Know It May Have To Be Permanent
At this point, if he or she has not discussed this with you earlier, the doctor may recommend that you have the nail permanently prevented from growing back. This is only done in severe cases of fungus or other disorders where the problem would simply keep occurring if the nail grew back.
To do this, the doctor must destroy the nail matrix, which is the part of the toe that produces keratin, the element that toenails are made of.
The matrix can be dissolved chemically, which is the most common. This is called chemical cauterization, and involves the application of a chemical called phenol. Occasionally, some patients report their nails growing back, but generally this method is effective.
If this does not work, your doctor will perform a surgical matrixectomy. A flap of skin is surgically created at the base of the nail, where the matrix is located. After retracting the flap, the matrix is surgically removed.
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Dont Go Barefoot In Public Places
The first thing you should know about the dermatophytes that cause fungal toenails is that they just love environments that are warm, humid, and dark. The second thing you should know is that they can spread through indirect contact.
This means that places like public pools, locker rooms, gyms, shower facilities, bathrooms, etc. have an increased risk of harboring fungiwhich can then be transmitted to you. When in communal areas, always wear something to protect your feet, such as sandals or shower shoes.
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Is Toenail Fungus Treatable
Yes, Toenail Fungal Infections are highly treatable. However, they may return with time if the infection is not treated well.
There are many over-the-counter gels or topical creams that may treat swelling and soreness however, they dont cure the condition. It is important you detect the early signs of toenail fungus: discoloured toenail, pain or swelling in the nailbed.
Your doctor may prescribe some anti-fungal oral and topical medicines that can treat the infection. If the nail isnt healing, the toenail may be removed as well.
Doctors Weigh Best Treatments
The best treatment for fungal nail infections is a prescription that your dermatologist can prescribe that you take every day for two-to-three months. The pill is not for everyone, since oral antifungals can interact with other medications and can affect the liver.
Fortunately if you dont want to or cant take a pill, there are topical solutions to treat nail fungus. Although topical medications are desirable because of the low risk of side effects and interaction with other medications, they have much longer treatment regimens. Generally, topical medications have a lower clearance rate compared to oral pills.
Newer topical antifungals including Efinaconazole and Tavaborole have better penetration of the nail plate and so they work better compared to older topical medications, says Dr. Ng. She says the topical medications work best if you only have partial nail involvement.
Lasers are approved by the FDA to temporarily increase the amount of clear nail. However, the cure rates are lower than oral medications and topical solutions.
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Simple Tips To Correctly Cut Your Toenails
Some people may find the idea of a guide to trimming their toenails rather silly. Isnt this just something everyone naturally learns on their own?
But just because you have always trimmed your toenails a certain way doesnt necessarily mean thats the proper way. It may surprise you to know that, in many cases, the way people trim their toenails is one of the main reasons they eventually need to see us about their recurring ingrown toenails and other painful problems!
Its never too late to learn some new tricks for toenail trimming. Check out the tips below, and never hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns not covered here.
What Is The Outlook For Someone With Toenail Fungus
While toenail fungus is common, its usually not harmful. Symptoms mostly affect the look of your toenail.
Toenail fungus may spread to the skin between your toes or other areas of your body. When getting dressed, put your socks on first to reduce the chance of spread.
Treating toenail fungus takes a long time, and it doesnt always work. Even then, toenail fungus often returns. Discuss the pros and cons of treating toenail fungus with your provider to determine whats best for you.
Practicing good hygiene and foot care reduces the chance toenail fungus will come back. If you have diabetes, getting regular foot exams may help you address foot problems before they get serious.
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What Does It Mean When Toenail Fungus Turns Black
- Patients frequently ask us, what does it mean when toenail fungus turns black?
- There is a chance that this could be a black yeast or a black toenail fungus, but it is usually dry blood.
- This usually means that the toenail is getting thick and ripping away from the underlying skin.
- These small blood vessels called capillaries rupture and form dry blood underneath the toenail.
- As the toenail dies, the toenail will eventually turn black and die.
