Ranking The Best Toenail Fungus Treatments Of 2021
A toenail fungus treatment provides a simple, convenient way for people to address fungal infections of the toenail.
Nearly 35 million American adults suffer from fungal infections of the toenail, with many convinced there is nothing they can do about it.
Fortunately, medical science has made impressive leaps in understanding this vexing condition, and there are now numerous OTC toenail fungus treatments that can provide relief.
We put dozens of the most popular brands to the test and concluded that the following represent the 10 best toenail fungus treatment options of 2021.
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.
What Is The Best Over Counter Toenail Fungus Treatment What Really Works
My professional opinion for the use of MOST OTC medications for fungal toenail infection treatment Why would you do that? Why would you just go grab something off of a shelf?
You will simply be throwing money away not to even treat the source of the problem, but, in most cases, to merely hide the symptoms.
If all you are wanting to do is camouflage the symptoms of your fungus, you might as well at least hide it AND treat it at the same time with Antifungal Nail Polish! YES that does exist!
I want to provide you with the education required to select products that are FDA approved, are natural, AND can get to the root of the problem quickly and efficiently. You dont even need a prescription OR pay for a doctors visit.
I have summarized these tried-and-true over the counter products for the treatment of toenail fungus and you can read more about them by clicking the link above. They REALLY work!
Every product that I recommend has a high success rate and proven track record. I have SEEN them work hundreds of times!
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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.
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture . Keep the bottle of ciclopirox topical solution in the package it came in, away from light.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
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What Oral Medications Are Available
To treat fungal nail infections from inside the body, you can take tablets that inhibit the growth of fungi or kill them. They are all prescription-only. Terbinafine and itraconazole are typically used for this purpose.
- Terbinafine is preferred if the nail fungus is caused by a skin fungus . This is usually the case.
- Itraconazole is generally used if the nail infection is caused by yeast or mold.
Itraconazole and terbinafine tablets can both be taken either continuously or with breaks between treatments. But they are used differently:
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Toe Fungus Removal Laser Do Over The Counter Finger Nail Fungus Treatments Work
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How Do I Choose The Best Over
Usually, the best over-the-counter nail fungus treatments contain antifungal ingredients and come in nail lacquer form. You may also get results from over-the-counter remedies that contain herbal treatments, such as tea tree oil. Some people also report that topical ointments that contain camphor may help. Unfortunately, however, many over-the-counter nail fungus treatments fail to get rid of nail fungus completely, so a person may get better results from prescription medication.
Among the best over-the-counter nail fungus treatments are antifungal nail lacquers that can be painted directly on the affected nail. Usually, you use this type of treatment by painting it on the affected nail every day until a new nail grows in that is free of the fungus. Most over-the-counter nail fungus treatments of this type also include instructions for painting a little of the lacquer on the skin immediately surrounding the affected nails. This may help prevent the spread of the fungus.
Nicoleâs thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focusesprimarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending timewith her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus Is Very Costly And Has No Proven Record
In Laser treatment for toenail fungus the energy from laser is focused directly on the infection. The laser light energy goes through the toenail and is expected to kill the fungus without causing harm to the nail or skin.
This latest technology looks very promising and has raised great hope among nail fungus sufferers. But an in-depth study of toenail fungus laser treatment shows significant drawbacks that should be taken into considered before choosing this treatment:
- Clinical trials aimed at testing the effectiveness of laser treatment were done on a very limited scale . These clinical trials are not statistically valid. It is well known in health research that new treatments performing well in small studies fail very frequently when applied in large studies with strict test protocols.
- The cost of a one-time treatment is typically $1,000. Recurring treatments cost about $500 each. In some cases, a full course of treatment may require 3 to 4 visits so the total cost can reach $3,000.This cost is not covered by health insurance and must be paid in full by the patient!
- One treatment lasts only 30 minutes but there is no guarantee that the toenail fungus will not recur. Moreover, patients will have to wait 4 to 6 months for a healthy nail to grow out.
Recommendation:
What Is The Best Toenail Fungus Treatment Over The Counter
The best toenail fungus treatment over the counter may be an antifungal lacquer should an individual have a mild to moderate nail fungus infection. This is an antifungal nail polish also known as ciclopirox or pentac. Once a day, the polish is painted on the infected nail and surrounding skin. The piled-on layers are then wiped clean with alcohol after a week and a fresh application is begun. Some nail fungal infections have been shown to clear up with the daily use of pentac for about a year.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Fungus On Feet
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.
What We Looked For In A Brand:
Strength of Money-Back Guarantee: A money-back guarantee shows the manufacturer is so confident in the product that theyre willing to put their money where their mouth is. Theres simply no reason to trust a product that doesnt offer a money-back-guarantee.
24 Hour Customer Support: A 24-hour customer-support service shows a manufacturers commitment to their customers, because 24-hour support isnt cheap. With any remedy, youre likely to have questions, and those questions can arise at any time of the day or night 24-hour customer service offers a peace-of-mind knowing the answers are only a phone call away.
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Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal Treatment
Rather than going directly after the fungus itself, Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal Treatment slowly removes layers of damaged, infected nail. In a sense, it acts as an exfoliant for your nails.
