How to treat fungal nail infections

How to treat fungal nail infections

Known as onychomycosis, the growth of fungi on the nails is a condition that causes nails to go yellow or white and look generally unpleasant. This occurs most commonly on toenails, although fungus may also appear on the fingernails. It should be noted that treatment for fungal infections takes time and should be supervised by a doctor. In this OneHowTo article, we will explain more about how to treat fungal nail infections.

Steps to follow:
1

First of all, it is important to note that if you believe that you have fungus growing on your toenails, you should visit a dermatologist or specialist doctor so that they can examine you and determine the appropriate diagnosis. The symptoms of a fungal nail infection are as follows:

  • Yellowish stains on the borders or appearance of yellow lines during the first days.
  • Fragile nails, prone to breaking.
  • In advanced phases, strange smell and decomposition of the nail.
  • Engrossment of the nail.
2

You will normally receive a prescription for a topical treatment (for external and local use) combined with an oral antifungal treatment. The latter is used to totally cure the infection and make the nail go back to its original state as soon as possible.

3

It should be stressed that, as a general rule, the process for curing fungal infections is a lengthy one. It usually takes a minimum of 2 months in order to be effective, and - in the majority of cases - even longer, so you'll need to be patient. It's important to follow all the indications that your doctor gives you when it comes to dosage and length of oral treatments, or the fungal infection will not cure properly and effectively.

4

The topical treatments tend to be a type of nail polish which should be applied on the infected nails regularly and consistently during the recommended timeframe so that the nail regenerates and the fungal infection disappears. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment.

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5

In the most extreme cases, it may be necessary to remove the nail in order to cure the infection. A medical specialist can decide if it is necessary to carry out this simple surgical operation to remove the nail completely.

6

Also note that some people claim that white vinegar can work as a home remedy against fungal nail infections. Although it is not a proven solution, in some cases improvements have been made.

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