Is There Anything That Really Works For Toenail Fungus

Is Fungus Eliminator A Scam

I wouldn’t call this a scam, but I can understand why some people might be calling it such.

As far as I see, what we have here is another over-hyped supplement that isn’t going to be nearly as good as it is promoted as being… similar to Fungus Hack and Fungus Clear.

Yes, the marketing is definitely over-the-top and even a bit ‘shady’ with all of the lies we are told… but I’m not going to be calling it a scam by any means.

Does Vicks Vaporub Really Cure Toenail Fungus

A longstanding rumor among those who suffer from fungus-ridden feet contends that over-the-counter Vicks VapoRub has a hidden podiatric power: it allegedly cures toenail fungus.

A 2009 piece from the New York Times backed up the unwittingly miraculous cure, citing one study that noted how one of the ointments active ingredients, thymol, had unforeseen anti-fungal qualities. Herbal medicine enthusiasts probably relished the scientific validation, because thymol is a chemical compound found in the oil of the common household herb thyme.

Perhaps owing to the insignificance of toenail fungus in light of other, more pressing health matters, the intrigue around this alleged cure still stands. And the question obviously remains: does it actually work?

Creams & Topical Treatments For Toenail Fungus

Over-the-counter fungal creams like clotrimazole dont work well for treating toenail fungus. Prescription nail polishes are available, but they take longer to work and arent effective for severe cases. Thats because they dont penetrate the nail very well. That said, they are still a good option for people with mild cases of toenail fungus, or for those who cant take the oral antifungals. Examples include:

Side effects are usually minor and include redness or burning at the application site.

You might hear or read about medicated chest rub as a treatment for toenail fungus, but its mostly hype. Its a tempting option because its so safe, easy to use, and cheap. But its not likely to help.

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I Suspect I Have Toenail Fungus What Now

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!

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This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.

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Treatment Options For Nail Fungus

Interviewer:

Most of my conversation is usually discussing medical therapy, so things that are available by prescription only. And those come in two main forms, which are topical antifungal medications, and then oral antifungal medications. There are other surgical or procedural options, so you can remove nails as well. And then there’s starting to be more interest in technologies like lasers for nail fungus.

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Why Does It Work A Look At The Ingredients

In order to answer the question of why does VICKS work?… we first need to take a look at the ingredients it contains.

It has some proof of working, so what it is exactly that makes it effective?

The ingredients included in the normal VICKS VapoRub include the following:

Active Ingredients

• Used commonly for pain relief, anti-irritant, against coughs, and yes… even as an antifungal.
• Reduces pain and swelling and increases blood flow when applied topically.
• 2014 study published in the journal Biological Research shows it does indeed have antifungal activity, although not particularly when dealing with toenail fungus. It has been shown to inhibit growth of fungi better than other essential oils.

Inactive Ingredients

• Turpentine oil

How Effective Are Topical Treatments

So far, only a few studies have looked into topical nail fungus treatments with nail polishes or creams. Because these studies had weaknesses, the results should be interpreted with caution. Amorolfine has not yet been well studied. Ciclopirox polish and treatment sets with urea and bifonazole cream were tested in a few studies.

Research on the effectiveness of nail polish containing ciclopirox showed that, after one year:

• About 10 out of 100 people who did not use ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
• About 32 out of 100 people who used ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.

In other words, treatment with ciclopirox got rid of the fungal infection in about 22 out of 100 people. But even if the fungus had gone away, the cosmetic result wasnt always satisfying. The nails only looked healthy after treatment in 7 out of 100 people.

Treatment with sets containing urea and bifonazole cream was tested in one study. It was compared with a treatment in which only urea cream was applied and the nail was removed, but without applying bifonazole cream afterwards. Three months after treatment was completed, it was found that:

• No fungus was visible or detectable in about 41 out of 100 people who only used urea cream.
• No fungus was visible or detectable in about 51 out of 100 people who used both urea and bifonazole cream.

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How To Use Them

A person interested in trying a blend of essential oils can buy the oils online or from a health food store. Mix the oil with a carrier oil before applying the mixture to the affected nails.

Ozonized oils are oils infused with ozone gas. Examples of oils that are available in ozonized form include sunflower oil and olive oil.

According to , ozonized oils show positive effects similar to a traditional medication called terbinafine cream in treating one type of fungus. In this study, the researchers used rabbits to test the effectiveness of the treatment.

Another study carried out on 400 people tested how ozonized oils affected fungal infections. In this 2011 study , researchers used ozonized sunflower oil to treat toenail fungus.

Their results indicated that ozonized oils cured up to 90.5 percent of the total infections with only a 2.8 percent relapse rate after 1 year. The researchers concluded the ozonized sunflower oil works more effectively than ketoconazole cream, which is an antifungal medication.

Make An Antifungal Foot Soak

Soaking your feet can also be a useful technique in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus. Many common household items can be used to make a healing antifungal foot bath. Mix one or more of the following with warm water and soak feet for 15 to 20 minutes. After foot bath, rinse feet with clean water and pat dry.

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Thieves oil

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Does The Rest Of The Podiatry World Believe It

Not exactly. There isnt enough of a scientific literature directly applied to the use of Vicks VapoRub and thymol to make a definitive conclusion as to whether it will help your toenail fungus. Its likely that your podiatrist wont advise you to use it for this purpose.