What we like: The Kerasal approach is novel but has amassed an impressive record of liberating nails from fungal onslaughts. It leverages the keratolytic properties of urea to remove damaged tissue and then promotes the growth of new, healthy layers of the toenail.
Flaws: You dont get very much in a tube.
Hydrogen Peroxide For Nail Fungus
Hydrogen peroxide is a known treatment for nail fungus. However, we still do not know what the scientific evidence for it are, as no scientific research proves it. It is still a matter of debate.
What is so far known of the Hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for nail fungus is the developing of Hypochlorous acid which is an effective way to kill nail fungus.
The Hydrogen peroxide is an extremely active, why many people use Hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for nail fungus is the affordability.
It is available almost at every place, moreover they do not need a prescription for this.
How to use Hydrogen peroxide for nail fungus?
- Apply it directly with a Q-tip. Take a little of Hydrogen peroxide and dip a Q- tip in it, apply it on the infected area only.
- Try the breathing foot soak method. All you have to do is take almost 2 to 3 percent of hydrogen per oxide with water. Put your foot in it and press the infected area for almost 2 minutes and release, repeat this process several times for 15 minutes.
- Use it with baking soda, you can either make a paste of baking soda and Hydrogen peroxide or make a foot soak. Whichever is more convenient. Th easier one is the paste, but it is for the extreme cases, if it is the onset of the infection you can try making the foot soak.
Pros of using Hydrogen peroxide as a home remedy for nail fungus
Cons of Hydrogen peroxide as a remedy for nail fungus
- It is not skin friendly.
- Not approved by any doctor specifically for toenail fungus.
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Treatments For Toenail Fungus
The best way to start treating your toenail fungus is to have an appointment with your doctor so that you can receive proper diagnosis. Other nail conditions can look similar to fungus, such as post-injury changes to the nail plate, so often your physician will take samples of the nail to be evaluated prior to recommending therapy.
There are several over-the-counter ointments and medications that you can try to treat your toenail fungus. Your doctor can also prescribe oral and topical prescription medications. Surgery to remove the nail and Laser treatments are also available. The goal of most of these treatment options is to attempt to kill the fungus and allow the uninfected nail to grow out. It takes approximately 10 to 12 months for toenails to grow out. The choice of treatment modality will vary considerably depending on severity and extent of the disease, coexisting medical conditions, patient medications, physician and patient preference.
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What Causes Toenail Fungus
Toenails are more prone to nail fungus because they are generally confined in socks and shoes which provide a moist, warm environment an ideal situation for fungus.
Older people are more likely to get fungal nail infection because they may have poorer circulation, and their nails grow slower as they get older, and nails also thicken as we age.
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Best Fungal Nail Treatment For Thick Nails
One of the most common side effects of fungal nails is thick, unsightly nails.
This premium fungal nail destroyer from Thera Health Care is the best selling nail treatment on Amazon and can tackle fungal nails with its powerful blend of ingredients.
Working over two to four weeks, this oil restores a healthy appearance in your nails, protects them from fungal infections and stimulates nail growth.
The product is made from nail-loving natural ingredients such as grape seed oil, jojoba seed oil, almond oil, Vitamin E, which all work to smooth and hydrate the nails.
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Living With A Nail Fungal Infection
If you have a nail fungal infection, some things can help:
- Keep your nails cut short and file down any thick areas.
- Dont use the same nail trimmer and file on healthy nails and infected nails. If you have your nails professionally manicured, bring your own nail file and trimmer from home.
- Wear waterproof gloves for wet work . Wear 100% cotton gloves for dry work.
- Wear socks made of wicking material . This pulls moisture away from the skin. Change your socks when they are damp from sweat or if your feet get wet. Put on clean, dry socks every day. Put over-the-counter antifungal foot powder inside your socks to keep your feet dry.
- Wear shoes with good support and a wide toe area. Dont wear pointed shoes that press your toes together.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms.
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Best Fungal Treatments For Toenails
No matter how strong we are, still we all are vulnerable, even to the tiniest micro-organism. Among all the micro-organisms the most powerful one is the fungus.
Fungus can survive at almost every surface, and once it settles somewhere, it will only grow. And so, the common reason why we all are afraid of toenail fungus is the strength of fungus to eat away every particle on a body, be it a human body or a non-living object. And secondly, the ugly look that it gives to the nails.
The cell-wall of fungus is extremely thick and resistant to different chemicals and treatments. It would take ages to kill the toenail fungus, that is why a lot of home remedies do not work quickly.
As far as the skin infections are concerned, the body has to be super powerful in this regard. Otherwise, the toenail fungus would not go away.
In market, we have various treatments for toenail fungus, and in this article we will divide these treatments for nail fungus as the external and internal treatments. This will make it more understandable.
To be honest, both the internal and external treatments for nail fungus are effective but except for the laser treatment which is an external treatment all external nail fungus treatments can take more than 3 months to show results.
And in the external treatments, the common ones are the Home remedies, while for the internal treatments, these are pills or supplements that we intake.
This article will help you find the most effective treatments for nail fungus.
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