Cuticle inflammation and detachment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nCandidal nail infections are often painful due to associated nail bed inflammation. They don’t respond well to normal antifungal treatments. Seeking prompt medical care for deeper antifungal therapies can help clear the infection.<\/p>\n
When to See a Doctor<\/h2>\n
Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that can often be treated at home. However, in some cases it’s important to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
Here are the main reasons you should make an appointment with your doctor if you suspect you have nail fungus:<\/p>\n
The infection is severe or spreading<\/h3>\n
If more than half of one or more nails are affected by the fungus, it is considered a severe case. Additionally, if you notice the infection worsening and spreading to other nails over time, see your doctor.<\/p>\n
You have diabetes, circulation issues, or a weakened immune system<\/h3>\n
People with certain medical conditions like diabetes, poor circulation<\/b>, or compromised immune systems tend to develop more severe nail infections. For these individuals, prompt medical treatment is recommended.<\/p>\nOver-the-counter treatments haven’t worked<\/h3>\n
You can try treating minor nail fungus with OTC topical ointments for up to 12 weeks. If you don’t see improvement by then, make an appointment with your doctor. They can prescribe stronger antifungal medications.<\/p>\n
The infection is causing you pain or discomfort<\/h3>\n
In some cases, a fungal nail infection can be painful. This usually happens when the infection has been left untreated for a long time. See your doctor right away if your infected nails are causing you pain.<\/p>\n
You have yellow streaks or crumbling nails<\/h3>\n
Yellow streaks under the tip of the nail are a common sign of nail fungus. However, nails that become thickened, brittle and crumbly may indicate a fungal infection plus a secondary bacterial infection<\/b>. See your doctor if you notice these worrisome changes in your nails.<\/p>\n
Catching and treating nail fungus early leads to better outcomes. See your doctor promptly if OTC treatments aren’t helping or if your infection is severe. With prescription medications and possible nail removal, most fungal nail problems can be cured.<\/p>\n
Nail Fungus Treatment Options<\/h2>\nOver-the-Counter Antifungal Creams<\/h3>\n
Over-the-counter antifungal creams containing ingredients like clotrimazole, miconazole, and tolnaftate can help treat mild cases of nail fungus when applied directly to the infected nail once or twice a day.<\/p>\n
These inexpensive topical medications work by killing the fungus on the nail surface and are available at any pharmacy without a prescription. Consistent application and patience is key, as it can take 3-6 months for new, healthy nail growth to appear.<\/p>\n
For best results, make sure to file down thickened nails before applying the cream. While OTC antifungals don’t always fully eliminate an infection, especially if the fungus has spread to the nail bed, they are an easy first treatment option with minimal side effects like skin redness or irritation.<\/p>\n
Their convenient application at home makes them a good choice over more intensive prescription treatments.<\/p>\n
Prescription Oral Medications<\/h3>\n
For moderate or severe nail fungus, oral antifungal medications prescribed by a doctor may be necessary. These work by circulating through the bloodstream to reach and kill stubborn fungal infections affecting multiple nails or surrounding skin.<\/p>\n
Common prescription pills include terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). Though highly effective at nail fungus clearance rates up to 80% after 3 months, they can cause side effects like headache, diarrhea, rash, or liver damage in rare cases.<\/p>\n
Frequent blood testing helps monitor liver enzyme levels during treatment. Another downside is the high cost without insurance, often exceeding $100 per month. Still, oral meds offer the convenience of an easy pill over topical creams and can more reliably produce complete cures, especially for individuals with diabetes, inflammatory conditions, or impaired immune systems prone to severe fungal infections spreading internally.<\/p>\n
Laser Therapy<\/h3>\n
Laser treatments applied directly to the nail have emerged as a newer nail fungus cure over the past decade. Podiatrists use specialized devices that shine intense, focused beams of light and heat that selectively damage fungal cells.<\/p>\n
Most treatments involve 2-3 sessions spaced 2-4 weeks apart for optimal results. According to research studies, laser therapy clears nail fungus in 38%-88% of cases. The technology offers a safe, fast in-office procedure without side effects or drug interactions.<\/p>\n
However, it does not prevent reinfection later on. The major downside is the high out-of-pocket cost, averaging $500-$1,000 altogether, that insurance does not cover since it is viewed as a cosmetic treatment.<\/p>\n
Overall, laser therapy makes sense for those that can afford it and desire a convenient option for moderate or severe nail fungus without taking oral antifungals.<\/p>\n
Nail Removal<\/h3>\n
In the most severe cases where fungal infection causes the nail to become loose, crumbly, distorted and painful, temporary or permanent nail removal may be recommended. For toenails, a podiatrist can surgically extract part or all of the nail as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia.<\/p>\n
This fully exposes the underlying nail bed and allows the doctor to remove all infected tissue before prescribing a course of oral antifungals to clear any remaining fungus internally and prevent recurrence. After several months, the nail may grow back normally assuming the infection is gone.<\/p>\n
Permanent nail removal is an option for recurrent fungal infections causing pain or mobility problems. Here, the nail root is fully destroyed so no regrowth occurs. The exposed nail bed can then be covered with a skin graft from elsewhere on the foot.<\/p>\n
Nail removal provides rapid relief when fungus has severely impacted quality of life, however, some may prefer to keep their nail if other treatments are still an option.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
In summary, key signs of nail fungus include changes in nail color, thickness, shape, and texture. While fungus can affect fingernails, it is more commonly seen in toenails. If you think you may have nail fungus, see your doctor, who can confirm diagnosis and recommend the best treatment option for your situation.<\/p>\n
With prescription antifungals and persistence, nail fungus can be cured. Don’t hesitate to seek help so you can get back to enjoying healthy, beautiful nails.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you’ve noticed changes in your toenails or fingernails, you may be wondering – do I have nail fungus? Nail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a common condition that can cause nails to become discolored, thickened, or brittle. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll give you a close look at the signs and symptoms of nail…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"Nail Guide"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/what-does-nail-fungus-look-like-1024x614.webp",1024,614,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Amanda Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/author\/chris\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Nail Guide","slug":"nail-guide","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1279,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":1279,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nail Guide","category_nicename":"nail-guide","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/what-does-nail-fungus-look-like.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}