The revolutionary laser therapy for nail fungus has an 80% success rate. Instead of medication or debridement, Dr. Frankel offers a laser therapy treatment with an 80% success rate to permanently treat nail fungus. It is painless and is done in the office with three 10-minute procedures every four weeks.
The most effective but least used option is surgery to permanently remove the nail and its root. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polishes in-store and online without a prescription. You may want to try one of them first if the infection doesn't look bad. Some people also rely on home remedies, such as menthol ointment, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snake root extract, but studies show conflicting results. Itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil) killed the fungus within 10 months between 55 and 70% of people in the studies required for FDA approval, but for 15 to 20% of users, the fungus returned within a few months.
Any of these drugs can damage the liver, so the doctor will check liver function at the beginning of treatment and again after six weeks. Itraconazole also interacts with several other drugs. If you take one of these medications, you'll also need to avoid alcohol and stay away of the Sun. If you have diabetes, vasculitis, or another condition that could worsen because of fungi, these medications may be a good option, but otherwise, the risks may not be worth the benefits.
Misdiagnosing toenail fungus can waste time and money trying over-the-counter products that don't work. According to an article published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, toenail fungus is very common in 14 percent of people in North America, and is more common as we age, Sundling adds. Laser treatment for toenail fungus can temporarily improve the nail, but it has a lower cure rate than of oral medications. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail hurts.
It occurs when a fungus, from mold to yeasts and other types of fungi, enters the nail bed due to a cut or break in the nail or repetitive trauma to the nail, and penetrates the nail itself, says Dr. Fungal infection of toenails, known as onychomycosis, is a common but difficult condition; treatments for toenail fungus include a wide range of options with varying success rates. While foot fungus is fairly easy to treat, toenail fungus is incredibly difficult to get rid of, and in some cases, it never goes away, Sundling says, noting that even the best oral medication is only 70 percent effective. While it comes back, your doctor will likely give you a cream or other treatment to put on your nail bed to keep fungi away. In addition, keeping your feet dry and alternating shoes will help you prevent fungus from forming on your nails or feet from the start.
Only a laboratory test of a toenail scrape can show with certainty that fungi are responsible for nail distortion. Wearing shoes that are too small can damage the nail and make it more vulnerable to fungi, as can having a fungal infection on the skin of the foot (known as foot fungus or athlete's foot) and not treating it, since it could expose the nail to fungi.
