How To Treat Toenail Fungus

Onychomycosis, or Onychomycosis, is a common skin disease in which a fungus infects part of the nail, including the nail bed, nail germ, or nail plate. ^{[1] X Source of Research} Nail fungus can lead to cosmetic problems, cause pain, discomfort, and interfere with daily activities. If the infection is severe, nail fungus can cause permanent damage to the nail or spread beyond the nail. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} If you have toenail fungus, you can follow the simple instructions below to treat the fungus and get your nails back to their original health.

Table of Contents

Medical Treatment

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Recognize signs. You need to know what toenail fungus signs like before you want to treat it. Nail fungus does not have certain symptoms. The most common sign is pain in the nail. Signs of a fungal infection include changes in the nail, such as a change in color. The nail will have yellow or white streaks on the sides, usually due to the accumulation of dust under or around the nail, the outer edge of the nail becomes thick and pointed, the nail protrudes or loosens, and the nail breaks easily. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Nail fungus is often treated for cosmetic reasons. However, nail fungus can become serious and require treatment. For example, if the infection is severe, nail fungus can cause permanent damage to the nail. The infection can spread beyond the nail, especially if you are in a high-risk group, such as someone with diabetes or a weakened immune system. If toenail fungus is left untreated, people in a high-risk group can develop cellulitis, an infection of skin tissue. ^{[4] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Toenail fungus is usually caused by a fungus, such as Trichophyton Rubrum. In addition, fungi can be caused by molds and non-dermatophyte yeasts, most commonly Candida. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Do not take over-the-counter drugs. Toenail fungus is difficult to treat and recurrent infections are common. Contrary to popular belief, over-the-counter antifungal creams are often used to treat athlete’s foot and do not effectively treat nail fungus. The reason is because this cream cannot penetrate the nail. ^{[6] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Take oral medication. The most effective way to get rid of nail fungus is to treat it from the inside with an oral antifungal medication. Treatment with oral medications can take 2-3 months or longer. Prescription oral antifungals include Lamisil, which is usually prescribed at a dose of 250 mg daily for 12 weeks. Side effects of the drug include rash, diarrhea, or changes in liver enzymes. People with liver or kidney problems should not take this medicine.

You can try Itraconazpe (Sporanox), which is usually prescribed at a dose of 200 mg per day for 12 weeks. Side effects include nausea, rash, or changes in liver enzymes. People with liver problems should not take this medicine. In addition, Sporanox can also interact with more than 170 other drugs such as Vicodin and Prograf. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor to make sure your medication does not interact with Sporanox. ^{[7] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}
Before getting a prescription, you should tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a history of depression, a weak immune system, or an autoimmune disorder. These drugs can cause liver toxicity.

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Try a topical antifungal prescription. Topical medications are not recommended on their own and are often used with oral medications to reduce treatment time. Also, topical medication is a good option if you don’t really trust oral therapy or don’t want to start long-term oral therapy.

You can use Ciclopirox, an 8% solution that can be applied daily for 48 weeks. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Maybe try Jublia – the newest drug to treat nail fungus, solution 105 can be applied daily for 48 weeks.
Topical prescription medications can be effective if the infection has not spread to the nail germ, the layer of cells under the nail. You can ask your doctor to see if the infection has spread to the nail germ.

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Talk to your doctor about surgery. If your toenail fungus is severe, you may need to treat it with surgery. Surgery involves removing part of the nail or completely removing the nail. After the infected nail is surgically removed, you can apply an antifungal cream to prevent re-infection in the new nail.

Surgery to completely remove the nail is usually not necessary. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Consider non-drug, non-surgical treatment. These methods do not require you to take medication or undergo surgery. An example is the dehiscence method, which removes dead or infected tissue and shortens the nail. This option is used for serious infections or infections that cause abnormal nail growth.

