How To Get Rid Of My Toenail Fungus

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There are multiple treatments for toenail fungus, though some are faster than others. The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated. This allows your toenail to regrow healthy, clear keratin that then pushes out the old, discolored, damaged areas.

Traditional fungal nail treatments take a little longer to work. Topical medications have to be applied every day to the infected nails for as long as it takes to destroy the infectionwhich can be months. Oral medication is more efficient, since it travels through the blood stream to combat the fungus. Depending on your situation, you may have to take pills for a few weeks to a few months.

Black Under Toenail Symptoms:

The most common symptom of black toenail fungus is that initially, toenail fungus develops.

• After toenail fungus develops, a thicker toenail usually takes up more room in the sock and shoe.
• As this happens, the toenail can catch on her shoes or socks and start to rip away from the skin.
• This gradually forms debris and dirt that forms under the tip of the nail. This then forms a callus in the nail that starts to rub the way more and more.
• Eventually, the toenail starts to turn black when small little blood vessels called capillaries are ripped away from the toenail.
• This creates bleeding between the toenail and the skin.
• As this blood starts to dry, it quickly turns black and forms a scab between the toenail and the skin.
• As this gets thicker, it forms thick black toenail fungus.
• The toenail eventually can turn completely back as it dies.

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Does Toenail Fungus Turn Black After Death

Toenail fungus does usually turns black after the death of the nail.

If there is not enough blood flow, the toenail will usually start to rise and turn black.

This can usually create a foul toenail odor and cause the toenail to decay. This can contribute to foot odor.

A dead toenail will eventually be overrun with bacteria and toenail fungus.

The recommended treatment is to come to see a great toenail fungus podiatrist such as us if you are in Michigan!

Affects Ears Fingers Nails Toes And Genitals

Fungal infections are some of the most common infections, affecting various parts of the body like, ears, fingers, nails, toes, genitals etc. Nail fungus is one such infection.

Onychomycosis is the name of the type of fungus that causes infection on nails both toenails and fingernails. This infection takes time to develop so you might not notice is initially.

Fungi are always present in your body alongside bacteria. The nail becomes infected when there is an overgrowth of fungus on or under the nail.

This infection is communicable and can spread via direct or indirect contact. For example, if you borrow an infected persons shoes or gloves, you too might catch the infection.

The fungus develops in warm, moist environment. This is why it usually affects toenails rather than fingernails as your feet are mostly covered while you wear shoes which provide the fungus an ideal environment to grow.

Causes and Risk Factors for Nail Fungus

Living or working in a hot, humid environment

Constantly covered feet

Diabetic patients, who have reduced blood circulation in their feet

Direct contact with someone who has nail fungus

Minor cuts or injuries around the nail

Using communal showers or public swimming pools

Sweating a lot, especially in your feet and on your hands

A weak immune system

Medications used to treat toenail fungus include terbinafine and itraconazole . Laser treatment is also available but it is expensive and doesnt guarantee results.

Tea Tree Oil

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Home Remedies That May Treat Toenail Fungus

Although its best to see a podiatrist for toenail fungus treatment, you may want to try a home remedy first. Many of the following home remedies have antifungal properties and can be applied directly to the infected area:

• Vicks VapoRub: This can be applied once a day.
• Snakeroot extract: Apply every third day for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and once a week for the third month.
• Tea tree oil: Apply twice a day with a cotton swab. Note that this may cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
• Olive leaf extract capsules: Take one to three capsules twice daily with food.
• Ozonated oils: Apply twice a day to the infected area.
• Vinegar: Soak the affected area for up to 20 minutes a day using one part vinegar to two parts warm water.

Lastly, another home remedy is to change your diet. Some foodssuch as those rich in calcium, vitamin D, fatty acids, probiotics, lean protein, and ironmay help prevent you from contracting toenail fungus. Talk to your doctor if youre considering a change in diet or any of the home remedies to determine if they are right for you.

Why Toenail Fungus Is So Stubborn

A fungal infection in your toenails is typically caused by a tiny organism called dermatophyte fungus. This type of fungus thrives in warm, moist environments think public swimming pools or locker rooms where it can be easily transferred between people.

Once you pick up the infection, it can spread fairly quickly, largely because you keep your feet inside shoes, creating the perfect environment for fungal growth.

Making matters worse, your toenails are fairly thick and made up of many layers, which means the fungus can set up shop deep within these layers, making it more difficult to target. In moderate-to-severe cases, the fungus can even get into the matrix of your nail, which means any new toenail growth is already infected.

Rounding out the list of hurdles is the fact that your toes dont benefit from great circulation, so your immune system is less likely to detect and fight off the foreign invaders.

What all of this amounts to is that many people think that a toe fungal infection is coming back when it never really went away in the first place.

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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.

Effective Ways To Treat Toenail Fungus With Bleach

After trimming, make sure you clean your toenail clipper thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and then wash it with rubbing alcohol. Allow the bleach to stay on the toenail the entire day, and then refresh the coat before going to bed.

7 proven ways to get rid of black toenail fungus fights. A patient has two different options when using bleach for toenail fungus.

Bleach is one of the most common household ingredients. A tablespoon of bleach is enough to get your toenail fungus treated.

Get rid of fungus from toenails toe nails toenail. Ad i found one fast, simple trick.

Get rid of nail fungus forever 2 ingredient recipe toe. Ad i found one fast, simple trick.

How to get rid of bad toenail fungus toenail fungus can be. After trimming, make sure you clean your toenail clipper thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and then wash it with rubbing.

How to get rid of toenail fungus in 1 minute in 2020. Allow the bleach to stay on the toenail the entire day, and then refresh the coat before going to bed.

How to get rid of toenail fungus quickly what you need to. And by keeping a few precautions in mind, even you can use bleach to remove toenail fungus safely.