Fungal Toenails Prevention Tips
To avoid getting a fungal infection, its important that you wash your feet daily with soap and water, making sure to get in between your toes, and dry the feet well. When cutting your toenails, make sure the clippers youre using are clean and that youre cutting straight across. Its also important that you wear shoes in areas where fungus can thrive, such as wet public places like swimming pools or locker rooms.
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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.
How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
Toenail fungus is notoriously tricky to treat. You may need to treat the condition for several months to get rid of the fungus. Still, toenail fungus often comes back.
A dermatologist or podiatrist can explain your treatment options. If you have a mild case that doesnt bother you, your provider may recommend no treatment.
Toenail fungus treatment options include:
- Oral antifungal medication: You take prescribed medication, such terbinafine , itraconazole and fluconazole , to treat the fungi. You will need to take this medication every day for several months . Your provider may use blood tests to check for potential medication side effects. These medications can affect the liver and interact with other medications, so oral antifungals are not for everyone.
- Topical medication: You regularly apply a medication right on the nail. The medication treats the fungi over time. Topical medications are most effective when paired with oral medications.
- Laser treatments: Your provider directs a high-tech laser beam and special lights at the toenail to treat the fungus. Lasers are FDA approved for temporary increase of clear nail in nail fungus but is not a cure. Cure rates for laser treatment are lower than oral and topical mediations so they are not typically used as first-line treatments for nail fungus.
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How To Get Rid Of Fingernail Fungus Diy
If you want to soak up moisture, you can put baking soda inside your socks and shoes. Alternatively, people can soak the affected nail for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it with baking soda and water. The fungus will clear up after repeated cleanings.
Causes And Solutions: Toenail Fungus
Fungal infections can happen to anyone and anywhere. Some people have fungal infections in their hair, organs or even toenails.
The most common fungal infection is seen in the toenails. A fungus is very common and everyone has it in their bodies, but when a fungus multiples and fungi begin to thrive, you may have a serious toenail infection.
Although it may appear to be ugly, it is harmless till it spreads to your bloodstream.
Most people treat toenail fungus because it looks bad and can be painful sometimes. It may even be a danger to your health if it reaches the bloodstream.
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How To Soften Thick Toenails
When you set out to cut your infected toenails, you probably struggle considering how thick and hard they are. Thickened nails are a symptom of nail fungus and patients often find themselves at their wits end. Even with a medical-grade nail clipper, cutting your nails can be difficult and painful. In this case, you can use the following simple tips to soften your nails before cutting them.
The main trick is to soak your feet to soften the nails. In a tub or bucket, take enough warm water to reach a depth that would cover your feet. You can opt to add in epsom salts into the water. Then proceed to soak your feet for about half an hour, or more if your nails are very hard. Since you will likely need to do this every time you trim your nails, you may choose to invest in a foot bath for comfort and relaxation.
After soaking your feet, make sure to thoroughly pat them dry, since lingering moisture promotes the growth of nail fungus. Once your feet are dry, apply a nail softening cream of your choice directly to the nails, and leave them overnight. You can then trim the nails the next day.
If you would like to try even further tricks to soften your nails, you can apply vaporub to them, or tea tree oil, and then trim your nails once your nails feel softer. Alternatively, you can also soak cotton balls with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and dab your nails until they feel softer. Then, you proceed to trim your nails right away.
How To Cut Thick Toenails
Learning how to soften toenails is important but it is equally important to understand the right way of cutting your thick toenails. Here is how to handle the process:
1. Get the Right Tools
Before you get started, you need to get nail grinding tools first. You will require a thinning tool along with a podiatry-grade nail grinder. Electric nail grinders are also available with bits designed to work on thick toenails. If you cannot find it, be sure to find another type of toenail clipper. Under no circumstances should you be using fingernail clippers on your thick toenails.
2. Prepare Your Toenails
If you have no idea of how to soften toenails, use the methods mentioned already. Soaking your toes in warm saline solution for a few minutes really help make your toenails soft enough for cutting.
