Toenail fungus can it be cured

Complications from fungal infection are also possible. Making a few simple lifestyle changes can help prevent a fungal infection of the nails. Taking good care of your nails by keeping them well trimmed and clean is a good way to prevent infections.

Also avoid injuring the skin around your nails. For some people, a fungal nail infection can be difficult to cure, and the first round of medication might not work. In severe cases, there may be permanent damage to your nail, and it may have to be removed. People with diabetes have a greater risk for developing potentially serious complications caused by these infections.

If your toenails are discolored, thick, or cracking, you may have toenail fungus. While there are oral prescription drugs to treat toenail fungus…. Normal, healthy nails appear smooth and have consistent coloring. As you age, you may develop vertical ridges, or your nails may be a bit more brittle. White spots on your fingernails are common and usually do not indicate a serious problem. Many healthy adults may have these spots at some point in….

Swelling and redness alongside your fingernail may be caused by an infected hangnail. This is different from an infected or ingrown nail. Find out…. Fungal infections are a common complication of acrylic nails. They are usually caused by moisture trapped under your nails that leads to excessive…. Bleach isn't a good method for treating or preventing toenail fungus.

Learn why, plus recommended treatments, and when to see a doctor. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance.

Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Leah Ansell, MD, is board-certified in cosmetic and medical dermatology. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products, and articles are reviewed by healthcare professionals for medical accuracy. You can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails.

When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. But if left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes. The fungus often begins in the form of athlete's foot between the toes or on the soles of the feet. At this stage, the fungal infection is easier to treat with over-the-counter medication. Diagnosing the fungal infection early is key to make treatments effective.

Lipner recommends visiting a board-certified dermatologist to properly treat the infection if it grows to be too severe. Here are a few of the best over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments on the market.

Prescription orals and topicals are the most effective way to treat toenail fungus, but there are products over-the-counter that can also address mild fungal infections. Terbinafine Hydrochloride AntiFungal Cream works to address a variety of infections, including toenail fungus. The prescription-strength cream is recommended by Dr. It works by killing the fungus and preventing its growth. Active Ingredients: Terbinafine hydrochloride Dose: Apply between the toes twice a day for 1 week, or twice a day on the bottom and sides of the foot for 2 weeks.

Only add the amount directed on the package or by a physician. Uses: To treat fungus on the toes and feet, jock itch, and ringworm elsewhere on the body; relieves itching. Fungi Nail Antifungal Ointment uses an innovative design to address multiple forms of fungal infections one can find on their feet. Its wide-tip applicator applies the appointment on larger areas of the feet, such as the soles and in-between toes.

Then the smaller applicator works to get around the nail cuticles and underneath the nail. Once applied, the maximum-strength ointment kills the fungus with the active ingredients of zinc undecylenate and undecylenic acid to help treat toenail fungus. The ointment also soothes itching and burning that can come with an infection, all while healing the skin. For best results, apply twice a day to clean, dry feet. Apply thin layer on affected area twice daily or as directed by a doctor.

These ingredients soothe the skin while addressing foot and toenail fungus. The combined ingredients work to dry out the fungus to prevent it from spreading. Benefits of the soak also include healing cracked feet and soothing aches. This US-made product has no dyes or synthetic fragrances, making it a great all-natural solution. But results, depending on severity, might take longer to show when using the soak over prescription or over-the-counter treatments.

Because both drugs can affect the liver, however, blood tests of liver function are recommended before treatment is started and every four to six weeks during treatment. A third medication, fluconazole Diflucan , is sometimes used on an off-label basis for toenail fungus caused by yeast. In the most serious instances of toenail fungus infection, the toenail may be removed surgically or dissolved with acid.

This can be done to just a portion of the nail in the hope that the remaining nail will grow back healthy. In cases where the entire toenail has to be removed, artificial nails and products using light-cured resins to form a temporary covering can be used to protect the underlying tissue until the nail grows back.

If you prefer to go the home-remedy route, such as applying tea tree oil or Vicks VapoRub to your nails, keep in mind that the effectiveness of these products for treating toenail fungus hasn't been well studied, and they are not recommended by podiatrists. If you wish to try laser treatment of toenail fungus, speak to your doctor about what to expect from the treatment, and call your insurance carrier to find out whether the treatment will be covered. Proximal subungual onychomycosis : Infection originates from the proximal nail fold and spreads distally.

Superficial onychomycosis : Fungi invade the superficial layers of the nail plate and spread deeper into the nail plate as the infection progresses. Lesions are often white and are most often caused by T. Endonyx onychomycosis : Nail bed is not involved in the infection; only the interior of the nail plate is infected. Totally dystrophic onychomycosis: Often a sign of end-stage distal or proximal subungual onychomycosis.

Nail bed is thickened and raised with copious keratotic debris. Yeast onychomycosis: Affects fingernails more commonly than toenails, and is often caused by Candida.

May be a sign of underlying immunodeficiency. Fungal melanonychia: 6 An uncommon nail infection caused by melanin-producing molds such as Scytalidium, Alternaria, and Exophiala, causing brownish or blackish discolorations of the nail plate.

May present similar to subungual melanoma. Diagnosis of onychomycosis can often be made by visual inspection alone; laboratory tests may not be needed, but include: Microscopy: Potassium hydroxide KOH stain is a commonly-used method because it is inexpensive and easy to perform. Nail clippings or scrapings are placed in a drop of KOH and examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal elements.

J Am Acad Dermatol. The epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of onychomycosis external icon. Semin Cutan Med Surg.