Who Should I See For Toenail Fungus

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If you suspect your nails are infected with fungus, it is important to see a doctor. You should consult a doctor for treatment. A nail fungus can be treated with home remedies. Baking soda and vinegar can also help to eliminate the fungus. In some cases, you can even apply a diluted solution of one of these solutions. You should avoid touching the affected area as it may cause further complications.

Which Medical Treatments Can Help My Toenail Fungus

Oral antifungal drugs help clear the infection from inside the body, allowing healthy nail growth to replace infected sections. You usually take the pills for six to 12 weeks and see the final result after four months or more.

Medicated nail polish is another option for toenail fungus. You paint layers of medication on your toe for a week and then clean the accumulated medication and start over. This treatment may take a year of daily application to see results.

Dr. Yamini can also prescribe a medicated cream that you apply to the nail after softening it with water, a file, or urea lotion. If your nails dont respond to medication, Dr. Yamini can remove diseased portions of the nail and apply an antifungal medication directly to the infected area.

Since treatment correlates with the slow rate at which toenails grow, its important to be patient and consistent with your treatment. No matter how you treat your toenail fungus, reinfection is always a possibility. Check in with Dr. Yamini as soon as you can if you notice the fungus returning.

If your toenail fungus bothers you and hasnt responded to at-home treatments, contact Dr. Yamini online or over the phone.

Dmso Is A Driving Agent

DMSO is a pharmaceutical-grade ingredient that has long been used in compounding pharmacies when they are mixing up a formulation for toenail fungus.The DMSO itself doesnât kill the fungus, but since it is a driving agent that helps other ingredients permeate through tough substances like nails, it can help be the special ingredient that finally takes care of a stubborn toenail fungus.DMSO is normally paired with an antifungal agent like fluconazole, and while fluconazole can often be found over the counter in creams, without the addition of DMSO it is unlikely to get to where it needs to go to clear a fungus.Think of DMSO like the key that opens the door to the fungus to allow the medications in.

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When To See A Doctor About Toenail Fungus

The patient should contact the doctor if there is no abatement in symptoms after applying over-the-counter medications and preventative care measures.

A doctor should also be seen if the symptoms worsen.

• The toe swells, turns red, remains hotter than the rest of the body, or becomes tender.
• The infected toe and the surrounding area begins to leak pus.
• The area surrounding the infected toe develops red streaks.
• A fever of 100.4 or higher develops.
• The infection begins spreading to the skin.
• The pain level becomes intolerable.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Injured Nail

A fine red to reddish-brown vertical line under your nail may be caused by an injury with bleeding under the nail. This is known as a splinter hemorrhage. Some medicines and medical conditions can also cause reddish lines to appear on the nails, so see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice a new red line.

Minor nail injuries commonly result in small white spots. They typically disappear on their own as the nail grows out and do not require treatment. You should, however, see your dermatologist if you see many white spots and do not remember injuring your nail, or if the white spots do not grow out. This could mean you have an infection or another medical condition.

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When Is It Time To Visit A Foot And Ankle Doctor For Toenail Fungus

A harmless toenail fungus can be more dangerous than you think. When you feel like youre handling it and want to take care of it yourself, its a tough pill to swallow. It is possible that your toenail fungus may be out of your control. However, especially with ailments related to your feet, you cant be too overcautious. Get your symptoms checked out so you can rule out something more serious.

At the end of the day, toenail fungus can be more serious than poor hygiene. In fact, toenail fungus can often come from the things you dont seem to realize.

This article will help you recognize when its time to get to the foot and ankle doctor to treat your toenail fungus.

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What Causes Toenail Fungus

It can happen to anyone at any age but is much more common in older adults. As a person ages, their nails become ever more brittle and dry, which leads to cracks in the nails that bacteria and detritus can enter through.

Toenail fungus is also caused by warm, wet environments. If you walk around with wet shoes or go without footwear when navigating public bathrooms or showers, this can lead to foot fungus issues.

Why Vicks For Toenail Fungus

Now that we know how someone could get toenail fungus, lets talk a possible treatment: Vicks Vapor Rub. What is it about this cough and cold medicine that helps with infected toenails? Good question.

One of the ingredients in Vicks is thyme oil and it has been shown to remove fungus from underneath toenails.