3. Start from the Top of the Big Toenail
You should use a toenail grinder on the top of the big toenail. Do it while your toenails are still somewhat damp. You will have to apply gentle pressure to grind it properly. Keep grinding until it gets to normal thickness.
4. Move to the Sides
Once you have worked on the top of the big toenail, you should then move to the sides. Apply gentle pressure only while moving up and down the side of your nail. It is important to thin the sides because it helps prevent ingrown toenails.
5. Work on the Smaller Toenails
6. Shorten the Nails
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Dont Wear Sweaty Shoes And Socks
Of course, warm, humid, and dark environment doesnt just describe locker rooms. Its also a pretty good description of the inside of a pair of shoes that hasnt gotten a chance to dry out properly!
If you want to avoid making your own footwear a safe harbor for fungi, make sure you change out sweaty shoes and socks as soon as they become damp.
Picking fabrics that are breathable and moisture-wicking in the first place, as well as making sure they fit properly, can give you a big advantage in this regard as well.
Shoes should also be rotated, so that you dont wear the same pair two days in a row. This gives them a minimum of 24-plus hours to dry out before you put your feet back in. For extra protection, apply some antifungal powder to your shoes each evening.
How To Trim Toenails With Fungus
This article was co-authored by and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 54,603 times.
Fungal infections can thicken your toenails, making them difficult to trim. You might also be worried about spreading the infection to your other nails during trimming. Fortunately, you can make the trimming process safer and easier by choosing the right tools and softening your nails before you trim them. You can also protect your healthy nails by properly disinfecting your nail care tools after each use.
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What Kills Nail Fungus Fast
terbinafine and itraconazole are two options that are often used as first-choice antibiotics because they clear the infection more quickly than topical antibiotics. In this type of drug, the infected part of a new nail is slowly replaced by the drug. You usually take this type of drug for six to twelve weeks.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Toenail Fungus
- 1. Yeast Infection
Candida albicans can infect children mostly with a weakened immune system. They can be infected in nails, mouth, hair or torso.
This infection is relatively rare in adults and can only happen because of genetic disorders or a weak immune system.
- 2. White Islands
The white spots are formed on toenails and fingernails. In this case, the fungi spreads in the toenails and thrives in the nailbed. This is the most common type of toenail fungus.
- 3. Distal Toenail Infection
In this type of fungus infection, the nail shifts from the nailbed and that allows the fungi to enter the skin tissue. This is usually caused by wearing tight or closed shoes.
- 4. Proximal Toenail Infection
This is only seen in people with a weak immune system. The fungus directly enters the nailbed and starts multiplying because the immunity doesnt attack it well.
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Facts You Should Know About Fungal Nails
Many changes in fingernails or toenails may cause people to think they have a fungal infection of the nails, medically known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium.
Fungal infection of the nails sometimes makes the condition sound contagious or related to poor hygiene. In fact, up to 10% of all adults in Western countries have fungal infection of the nails. This percentage increases to 20% of adults who are age 60 or older. Toenail fungus is much more common than fingernail fungus.
In reality, abnormal-looking nails may be caused by a number of conditions including, but not limited to, fungal infection. There are many other reasons why your nails may look different.
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Know Not To Be Afraid
Surgery can be nerve-wracking and scary. Nobody likes pain, hospitals, scalpels, cuts, and anesthesia. The whole idea can be very unpleasanteven reading about it can turn the stomach!
But, it is very important to remember that thousands of people have experienced nail removal and have lived to tell about it! While there may be some discomfort and pain following the procedure, if a qualified doctor or other medical professional has concluded this is the best treatment for your specific problem, let that give all the comfort it should. We are very blessed to live in a world where so many health problems can be easily corrected!
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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.
How To Cut Toenails
The best way to cut toenails
Cutting your toenails properly is an important step in preventing painful ingrown toenails a condition when nails curve and grow into the skin, which often leads to pain and sometimes to infection.
There are six main components or steps to cutting your toenails properly.
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