Toenail Fungus

Who is most susceptible to toenail fungus? You are more likely to get toenail fungus due to various factors that subject your toenails to fungi or increase your vulnerability to it. The common risk factors for toenail fungal infection include:

Old age: The likelihood of developing toenail fungus increases at old age. This is because at old age there is reduced blood flow and your nails grow at a slower rate. In addition, you are more vulnerable to fungi, having been exposed to it for many years

Heavy sweating: Sweaty feet create a conducive environment for fungus to thrive and multiply. The fungi may attack the toenails, leading to a fungal toenail infection.

Wearing tight-fitting shoes: This prevents the foot or toes from breathing, making them sweat a lot. This results in a warm and damp condition that encourages growth of fingi.

Athlete foot infection: Those who have a history of athletes foot, which is also a fungal infection, are likely to develop toenails fungus. This usually happens when the fungus that causes athletes foot spreads to the toenails.

Staying barefoot: Walking barefoot in damp public places such as gyms, swimming pools, and shower rooms may expose your feet to fungi, leading to toenail fungus.

Nail Injuries: In case you get even minor injuries to your toenail or the skin around it, fungi may easily gain entry into the nail. Having skin conditions such as psoriasis may also cause sores around the toenail, subjecting it to fungus.

Read Also: How Long To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus

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, physician, or specialist if you are concerned about side effects of prescription drugs.

How Do You Know If You Have Toenail Fungus

Your best bet is to get your toenails looked at by your trusty podiatrist. If you see any of the signs weve mentioned, just make an appointment for an evaluation. Since the infection will usually spread, youre better safe than sorry.

Detecting it early also improves the chances for the treatment to do its thing and keep it from moving onto other nails or your skin.

Top Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus

There are many home remedies available nowadays for getting rid of toenail fungus, which means you have many choices. When it comes to which ones you should try, it’s really a matter of experimenting to see which home remedies may or may not work for you.

So what are some top home remedies for toenail fungus people use to address their fungal infection? See below for some of the more popular home remedies for treating toenail fungus.

Oils.Some oils contain antifungal, anti-bacterial, and/or antiseptic qualities. Tea tree oil, oregano oil, and peppermint oil are popular oils that include one or more of the above qualities. All you have to do is dab some of the oil directly on the toenail 2 or 3 times a day using a clean cotton swab. Note: Some oil combinations can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, making it necessary to check for any potentially bad oil combinations.

Garlic.Garlic includes strong antifungal properties, making this a top home remedy for treating particular strains of toenail fungus. Chopping up a clove of garlic and applying it directly to the infected nail for 20 to 30 minutes once a day for up to a week can help. Since garlic can create chemical burns on those with sensitive skin, pay close attention when using this home remedy for the first time.

Signs And Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus

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Discolored toenails: Toenail fungus can lead to discoloration of your toenails. Usually, the toenail turns white , black , yellow , or green .Sometimes, it may cause flaky spots with a mixture of these colors.

Thickened toenails: The toenails become thick and hard. The thickness and hardness of the toenails usually make them difficult to trim.

Distorted toenails: Fungus toenails develop unusual shape. They may become detached from the nail bed or appear to be growing in a sideway direction.

Rugged Toenails: It is common for toenails infected with fungus to develop an uneven or a rough texture on their surface.

Crumbly Toenails: Fungus toenails usually become soft and fragile or brittle. As a result, the nail may corrode or crack, or pieces may break off, making it have irregular or cracked edges.

Foul smell: Although rarely, fungal infection on toenails may cause a slightly foul odor, especially when the infection becomes serious and affect the surrounding skin.

Dark Color under toenails: The debris from the infected toenail may build up beneath the toenail, causing the appearance of dark color under the nails.

Pain and discomfort: Toenail fungus often cause pain or discomfort, especially when you or your shoes apply pressure on the toenails.