In the January-February 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, a study was printed in which eighteen people who were dealing with toenail fungus applied Vicks to the affected area.

Five of the participants were cured, ten saw their symptoms improve, and three participants experienced no changes at all.

Of the five people who were cured, only two kinds of fungus were identified Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida parapsilosis. This suggests that the treatments effectiveness may depend on the type of fungus that someone has on their toe.

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How Much Does Toenail Laser Fungus Removal Cost

At our clinic, we include laser fungal therapy and treatment as a covered benefit.

• While it is true that laser therapy is needed, it may require an in-person evaluation, as there are other options if it is decided that it is not worth it.
• In most cases, laser toenail fungus therapy treatments can be in the range of what a standard co-pay would be anyway.
• Visit us for a no-obligation consultation to see if laser toenail fungus therapy is beneficial for you.

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How To Prevent Future Ingrown Toenails

Along with this home remedy for ingrown toenails, you also need to prevent future issues. This starts with wearing proper-fitting shoes. To ensure your shoes fit right, the toe of the shoe, referred to as the toe box, should provide enough space so that your toes arent crowded, a frequent cause of ingrown toenails. When you stand up in the shoe, strive for a halfâinch of space between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe.

We also advise all patients to cut their toenails straight across with clean, disinfected toenail clippers. Keep feet clean and dry, and protect them from injury by wearing shoes when necessary.

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Do You See A Podiatrist For Nail Fungus

Should I go to dermatologist or podiatrist for toenail fungus?

If your fungus doesn’t clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist or podiatrist They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis. They can also prescribe stronger medicines.

Can a podiatrist get rid of nail fungus?

If you recognize the symptoms of toenail fungus, you must meet with the right doctor, a podiatrist, for proper treatment. Podiatrists will treat toenail fungus by using topical creams, removing part of the nail, and or using more modern methods like laser therapy to eliminate the infection.

How does a podiatrist treat fungal nail?

The podiatrist can mechanically debride or remove some of the fungal nail infection without the use of local anaesthesia. This is a pain free treatment and needs to be repeated every 2 months until regrowth of the nail is viewed or a change in treatment plan is required.

What Can I Do About It

There are many treatments. None of them work all the time.

Your doctor can give you pills to kill the fungus. They work better than other treatments. But you need to take them every day for several months. You will have to have blood tests to check for side effects.

If you have fungus on only half of one nail, special nail polishes can sometimes kill the fungus. There are also treatments that use lasers and special lights to kill the fungus. These are new treatments, and doctors don’t know yet how well they work. Most health insurance plans won’t pay for them.

Here are some things you can do to lower the chance of getting more fungus on your nails:

Dry your feet with a towel and hair dryer after bathing.

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How Is Nail Fungus Diagnosed And Treated

First, your podiatrist at AllCare Foot & Ankle Center carefully examines your nails and reviews your symptoms and medical history. They may also take a nail clipping to examine under a microscope or send to a lab for testing.

Then, they recommend the best treatment for your specific type of fungal infection. This typically includes prescription oral or topical antifungal medications. Even with expert care, nail fungus is difficult to treat and may take several months to completely disappear.

If you notice signs of nail fungus, call AllCare Foot & Ankle Center, or book an appointment online today.

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.

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Are Nail Polishes Harmful

Yes, many nail polishes are harmful. These contain three main ingredients, and they are slightly harmful. Let us see each compound used in the making of the nail polish.

• Dibutyl Phthalate is a plasticizer. It gives the regular texture of the nail polish. It is not very harmful, and its quite rare that someone had any nails or skin issues because of it.
• Toluene is also a part of the nail polishes. It is a paint thinner, and only a specific concentration of toluene can be used. Luckily nail polishes have very less quantity than them.
• Formaldehyde is also a common ingredient used in almost all types of nail polishes. FDA has restricted the use of formaldehyde in cosmetic products, but it is only allowed for the nail polishes, still there are chances that it can be harmful when used in higher concentration.

So in a nutshell, nail polishes can be harmful for the skin and the nail when used regularly. So someone who tends to apply nail polish every.