Writing for Podiatry Today in 2016, Tracey Vlahovic looked at one of the more influential studies in the area, deducing that there just isnt enough evidence to support this specific ointment as a good treatment.

Time will tell if this ointment truly can eradicate fungus or, by virtue of its ointment properties, simply creates a more hydrated nail unit that gives the appearance of a healthier nail.

Additionally, Dr. Christopher Hull, a dermatologist at the University of Utah, recently claimed the remedy probably wont help. But it wont hurt anything either.

Hull went on to explain why topic treatments usually dont do much:

Theres a lot of those things out there. A lot of people use vinegar, tea tree oil. The hard part with any of these topical medicines is they dont penetrate the nail unit very well. So getting them, actually, to the fungus in the nail unit is very difficult. And thats why a lot of the prescription topical medicines have such limited effects.

The best course of action is take whatever anti-fungal drugs your doctor recommends. There might not be an exciting over-the-counter cure sitting in your medicine cabinet, but at least your doctor can prescribe a drug that will.

What Causes Nail Fungus

Onychomycosis happens when cuts or cracks in the skin allow for fungi to get between the nail and skin, causing an infection, explains Lucy Chen, M.D., a dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. On top of infection, you can also experience discoloration, thickening, and separation from the nail bed.

Unfortunately, the simple truth is that everyone is exposed to the microorganisms that cause these infections, says Dana Stern, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist and nail health expert at Nu Skin. So, why do some people develop full-on nail fungus and others don’t? “The causes are multi-factorial but some of the more common factors that put you at risk for fungal infections include older age, diabetes, suppressed immunity, poor circulation, excessive sweating, and irregular growing nails,” notes Dr. Stern.

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How Should This Medicine Be Used

Ciclopirox comes as a solution to apply to nails and the skin immediately surrounding and under the nails. It is usually applied once a day. To help you remember to use ciclopirox, apply it around the same time every day, usually at bedtime. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use ciclopirox exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Ciclopirox is used to improve the condition of nails, but may not completely cure nail fungus. It may take 6 months or longer before you notice that your nails are getting better. Continue to use ciclopirox daily as directed. Do not stop using ciclopirox without talking to your doctor.

Ciclopirox topical solution will work best if you trim your nails regularly during your treatment. You should remove all loose nail or nail material using a nail clipper or nail file before you begin treatment and every week during your treatment. Your doctor will show you how to do this. Your doctor will also trim your nails once each month during your treatment.

Only apply ciclopirox topical solution to your nails and the skin under and around your nails. Be careful not to get the solution on any other areas of the skin or parts of your body, especially in or near your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.

Do not use nail polish or other nail cosmetic products on nails treated with ciclopirox topical solution.

What Did The New York Times Article Say

Researchers have been studying the effects of the herb, thyme, on curing toenail fungusa condition that, while not normally harmful, eats up an expectedly large portion of Americans medical bills every year. Over-the-counter medications for eliminating nail fungus are plagued with drawbacks: Theyre expensive, dont have great results, and have a whole slew of side effects. Heres what The New York Times had to say in 2009 about the research surrounding the use of herbal remedies such as thyme to treat dermatophytesa common type of fungi that humans contract from contact with other humans, animals, and soil.

In one study, scientists tested the antifungal effects of the ingredients in a generic medicated chest rub. Of the seven ingredients, thymol was among the most effective at inhibiting the growth of dermatophytes that cause nail fungus. Other studies in animals have also shown thymol oil to be effective against dermatophytes. And studies have also shown that thymol oil destroys another cause of nail fungus, Candida, by disrupting its cell membranes and metabolism.

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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.

The Most Common Types Of Nail Fungus

The most common type of nail fungus is known as distal subungual onychomycosis, and is caused by a fungi known as a dermatophyte, says Dr. Chen. It can show up on fingernails or toenails, and manifests as a yellow-ish area on the nail that can ultimately lead to splitting, crumbling, or even separation of the nail from the skin as it gets worse, she says. It’s also worth noting that this is the same fungi that causes athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that can spread from the skin to the nail, adds Dr. Stern.

White superficial onychomycosis is the second most common it leads to white spots on the surface of the nail, which can ultimately spread to resemble a white chalky powder covering the entire nail, says Chen. )

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When To See A Doctor

In most cases, toenail fungus is considered a cosmetic problem. Still, it may cause serious complications for some people.

If you have diabetes, toenail fungus may lead to foot ulcers or other foot problems. According to a 2012 study, chronic toenail fungus is a significant risk factor for bacterial cellulitis of the leg.

If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, you shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.

Why Does It Develop

A fungal nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so this type of environment can cause them to naturally overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections.

Fungi that are already present in or on your body can cause nail infections. If you have come in contact with someone else who has a fungal infection, you may have contracted it as well. Fungal infections affect toenails more commonly than fingernails, likely because your toes are usually confined to shoes, where theyre in a warm, moist environment.

If you get a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon, be sure to ask how the staff disinfects their tools and how often they do it. Tools, such as emery boards and nail clippers, can spread fungal infections from person to person if theyre not sanitized.

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Ask About Antifungal Pills

If topical treatment isnt doing the trick, your doctor may prescribe one of the following antifungal pills:

• Fluconazole
• Itraconazole
• Terbinafine

How to use it: Antifungal pills work faster than medicine applied to the nails, the AAD says, but you should still expect a few months of consistent use, per your doctors instructions.

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What Is The Best Oral Medication For Psoriasis

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