Usually, the doctor will apply urea ointment to the nail and cover the nail. This helps soften the nail for 7-10 days and after that, the doctor can easily remove the fungal part of the nail. This is a painless procedure. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Try laser treatment. Laser treatments are also available but are very expensive. This treatment uses highly concentrated rays to kill the fungus at the site of the fungal infection. It may take several laser treatments to completely remove the fungus, which means you have to pay extra for each treatment. ^{[11] X Research Source}

This treatment is still being tested. Laser treatment is not recommended for routine use until further studies are conducted.

Using Alternative Treatment

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Apply Vick’s VapoRub Oil. You can use Vick’s over-the-counter topical oil to treat fungus. Research shows that applying VapoRub oil daily for 48 weeks is as effective as topical medications like Ciclopirox 8% in treating nail fungus. ^{[12] X Research Sources Derby R, Rohal P, Jackson C, et al. Novel treatment of onychomycosis using over-the-counter menthpated ointment: a clinical case series. J Am Board Fam Med 2011; 24:69.} To treat nail fungus with Vick’s VapoRub oil, you must first keep your nails clean and dry. Then, use your finger or a cotton swab to apply a small amount of VapoRub oil to the affected area, preferably in the evening. Apply the treatment for 48 weeks.

Nail fungus may disappear before 48 weeks, but you should continue to apply it for a few more weeks to make sure the nail fungus is completely cured.

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Use tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal. One study found that tea tree oil was very effective in treating nail fungus. 18% of patients who took tea tree oil twice daily for 24 weeks were cured of nail fungus. ^{[13] X Research Source Buck DS, Nidorf DM, Addino JG. Comparison of two topical preparations for the treatment of onychomycosis: Melaleuca alternifpia (tea tree) oil and clotrimazpe. J Fam Pract. 1994;38(6):601-605.} To treat toenail fungus with tea tree oil, you should use a 100% solution because low-concentration oils have not been proven effective in treating nail fungus. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Nails should be clean and dry when applying oil. Using a cotton swab, apply a small amount of tea tree oil solution to the infected area twice daily for 6 months.

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Try Snakeroot Leaf Extract. In a study of 110 patients, experts found that snakeroot extract was as effective as a topical medication. You can apply Snakeroot extract to the infected area once 3 days for 4 weeks, 2 times a week for the next 4 weeks, and once a week for the next 4 weeks.

In some countries like the US, Snakeroot leaf extract is not usually available. This is a traditional ingredient of Mexico and is mainly found in this country. ^{[15] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}^{[16] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Prevent the recurrence of nail fungus. There are many situations that put you at high risk for a fungal nail infection. Older adults, people with diabetes, people with weakened immune systems or poor circulation are at higher risk. If you fall into this group, you need to take extra care to prevent nail fungus. Precautions include wearing shoes or sandals when going to a public place with wet conditions such as a swimming pool or gym, keeping your toenails short and clean, and keeping your feet dry at all times. and dry your feet after bathing.

Clean and absorbent socks should be worn. Wool, nylon and ppypropylene socks will help keep feet dry. In addition, you should change socks regularly.
Throw away old shoes after the nail fungus has been cured. Old shoes can still carry the fungus. In addition, you should wear open-toed shoes to reduce moisture.
Do not share nail clippers or nail tools. Choose your nail salon carefully.
Use an antifungal powder or spray to reduce the chance of a fungal infection.
Avoid applying nail polish or using artificial products on your nails. The habit of applying nail polish can trap moisture and create a humid environment for fungus to grow. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Advice

Do not share shoes with others when you have nail fungus. You can accidentally leave fungal spores in other people’s shoes and cause a fungal infection.
See your doctor right away if the fungal infection doesn’t go away or the infection site becomes painful, red, or has pus inside.
Talk to your doctor for help or seek out natural home remedies.
Natural therapy doesn’t always work. If the nail fungus does not improve after about a week, you should see your doctor for advice on other treatments.
If you have a health problem like diabetes, onychomycosis can cause more serious complications like cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin.

Steps

Medical Treatment

Using Alternative Treatment

Advice

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