Trying Different Foot Soaks

The ingredients used in a foot soak will soften the toenails, and then it will be easier to clean the nails. You should try baking soda, apple cider vinegar foot soak, and white vinegar to keep the toenail fungus at bay. Soaking your feet once in a week, in any of the effective foot soaks, is essential.

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Dani Pro Doctor Formulated Nail Polish

This one is a unique formulae having undecylenic acid, it is an anti-fungal acid that is commonly used to treat the toenail fungus. Unlike the regular nail polishes, it does not contain any toxic chemicals. So that you should not get any type of severe infection.

How is it?

Its formula is quite simple. All the ingredients are toxicity free, and cruelty free. you can safely use it even when you have some nail injury. The undecylenic acid is good for the health of your toenail as it is antifungal and antibacterial.

These are available in different metallic shades too, mostly the hotter colors.

Pros

Drs Remedy Base Coat And Glaze Nail Polish

Applying glaze is the last step to give that glossy look to the nails, similarly, applying base can also secure the nails from extra damage. The Drs remedy two in one base coat will be an inexpensive nail accessory.

How is it?

This one base coat is a recommended one by the doctors, so it is definitely worth the try. It is not your ordinary nail base or glaze. It will strengthen your nails because it has the garlic bulb extract, and wheat protein.

Moreover, it has tea tree oil which will cure your toenail fungus if there is any, or make your toenail healthy.

Pros

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When You Must Visit A Foot And Ankle Doctor For Your Toenail Fungus

If you feel like the situation has gotten out of control and you have not seen any progress with your symptoms after applying the home treatments, its time to pay your doctor a visit.

In extreme cases, you might be experiencing these symptoms. If so, please visit your doctor immediately to care and treat your toenail fungus. Look out for these symptoms:

• A swollen toe turns red with discoloration or becomes tender to the touch.
• Your toe feels hotter than the rest of your body.
• If the infected toe and/or the surrounding area of the toe is starting to leak pus.
• Red streaks around the infected toe.
• If you develop a fever of 100.4 F or higher, then the infection is moving to the rest of your body.
• The infected nail spreads to the skin.
• Intolerable pain

Once you see your doctor and they have indeed diagnosed the fungal toenail infection, they can do a few things to alleviate the pain, discomfort, and get rid of the infection.

Normally, the treatments and cures associated with the infection are oral prescriptions. Also, prescription anti-fungal nail polish soothe your nails. The polish rids your nail of fungal properties. Strength nail cream can also be applied directly to the area that will clean everything up and keep your feet and nails protected.

What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Toenail Fungus

If you have toenail fungus, you may find it helpful to ask your provider:

• What type of infection do I have?
• Do you recommend I treat it? Why or why not?
• How long will I need treatment?
• What steps can I take to stop it from coming back?
• Should I be aware of any potentially serious complications or treatment side effects?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Toenail fungus is an incredibly common infection that can be difficult to treat. The condition usually isnt painful, but it may make you feel self-conscious about how your foot looks. If it bothers you, talk to your provider about your treatment options. A trained specialist can provide guidance on whats most likely to address your concerns while protecting your overall health.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/17/2020.

References

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Fungal Toenails Prevention Tips

To avoid getting a fungal infection, its important that you wash your feet daily with soap and water, making sure to get in between your toes, and dry the feet well. When cutting your toenails, make sure the clippers youre using are clean and that youre cutting straight across. Its also important that you wear shoes in areas where fungus can thrive, such as wet public places like swimming pools or locker rooms.

Toenail fungus can also be treated with certain over-the-counter antifungal creams and ointments. To remove pressure from the nails, keep them cut at a short length. Oral antifungal drugs, medicated nail cream, or medicated nail polish may also be prescribed by your podiatrist if simpler treatments do not prove successful. In some cases, your podiatrist may also recommend laser treatment to eradicate toenail fungus.

Patients should visit their local podiatrist if they suspect they have toenail fungus. In its more severe stages, toenail fungus can become very painful. Other infections can develop from toenail fungus that can spread to other parts of the body. Upon examination for fungus, your podiatrist may scrape your nails if he or she finds debris. This sample will be sent to a lab to determine what fungus is causing the condition.

If you believe youre experiencing a fungal toenail infection, we recommend that you speak with a as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and suggested plan for treatment.