How To Stop Nail Fungus

Trying Other Preventative Strategies

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.

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:

• Use the treatment exactly as prescribed

• Apply the medicine for as long as prescribed

• 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.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Fungus On Feet

On My First Visit Dr Patel Diagnosed The Problem As Plantar Fasciitis And Began Treatment

I was dealing with nearly unbearable pain in my left foot. I was barely able to get through each day. I was sure my neuropathy was the problem. I went to a local podiatrist who told me the only problem I had was the neuropathy in my feet and I needed to see a neurologist. After conferring with my family doctor he referred me to Dr. Sanjay Patel.

On my first visit, Dr. Patel diagnosed the problem as Plantar Fasciitis and began treatment. After following Dr. Patels advice I no longer have pain in my left foot.

Use Antifungal Powders Or Sprays

Keeping your feet clean and dry is a great way to beat toenail fungus before it starts. If the weather makes your feet sweat or if you workout frequently, keep your feet as safe as possible by sprinkling antifungal powder or spraying antifungal medication inside your socks or shoes.

These powders help prevent fungal infections by controlling sweat and inhibiting the growth of fungus. They’re also available over-the-counter.

Also Check: Can You Have Toenail Fungus For Years

Checking Your Nails For Infection

Although common and contagious, detection of fungal infections is easy. You can find signs of an early fungal infection by looking at your nails and the skin around them. Check for these signs at least once a month. You want to look out for:

âChanges in nail color, such as a white spot or brown or yellow streak

âChanges to the texture of your nails

âSoreness or swelling around a nail

âDry, itchy skin

If you notice any signs of infection, make an appointment right away. The longer you leave fungal nails untreated, the more likely they are to spread.

Tips For Preventing Stubborn Toenail Fungus This Summer

Do you know that toenail fungus is an infection caused by microscopic organisms? Even if you dont understand the cause, youre probably familiar with the effects of these tiny invaders.

Most toenail fungal infections start with a small yellow or white spot beneath the nail. As it develops, the fungal infection can causeother symptoms, including:

• Nail discoloration
• A foul smell
• Pain or discomfort

Your toenails have many layers and the microorganisms that cause fungal infections can get between these layers. This means that once they take root, toenail fungal infections can be challenging to treat and can spread to other nails or even the skin on your feet.

AtSouth Sound Foot & Ankle in Olympia, Washington, our team can help with hard-to-treatfungal infections. That said, prevention is often the best medicine. To prevent stubborn toenail fungus this summer,, recommends taking these five steps to stop fungus before it starts!

Read Also: What To Use To Treat Toenail Fungus

What Is The Prognosis Of Fungal Nails

Curing fungal nails can be difficult and treatment can take up to 18 months. Relapse and reinfection are common. Trying to remove or modify your risk factors, if possible, is essential to preventing reinfection. People who have medical illnesses that predispose them to fungal nails can have an even more difficult time eradicating the fungus.

Are There Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus

The Internet is filled with anecdotal information on how to cure toenail fungus using home remedies. Vinegar is a commonly recommended home remedy. Some people apply various oils such as tea tree oil, coconut oil, essential oils, and oil of cedar leaf to their nails as well. The effectiveness of these home remedies is highly doubtful. Application of household bleach and hydrogen peroxide is also not recommended due to lack of evidence that these treatments work. These agents can also cause unwanted skin irritation. Thickened nails that have been affected by fungus can be difficult to trim. Using topical urea cream will soften the nail and make it easier to trim. These creams do not require a prescription.

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Is There Any Hope

So is this story just a total bummer for toenail-fungus sufferers like poor Liz?

Im just so over it, she said with a deep sigh, admitting that she has toenail envy when she sees people who have pretty, freshly pedicured feet.

No, says Tracey Vlahovic. In fact, the FDA has just approved a new topical treatment for fungus, the brand name is Jublia. Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals expects sales of $800 million in the U.S. And another product will come out shortly.

Its a class of antifungals were all familiar with, Vlahovic said. The data there is very nice, its beautiful, and I think that patients will really like the further topical options that are coming out.

The new topicals have higher cure rates than topical options currently on the market and they can be used under nail polish, something thats very important to many women who have nail fungus.

Vlahovic says there is currently a lot of movement in this field, which has been stagnant for a while but even with better treatments, patients have to accept one bitter truth: There is no quick fix for this.

Nothing is going to work within a week. Nothing is going to work within a month, you must give things time, Vlahovic said.

So, if any person or product promises you to cure this thing quickly just dont buy it.

Tips To Combat Foot Fungus

The best way to combat foot fungus is to reduce your exposure to it. There are simple things you can do to prevent from contracting foot and nail fungus.

Recommended Reading: How To Repair Lawn Fungus Damage

Sizing Up Risk Factors

People who have chronic athletes foot are at risk for developing toenail fungus, and there seems to be a genetic predisposition. Sometimes the fungus gets into the nail bed after the nail was cracked or cut too short. The fungus also lurks in shared showers, around pools and a lot of Vlahovics patients tell her their troubles started after getting a pedicure.

