Thursday, April 08, 2010

Toenail fungus treatment


Although toenail fungus can be little bit difficult to treat, there are some treatment options for curing them. Fungal infections on nail are sometimes difficult to be cured you will probably have to take a treatment, sometimes for up to six months, because fungus is found under the nail and can be hard to reach. we must choose the appropriate treatment option so that we immediately get rid of toenail fungus. Here are 6 treatment options that can be selected to treat nail fungus.

1. Oral medications

In the past, Griseofulvin (Fulvicin), a toxic drug, is the only medicine that has recognized the benefits of treating nail fungus infections. Now there are other oral antifungal drugs that can cure toenail infections. These are Itraconazole (Sporanox), Fluconazole (Diflucan) and Terbinafine (Lamisil). These drug help a new nail grow healthy which is free from infections and replaces the infected area of your nail. They are usually taken from six to twelve months and you will not be able to see the results until after the toenail grows back completely.

2. Antifungal Creams and Antifungal Solutions

Antifungal creams are one of the most common toenail fungal treatments. They can be over the counter or prescription medicine which you can apply directly over the infected area of the nails. Antifungal creams are used for mild to moderate stages of toenail fungus infections and can be be combined with oral medications for a more effective cure. Recommendations include using a nail varnish or use tea tree oil that kills the fungal infection. Here at Your 2 Feet, formerly Z-CoiL of Seattle, we stock Gordochom solution and Fungasoap which is Tea Tree Oil offered without a prescription. Often oral Lamisil can be crushed in the Gordochom to make it more potent. This is a prescription you can get from Dr. Kerch. A urea cream applied under occlusion can also battle the fungus over time.

3. Vicks Vapo Rub

Vicks vapo rub has been used to be home remedy for toenail fungus. However, no scientific studies have been showed evidence to validate this claim even if there are some people who said that it is effective to cure nail fungus.

4. Antifungal Nail Polish

For mild to moderate fungal infections, Dr. Kerch or your family podiatrist might prescribe an antifungal nail polish called Ciclopirox. You paint it on your infected toenails as you would an ordinary nail polish. Do this everyday for seven days then wipe it all off and start with fresh applications. Use of Ciclopirox on a daily basis for one year has been shown to cure toenail fungal infections.

5. Surgical Nail Removal

For recurring and severe stage of toenail fungus, surgical nail removal may be the best treatment option. The infected nail is removed and an antifungal cream is used to treat the infected area. Because the area of infection is exposed, antifungal cream can kill toenail fungus more effective.

6. Laser treatment

Currently under consideration by the FDA is a laser treatment that will "resolve" the fungus. It is a this promising new treatment. However the cost is $200-$500 and is not reimbursed by insurance companies. This may be prohibitive to some. It accomplishes the same result as having the nail debrided in the office. It will recur unless the underlying problem at the base of the nail is addressed.

Whichever treatment you prefer to use, will depend on stages of toenail fungus. For beginning stages of toenail fungus, home remedy with topical creams will be okay. However, it is always best to consult your podiatrist to get an accurate diagnosis and best treatment option for toenail fungus.

If you do not already have a podiatrist you can make an appointment with Dr. Kerch.
•If your nail infection doesn’t bother you, you may wish to leave it alone. This option may lead to a spread or worsening of the nail condition.

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