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.
Terbinafine For Toenail Fungus Treatment
The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time. Common side effects may include headaches, skin rash, and vomiting. It is taken once a day for 6 to 12 weeks.
Nail Removal Home Remedies And Laser Treatment
In the most serious instances of toenail fungus infection, the toenail may be removed surgically or dissolved with acid. This can be done to just a portion of the nail in the hope that the remaining nail will grow back healthy. In cases where the entire toenail has to be removed, artificial nails and products using light-cured resins to form a temporary covering can be used to protect the underlying tissue until the nail grows back.
If you prefer to go the home-remedy route, such as applying tea tree oil or Vicks VapoRub to your nails, keep in mind that the effectiveness of these products for treating toenail fungus hasnt been well studied, and they are not recommended by podiatrists.
Finally, the Food and Drug Administration has approved several laser devices for temporary increase in clear nails in patients with onychomycosis. But while laser treatments are vigorously marketed, clinical trials of lasers have reported mixed results, and the treatments may not be covered by health insurance. If you wish to try laser treatment of toenail fungus, speak to your doctor about what to expect from the treatment, and call your insurance carrier to find out whether the treatment will be covered.
Additional reporting by Susan Jara.
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Visit Us Dermatology Partners
If you are struggling with toenail fungus, you dont have to deal with this concern on your own. The skilled team of professionals at U.S. Dermatology Partners, including Dr. Wagenseller and the Fairfax, Virginia team, are here to help. With locations across the U.S., we make it find a dermatologist for toenail fungus near you. When youre ready to begin treatment for toenail fungus with the help of one of our professionals, its easy to get started. Simply take a few moments to complete our online appointment request form. In just a few minutes, the U.S. Dermatology Partners team will have all of the information we need to schedule an appointment for you at your local office.
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When Should I Seek Professional Advice
See list below
- You are not sure if you have a fungal infection and require diagnosis
- You have tried OTC remedies and the infection is not improving
- If the nail is coming away from the nail bed and requires to be removed professionally
- If the nail is too thick and you are unable to cut it
- If your nail is starting to hurt with the fungal infection
- Spreading to other nails
- Spreading the fungal infection on the skin
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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.
What Is The Fastest Home Remedy For Toenail Fungus
There is a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of a liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of liquid of There is only anecdotal evidence that supports the use of vinegar to treat toenail fungus. Its a good place to try to fix it. For up to 20 minutes a day, soak the foot in one part vinegar and the other part warm water.
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Who Gets Toenail Fungus
Whileanyone can find him or herself with toenail fungus, it happens more frequentlyin men than women and among older people more often than younger people.Certain risk factors predispose people to acquire this fungal infection. Theseinclude:
- A family history oftoenail fungus
- A history ofathletes foot
- Skin conditions, suchas psoriasis, that create cracked or open skin
- Tight shoes and nylonhosiery
- Use of heavy nailpolish on a consistent basis
- Walking barefoot in communaldamp areas such as gym showers or swimming pools
- Weakened immunesystem
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.
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How To Do The Vaseline Treatment For Toenail Fungus
Vaseline Treatment can be done in different ways depending on how one is treating their toenail fungus.
Let us understand the Toenail Fungus first. When one has toenail fungus, there are chances they have ingrown nails, slow-growing nails, yellow and stiff nails, brittle and thick nails and foul-smelling nails too.
In most cases, doctors suggest anti-fungal medicines or even surgical toenail removal from its bed so the fungus doesnt enter the bloodstream.
Since the quality of toenails can become very rough and it is also painful, vaseline treatment is done.
Doctors recommend applying vaseline at least once or twice a day after trimming your nail and washing it thoroughly.
In case the nail is painful, you may leave it open after applying vaseline or do a light dressing and redo it every 12-24 hour. This results in a significant improvement of the condition.
Dangers Of Using Bleach For Toenail Fungus
Bleach may actually cause toenail fungus to worsen and increase the likelihood of a toenail infection.
According to an article in the Asian Journal of Research in Dermatological Science, use of topical bleach can increase the risks for fungal infections because it can damage the skin and nails. This allows opportunistic fungus to come in through the damaged skin or nail and cause an infection.
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True Remedy Natural Store For Toenail Fungus
It is a guaranteed product, so you do not have to worry about anything at all.
It is easy to apply, a stress-free routine which will eventually root out the toenail fungus. It is a mixture of tea tree oil, oregano oil, jojoba oil, and eucalyptus oil.
Pros
- Exclusively designed for nail fungus.
- Gluten-free.
- Takes a lot of time.
What About Bleach Baths
Bleach baths are an approach dermatologists may recommend for treating skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and recurrent Staphylococcus infections on the skin. These involve mixing a very small amount of bleach in bath water typically a half cup of bleach to a full-sized bathtub of water.
While its true that bleach baths may temporarily kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, the effects arent long-lasting and arent likely to treat an existing toenail fungal infection.