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Vicks Vapor Rub For Toenail Fungus Myth Or Miracle Cure

Is VICKS VapoRub for toenail fungus effective?

There our a lot of home remedies out there for curing toenail fungus, but a lot of them simply do not work. You have apple cider vinegar, Epsom salt baths, all the essential oils, etc.

VICKS Vaper Rub, which is really called the trademark name of VICKS VapoRub, is one of the many cheap treatment options out there that some people suggest But Does It Actually Work?

The answer is YES, at least to some extent… It definitely does have some potential as a treatment option as you will see. And… it’s easy to find in stores and it’s cheap, so of course this is something that a lot of people are going to be interested in, especially when you look at other treatment options which can get pretty darn expensive.

Some statistics say that around 10% of the population has at least some amount of toenail fungus and around 50% of people 70 years old and older have it. It’s a pretty crazy statistic and there is no doubt that toenail fungus is a big problem.

Much of the time it goes away on its own due to the body’s effective immune response, but sometimes it can get out of hand and requires serious attention. Of course you do not want that to happen so treating as soon as possible should be a priority.

Toenail Fungus Explained:

Thickened nails
Discoloration, usually whitish or yellowish
Brittle fractured nails
Darkened color from all the dead debris
Bad smells and strange looks from onlookers

How A Podiatrist Can Help With Toenail Fungus

How does a podiatrist treat toenail fungus? If you’ve tried one or more of the above home remedies to treat your case of toenail fungus and haven’t experienced any relief, then it’s time to make an appointment with a podiatrist. Professional treatment depends on the type of fungus you have, as well as the severity of the infection.

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How Long Does It Take To Cure Nail Fungus

When it comes to nail fungus, its important to differentiate between the time it take to treat or cure it versus the time it takes for a new, healthy nail to fully emerge.

It usually takes a few weeks to a few months to eradicate the underlying infection. This is most frequently accomplished by a combination of topical and oral antifungal medications. Because the fungus is protected from topical medications via the nail plate, and semi-protected from oral medications due to toes receiving limited circulation, the process is a bit slower than it might be for other areas of the body.

However, its important to remember that killing the fungus wont repair a nail that has already been damaged by it. Unfortunately, youll have to wait for it to grow out naturally, which could take several months.

While the full recovery period may be lengthy, it shouldnt discourage you! In time, a healthy and clear nail may grow in and return, bringing long-awaited relief and peace of mind. Get started on your treatment by calling Family Foot & Ankle Center at 689-3317 today.

If You Lose Thumb Nail To Fungus Will It Grow Back How Long Does Toenail Fungus Take To Go Away

Oil Of Oregano Cloudy Fingernail Fungus Fingernail Bacterial Infections Or Fungus On Nail Plate Picutres Of Should You Cover Your Toe When Using Vicks For Toenail Fungus Can Distiled Vinegar Cure Nail Fungus. Ringworm Is A Fungus Of The Skin Found In Where Vapo Rub Used On Toenail Fungus Kill Toenail Fungus With Subliments.

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How Do I Know If I Have Toenail Fungus

A toenail fungal infection has a slow, eroding effect on your toenail but usually takes a while to develop and spread so you might not notice it at first.

Here are some of the toenail symptoms you may encounter:

Change in color often the toenail turns yellow, brown, white, or eve green
Nails become thicksometimes so thick you cant get a toenail clipper to work
Toenail shape becomes curved, twisted, or ingrown on the sides
Initially, a white dot may show itself which then slowly grows larger
Toenails become brittle and break easily, sometimes they seem to crumble or get chalky
Toenails become flaky and break off
Sometimes the toenail has a “cottage-cheese” type substance especially under the hard-outer shell
Toenails may loosen and separate off the nail bed occasionally they may even fall of entirely
You get pain around the toenail as the hard, curved nail digs down into the sides
There is a bad-cheese smell coming from your toenails
Eventually, the fungus spreads to your other toes and even out onto the skin on your feet

If left untreated, you can develop a secondary bacterial infection and even get ulcerations, which are extremely dangerous if you are diabetic or have poor circulation. For some people, toenail fungus has even ultimately led to the surgical amputation of toes or even leg amputations.