The very place where people go to beautify their feet and toenails is often responsible for spreading disease, says Tennessee podiatrist Dr. Robert Spalding. He has written a book called Death by Pedicure and has been on a decade-long crusade to make nail salons safer.

They use contaminated instruments, in some cases, or they dont take the time to properly disinfect and follow their state protocols, Spalding said. Nail fungus and other microorganisms are really tough to kill, and Spalding says the only sure-fire way to sterilize the instruments is to use something called an autoclave.

An autoclave is basically a pressure cooker, he said. Its steam under pressure, for a certain amount of time. Its how instruments are cleaned for surgery.

The foot-soaking tubs are another cesspool of infection that Spalding says some salons are eliminating. Now they are going to tubs that have liners. They dont use the jets as much. And they are coming up with something called a dry pedicure, where they just take hot towels and soak the feet, Spalding said.

Check Your Nails To Find Early Signs Of Infection

Following these precautions will reduce your risk of getting another infection. Fungal infection, however, are very common. You can get another one. Early treatment delivers the best outcome.

You can find signs of an early fungal infection by checking your nails and the skin around them at least once a month. You want to look for:

• Changes in nail color, such as a white spot or brown or yellow streak

• Changes to the texture of your nails

• Soreness or swelling around a nail

• Dry, itchy skin

If you notice any signs of infection, make an appointment to see your dermatologist.

ImageGetty Images

ReferenceGold LFS and Rosen T. Onychomycosis: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. Dermatology News . March 2016:2-15.

Also Check: Does Nail Polish Help With Toenail Fungus

What Causes Toenail Fungus

Everyone naturally has some amount of fungi in the body. An overgrowth of fungi, however, can cause painful, unattractive, annoying infections. Fungi thrives in warm, moist environments. But while poor hygiene is highly likely to cause toenail fungus, a diet that feeds fungi can make it worse. It also makes some people more prone than others to develop the infection.

Treat Other Fungal Infections

Nail fungal infections may also be a result of other fungal infections that has spread into the nail. Skin fungal infections, such as athletes foot and psoriasis, can spread to the nails just by simply scratching the affected area. Have these infections cured using proper treatments to avoid them from spreading to the nails.

Read Also: What Does Tea Tree Oil Do For Toenail Fungus

Top 12 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus Naturally

Commonly known to the layman as fungal nail infection, Onychomycosis is an infection that occurs when fungus forms beneath the nails. The condition can develop as a result of poor foot hygiene, continuous exposure to moist environments, wearing unbreathable synthetic socks, accumulation of sweat in shoes, imbalanced pH levels of the skin, a compromised immune system, and conditions like diabetes that constricts blood flow.Upon infection, Onychomycosis will cause the nail to thicken, discolor, and eventually crumble into pieces. If left untreated, the condition can become painful. As the infection progresses, areas around the infected toenails or fingernails may swell and begin to give off a foul smell too.

Contents

• 8 Complications: What If The Infection Is Left Untreated?

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.

Also Check: Does Hydrogen Peroxide Help Toenail Fungus

How You Can Stop Toenail Fungus From Spreading

Stopping toenail fungi from spreading to your other nails is an exercise in dealing with a contagious situation. Yes, the fungus is contagious and if allowed it will take hold and infect other nails on your feet and hands. The fungus, like any living thing proliferate and take as much room as you permit it.

What you want to do is lower the risk or potential risk of the fungus moving to new nails on your hands and feet. This isnt to say that you are definitely going to have the fungus problem on every nail but its important to be aware of the risks and take precautions.

A safety precaution to avoid the spread of toenail fungus to your other foot nails is to sterilize and sanitize the nail clippers or scissors used for nail care, to cut the infected toenail. A good solution is to soak them in alcohol or in a water solution with bleach at a ratio of 1 part bleach in 10 parts boiling water for 10 minutes.

The first thing you should do is get yourself a box of latex gloves. Most drug stores and many supermarkets carry these disposable gloves in 100 count boxes. Whenever you handle the infected area like administering treatment, applying medications etc, wear gloves. This will lower the risk the infection getting a hold of another nail.

There are many home remedies and medical cures or treatments for Onychomycosis that claim to work. Some are based on age old remedies while others such as Listerine® for toenail fungus are tried more out of exasperation.

Softening And Scraping Away The Nail

As it can take a long time for antifungal medication to work, some people may prefer to use a treatment that involves softening and removing infected parts of nail over a few weeks.

Treatment kits are available from pharmacies that contain a 40% urea paste, plasters and a scraping device. The paste softens the infected parts of the nail, allowing them to be scraped away so they can be gradually replaced with healthy nail.

To use the treatment:

Also Check: How Common Is Toenail Fungus

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.

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:

Recommended Reading: How To Get Green Fungus Off Nails

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