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Best Ointment: Fungi Nail Anti
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Infused with five oils for skin healing
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Easy-to-use brush applicator
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Only for mild infections
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Doesn’t heal the nail plate
Fungi Nail Antifungal Ointment uses an innovative design to address multiple forms of fungal infections one can find on their feet. Its wide-tip applicator applies the appointment on larger areas of the feet, such as the soles and in-between toes. Then the smaller applicator works to get around the nail cuticles and underneath the nail.
Once applied, the maximum-strength ointment kills the fungus with the active ingredients of zinc undecylenate and undecylenic acid to help treat toenail fungus. The ointment also soothes itching and burning that can come with an infection, all while healing the skin. For best results, apply twice a day to clean, dry feet.
The ointment also soothes itching and burning that can come with an infection, all while healing the skin. For best results, apply twice a day to clean, dry feet.
Active Ingredients: Zinc undecylenate 20% and Undecylenic acid 5% | Dose: Tube and brush applicator delivers the appropriate amount. Apply thin layer on affected area twice daily or as directed by a doctor. | Uses: Treats and prevents fungal infections fights athletes foot and ringworm
Cinnamon Essential Oil For Toenail Fungus
Just like the clove oil, cinnamon oil can also treat toenail fungus. It has a strong odor that will affect the awful odor of nail fungus.
Cinnamon oil is effective in killing onychomycosis toenail fungus. It also has eugenol, which is an effective anti-fungal.
How to Apply cinnamon oil to kill toenail fungus?
You can apply the cinnamon essential oil in different ways. Make a spray of 1% cinnamon oil and water.
Spray it twice a day on the toenail fungus or apply with a q-tip.
You can also make a foot soak. Take a tub of lukewarm water, add 2% of cinnamon oil. Soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes in the tub and that is it.
So, here is the best Cinnamon essential oil for nail fungus.
Read Also: How To Rid The Body Of Fungus Naturally
Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also be washed in hot water to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear.
Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail 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:
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How Effective Are Tablets In Treating Nail Fungus
Tablets for the treatment of nail fungus have been tested in several studies. All participants had an infection on their toenails caused by a skin fungus. Overall, the study results showed that tablets are considerably more effective than nail polishes or creams.
One year after a three-month treatment with terbinafine:
- About 17 out of 100 people who didnt have this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 76 out of 100 people who had this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, the treatment with terbinafine got rid of the fungal infection in about 59 out of 100 people.
Itraconazole also proved to be effective. After one year,
- 7 out of 100 people who didnt have this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 43 out of 100 people who had this treatment no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, the treatment with itraconazole got rid of the fungal infection in about 36 out of 100 people.
Some studies directly compared itraconazole and terbinafine with each other. They confirm that terbinafine is somewhat more effective than itraconazole.
Treatment with breaks is thought to be about as effective as continuous treatment. But that has only been looked into in a few studies.
Wear Comfortable Shoes And Socks
Shoes and socks that are too tight can crowd your toes. This is considered to be a leading cause of ingrown toenails. To help prevent an ingrown toenail from developing or worsening, wear shoes and socks or hosiery that fit but still leave ample space in the toe bed. During the healing process, avoid shoes or wear sandals as much as possible to limit pressure on your toenails.
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Try Natural Toenail Fungus Cures Too
There are so many different documented instances where the therapeutic effects of Rx medication are enhanced by adding natural approaches to the equation too. That can be the case with treating a toenail fungus infection too and go along with the question of what is the most effective treatment for toenail fungus. It may be dynamite on French Fries but most microbial organisms dont do well at all with white vinegar and putting some on the affected toe in between application of Jublia when the toenail is dry can speed up results.
Vicks Vapo Rub is excellent for chest and throat congestion relief, and many people are surprised to learn that you can put vapo rub on a toenail infection too. It will add to the fight against the fungus and just like vinegar it may add to the effectiveness of your prescription toenail fungus medication. Oregano oil and Snakeroot extract are also possibilities here, and if there was ever a badass name for an extract it would have to Snakeroot. Surely you agree.
What is the most effective treatment for toenail fungus? It will always be using a medicated toenail fungus treatment solution like Jublia. If you want to get rid of toenail fungus fast, then this is whats going to be best for you.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
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Stop This Skin Infection In Its Tracks With These Over
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Verywell Health / Sabrina Jiang
Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails. When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. But if left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.
The fungus often begins in the form of athlete’s foot between the toes or on the soles of the feet. At this stage, the fungal infection is easier to treat with over-the-counter medication. But Shari Lipner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, told Verywell Health toenail fungus can be difficult to treat because of how slow the nails grow. The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies, she says.
Diagnosing the fungal infection early is key to make treatments effective. Dr. Lipner recommends visiting a board-certified dermatologist to properly treat the infection if it grows to be too severe.
Here are a few of the best over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments on the market.