How to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach at home get. Apply a combination of one part bleach to 10 parts water directly to the toenail for extreme cases of toenail fungus.

How to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach what you. Bleach can burn the skin and shouldnt be applied unless a doctor recommends it.

Read Also: Can Removing Toenail Cure 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:

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.

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What Is Black Fungus Under Toenail

Patients routinely ask us, what is black fungus under the toenail?

• Black fungus under the toenail is caused by a toenail fungus-infected toenail detaching from the skin.
• This can usually result from the rupture of the small blood vessels called capillaries.
• When the capillaries rupture, they will create bleeding between the toenail and the skin.
• This small amount of blood flow between the nail and the underlying skin will eventually turn black and form a scab.
• This prevents the toenail from re-attaching to the skin.
• This essentially results in a dead toenail.
• Watch the video below to see how to fix black fungus under the toenails.

What Causes Yellow Toenails

Healthy nails are usually clear in color and dont have any major issues like cracks, indentations, ridges, or abnormal shapes. If your toenails are turning yellow, it could be a result of something less serious, like aging or nail polish. Or it could be due to a more serious issue, like an infection.

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What Tests Might I Have For Toenail Fungus

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.

What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Toenail Fungus

The most effective toenail fungus treatment for you will largely depend on your symptoms and situation. Your provider will consider several factors before recommending a treatment plan thats customized to you.

Overall, oral antifungal medications may offer the most treatment potential. Pairing oral drugs with topical antifungal medication may make treatment more effective.

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Preventative Treatment Options For Toenail Fungus

Although there are some preventative measures you can take to avoid developing toenail fungus, your body might not make it so easy. Often, toenail fungus can develop as a result of the fungi that are naturally in your body. If you have a weakened immune system or poor circulation, you may also be more prone to fungal infections. However, when taking the proper preventative steps, you may be able to avoid contracting toenail fungus. Here are some ways to avoid toenail fungus:

• Maintain proper foot hygiene by washing your feet with water and mild soap, then completely drying your feet afterwards.
• Avoid showering barefoot in communal showers, such as those in gyms, dorms, or pools.
• Avoid frequently swimming in public pools.
• Change your socks regularly.

Nail Thickening And Separation

You may also see the corners and surface of your nail start to thicken to the extent that the nail becomes difficult to trim. If you do manage to clip it, the nail may be brittle or even crumble away.

As the fungus progresses, it will distort the shape and texture of the nail ridges on the surface may appear and the nail shape will warp as it grows.

At the same time, the nail may separate from the nail bed and come loose it could even fall off if appropriate action isnt taken.

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Home Remedies To Help Remove Or Stop Toenail Fungus From A Harrisburg Podiatrist

Toenail fungus is extremely unattractive and can make individuals feel self-conscious about their feet. If stopping into your local foot doctor is not a possibility, you are not entirely out of luck. There are five home remedies that work well above the rest as toenail fungus treatment options.

1. Use a Rub of Tea Tree Oil and Orange Oil

A mixture of 1 teaspoon tea tree oil, half a teaspoon of orange oil, and half a teaspoon of grapeseed or olive oil can be rubbed onto the toenails with a cotton ball to clear up toenail fungus. This treatment is not one your University Area podiatrist will provide so you will have to do this at home as part of your daily routine. The natural anti-bacterial and fungicidal properties of tea tree oil make it a very promising toenail fungus treatment option.

2. Rub Coconut Oil on Your Feet

Coconut oil is one of the most commonly used products for natural remedies. When it comes to foot fungus, this product works like magic. The fatty acids in coconut oil work as natural fungicides, causing the fungal membranes to break down and clear up. Use gloves to rub coconut oil to the infected toenail. You can even rub coconut oil over your entire foot to leave your skin soft and nourished. A thin layer applied 2 to 3 times a day works great as a toenail fungus treatment.

3. Soak Your Feet in Baking Soda and Vinegar

4. Olive Tree Extract

5. Oregano Oil

What Is The Treatment For Fungal Nails

Oral antifungal therapy has a high cure rate, depending on the medication. It can take nine to 12 months to see if it has worked or not, because that is how long it takes for the nail to grow out. Even when therapy works, the fungus may come back. Currently, an oral antifungal therapy is considered the best treatment for toenail fungus because of higher cure rates and shorter treatment duration compared to topical therapy.

Prescription oral medications that are effective against nail fungus include the following:

There are several innovative treatments that are still being tested:

• Laser therapy or uses application of light-activated agents onto the nail followed by shining light of a proper wavelength on the nail.
• Use of electrical current to help absorption of topical antifungal medications into the nail: This is also called iontophoresis.
• Use of a special nail lacquer that changes the micro-climate of the nail to make it inhospitable for the fungus to grow: If this works, it may be an inexpensive way to treat this problem in the future.

One way to definitively get rid of toenail fungus is by surgery. Surgical treatment of onychomycosis involves nail removal. However, this often only provides temporary relief, and recurrence is common unless additional antifungal medication is simultaneously used. However, surgical removal may be warranted when the affected nail is associated with other factors such as trauma and or infection.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

In rare cases, toenail fungus can cause an infection called cellulitis. Without prompt treatment, cellulitis may pose a serious danger to your health.

You should seek treatment guidance from a trusted healthcare provider if you have:

• Circulation problems.
• Redness, pain or pus near the toenail.
• Weakened immune system.

Thick Black Toenail Fungus Treatment:

• Thick black toenail fungus treatment is best performed by trimming and reducing the nail.
• Studies show that the best way to heal this is to remove the loose and detached toenail. This means that the blood flow is not reaching the toenail.
• This can cause it to decay and atrophy and start to create a bad odor.

Read Also: How To Avoid Toe Fungus

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.