Who Needs Toenail Fungus Treatment

A toenail fungus treatment is needed for individuals dealing with nail fungus or Onychomycosis, a disorder caused by a fungus called dermatophyte on both fingernails and toenails. They love dark, warm and moist areas and this is why most people who have this condition are people from warmer climates who wear shoes.

How Toenail Fungus Works

Fungus usually enters the toes by a small break in the nail, by weak toenails to wearing shoes that are on too tight. Since fungus loves warm and moist environment, wearing damp shoes will increase chances of breeding the fungi. If you cut your toenails too close to the skin, this causes a small opening for the fungus to go in. If your perspire more often than most people, this can be a major cause as well.

Toenail Fungus Treatment Options

If you are experiencing brittle chipped and flaky nails, if they develop a yellow, black or brownish hue, you may have toenail fungus infection already. If your toenails are getting thick and inflamed toes with the feeling of pain and discomfort already, you have caught the infection already. If your toes smell, you have a full blown toenail infection condition.

But don’t fret because there is a lot of toenail fungus treatment options readily available, especially if your infection is in its early stages. The sooner you notice the signs, the sooner you get it treated so it wont spread to the other toenails and chances of the infection reoccurring will be halted.

Vinegar

Vinegar (either apple cider or distilled vinegar) will combat the early signs of toenail infection. All you need to do is fill a basin with a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water, soak your feet for 20 minutes then wipe it dry with either a cotton towel or absorbent paper towels. Do this treatment twice a day for maximum efficacy.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is a nature’s fungicide and antiseptic all rolled into one. With a Q-tip or cotton ball, just saturate it with tea tree oil and apply it on the affected toenail, for twice a day like in the morning and just about before you go to bed. Do this regularly till the fungus is gone.

Listerine

Use the regular Listerine mouthwash and soak affected toenails for 20 minutes twice a day. The antiseptics in the Listerine formulation will eradicate the fungi.

Rubbing Alcohol as a Toenail Fungus Treatment

Rubbing alcohol that you can find at any pharmacy will do the job. Soak the feet for 20 minutes, twice a day. Dry thoroughly with absorbent paper or cotton towels.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide at 3% can also be used. Just use full strength and soak the feet for 20 minutes daily and at least twice a day. If this is too strong, try a solution of 50-50 water and hydrogen peroxide then towel dry.

Vicks Vapor Rub

Vicks Vapor rub has been known to stop the growth of fungus but not actually cure it, so there are doubts surrounding this method.

Toenail Fungus Prevention

Avoid public shower stalls and bathrooms. Make sure that nail clippers are fully disinfected before use. Air out sandals that hasn’t been used for quite some time. These steps may seem simple but they can really help you eliminate the need for another toenail fungus treatment in the future once the infection has been wiped out.

Toe Nail Fungus Treatment

Even the best toe nail fungus treatment doesn’t work overnight overnight, especially if your case is really severe. You need to have dedication and patience to cure it even if you’ve had the condition for quite a while. Nail fungus does look bad, so you just have to follow-up on treatments.

Things to Consider

1. We are talking of a long term treatment, and it usually takes up to 6 months. You need to follow through on your toe nail fungus treatment regimen which should include cleansing and applying medication religiously.

2. Since fingernail infections are more exposed to air than toenails, fingernail infections tend to heal quicker than toenail. Toes are covered most of the time, and fungus thrives on warm, moist and dark environments, treatment and healing may take some time. You just need to take medication for up to six weeks for the fungus to disappear.

3. Prescription medicine always has side effects, and toe nail fungus treatment is no exception. Worst case scenario maybe liver damage (though rare) so need to consult a doctor if your liver is healthy so you can proceed with the toenail fungus treatment.

4. Doctors would normally recommend oral medication for toenail fungus treatment but there are other treatments readily available of the infected nail. If your nail infection just started or is mild, you just might be given a nail lacquer or the alternative tea tree oil to kill the living fungus present in the nails.

5. If you have severe or a reoccurring case of infection, though rare, your doctor would recommend total removal of the infected nail.

6. Just leave it alone if the nail infection isn’t inflamed or is not causing you discomfort. There are a lot of treatments readily available in treating nail fungus infections.

Types of Toe Nail Fungus Treatment

After careful research, treatment for nail fungus infections generally falls under three categories. It is always best to see a doctor first to get treatment tailor-made for you.

Itraconazole Pills

Most commonly known as Sporanox, these are antifungal pills for treating fungal nail infections.

Terbinafine Pills

or its brand name Lamisil. These are antifungal pills for treating fungus nail infections, but are not usually prescribed to people with nail infections.

Ciclopirox Lacquer or Penlac Nail Lacquer

, is an antifungal nail polish if taking oral medication leaves a bad taste in your mouth. This easier and quicker to use because you just brush the affected nail with it.

Griseofulvin Pills

or its brand name Grifulvin V is an antibiotic pill and it doesn’t seem to work as well as other antifungal infection medication.

Ketoconazole Pills

or more commonly known for its brand name Nizoral, is an antifungal drug but can cause liver damage.

Terbinafine Toe Nail Fungus Treatment

(Lamisil) is an antifungal medication that comes in creams or spray. The spray kind is much easier to use for treatment.

If your nail infection is severe and it reoccurs, removal of the nail is what your doctor may suggest instead of a toe nail fungus treatment, but this does not happen often.