Is It Fungus Or Melanoma

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can develop on the nail bed. It has a dark brown or black color and can be mistaken for toenail fungus or another toenail problem like a bruise. Melanoma is much less common than toenail fungus, but it can be life-threatening if not caught early.

Both toenail fungus and melanoma can appear as a dark stripe on the toenail and may increase in size over time. The toenail can become split and damaged in both conditions.

Toenail fungus is more likely to cause thickening of the toenail and a buildup of material underneath it. Melanoma causes the skin of the nailbed to change color, which does not happen with toenail fungus, but it can be difficult to see.

Because melanoma can be very aggressive, its important to have your doctor examine a darkened toenail. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis of toenail fungus by looking at clippings under a microscope and of melanoma by taking a biopsy.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Fungus Under The Toenail

Can I Wear Nail Polish If I Have Toenail Fungus

You may feel tempted to cover up a discolored toenail with nail polish. If you are using a topical antifungal, you probably should not use polish. Some providers may tell you not to wear it in any case. Polish traps in moisture from the nailbed . Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse. However, the nail continues to grow with or without polish.

I Suspect I Have Toenail Fungus What Now

How to get rid and prevent toenail fungus?

Well, now that you know the basics on toenail fungus and how Lunula laser therapy can help you get rid of it, maybe youre ready to give it a try. Please call our office at 515 FEET or submit a form online so we can go through options to make this process safe, easy, affordable, and worthwhile for you on your journey to happy, healthy toenails!

Are Oral Medications For Nail Fungus Toxic

The newer drugs are unlikely to cause any liver problems in patients without known liver disease. Blood tests are not needed for once-weekly treatment with fluconazole however, people taking longer courses often have their liver function tested before starting the medicine and then retested during the course of treatment. It is important to notify the doctor of all side effects while on the medication. You should tell your doctor of all current medications to prevent potential serious drug interactions.

Why You Should Never Let Toenail Fungus Go Untreated

Have you retired those adorable strappy sandals, even though theyre the perfect complement to your summery outfits? They definitely wont work with whats going on with your toenails so youve had to opt for a closed-toe option. Toenail fungus is definitely not a good look.

There are plenty of home remedies, but they dont seem to work. And nail fungus doesnt just go away on its own. Fortunately, the team at Easton Dermatology Associates can address any nail fungus issue you may have with a diverse menu of treatment options. We customize our approach to your particular infections history and severity.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Scalp Fungus

Foot Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors

A foot fungus is a fungal infection of the skin, better known as athletes foot, says Sundling. The fungus enters through cracks in the skin. Its known as athletes foot because athletes or anyone who is more active and sweats a lot is more at risk. Kids are also more at risk, because they dont tend to wear different shoes, and changing your shoes is one way to avoid foot fungus.

Foot fungus is very common. It does not mean that someone is dirty or didnt bathe, and if you have a compromised immune system, you may be more susceptible, says Sundling.

When To See A Doctor Over Toenail Fungus

The cause of your toenail fungal infection might be an underlying health problem. In some cases, it might just be too severe and hence difficult to get rid of it at home, although there are no underlying problems.

You may want to see a doctor over toenail fungus for further examination, advice, diagnosis, and treatment. After all, there are many other health problems that may cause signs and symptoms similar to those of toenail fungus. Therefore, see your doctor in case the following happens:

If the self-care steps and home remedies have not helped you deal with the toenail fungus

The signs and symptoms such as discoloration, thickening, and deformation of your toenails become worse with time despite treatment with over-the-counter or prescription medications.

If you also have other signs and symptoms that may suggest underlying conditions such as diabetes or poor immunity system that could be complicating treatment or aggravating your toenail fungus condition.

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