Treatments For Toenail Fungus - Take Your Pick

By Aaron C Stevenson

Nail fungus is the fungal infection of the nail bed and the plate under the surface of the nail, and it is characterized by thickening of toenail along with yellowish discoloration, disfiguring, and splitting. Gradually, the toenail becomes rough and can get separated from the nail bed. In medical terms, nail fungus is known as "Onychomycosis" or "Ringworm of the Nail". Toenail fungus can press against shoes causing irritation and pain. Also, it can cause social, psychological, and employment related problems. Toenail fungus is caused by three main groups of organisms which include dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds. Approximately 90% of the toenail fungal infections are caused by dermatophytes. Around 8% of the cases are due to yeast [Candia albicans] infections and non-dermatophyte molds cause the infection in 2% of the cases.

The fungus treatment for toenails is challenging because the infection is embedded within the nail which is difficult to reach. The toenail receives little blood supply and grows slowly. Therefore, medications and topical applications used in the treatment for toenail fungus will reach the infected site in little quantity which will not be sufficient to cure the infection. Hence, the infection responds slowly to the treatment and may take a year or more for complete removal of the symptoms. Treatment for toenail fungus includes various treatment options such as pharmacological treatment, laser treatment, and surgical treatment.

Pharmacological Treatment

This line of treatment includes oral and topical anti-fungal medications. Newer oral anti-fungal drugs such as Itraconazole, Terbinafine have revolutionized the treatment for toenail fungus. As a standard line of treatment for toenail fungus, oral anti-fungal drugs are administered for 3 months. Terbinafine is administered daily for 3 months whereas Itraconazole is often prescribed in pulse doses. Pulse doses means it is administered one week in a month for 3 months.

These anti-fungal drugs produce fewer side effects with few contraindications such as congestive cardiac failure and liver diseases. Itraconazole should be avoided along with certain drugs because it interacts with few antibiotics such as Erythromycin and certain asthma drugs. About 50% to 75% of the cases respond very well to the oral anti-fungal therapy and in 20 to 25% of the cases toenail fungus can recur.

Oral anti-fungal therapy combined with topical and surgical treatments can reduce the duration and side effects of the oral therapy. In superficial toenail fungal infections, topical anti-fungal agents are advised which include ciclopirox, olamine and amorolfine. These topical agents are available in the form of nail paints which can be applied to the affected nail.

Laser Treatment

A noveon type laser is used in the treatment for toenail fungus. This laser is also used for some types of cataract surgery.

Surgical Treatment

In surgical treatment, nail fungus is removed surgically or chemically. In chemical removal, about 40-50% urea compound is used to remove infected nail. It is a painless procedure which is useful in patients with very thick toenail. Surgical removal of the infected toenail plate alone is not effective. Additional oral anti-fungal medications can be helpful. Combining oral and topical anti-fungal therapies with surgery increases the effectiveness of the surgical treatment.

Prevention

Prevention of nail fungus is very important because the recurrence of toenail fungal infections is common. Do not wear wet socks, keep the nails dry, and do not wear tight shoes. Cut the toenail regularly to keep it short and while cutting the toenail do not dig into the corners. Athlete's foot should be treated otherwise it may cause toenail fungus.

More information on popular products that have been successful like Zetaclear can be found on the Treatment For Toenail Fungus website.

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7 Factors That Can Increase Your Risk For Developing Fungal Infection of the Feet and Nails

By Lorinne Yen

Fungal infection of the feet and nails may start as yellow or white spots. Without treatment, the nail fungus can spread and may lead to nail thickening and discoloration.

Typically, foot and nail fungus is caused by fungi called dermatophytes such as Candida. The fungal infection enters the skin though tiny cuts in the skin or nail bed. In a warm and moist environment, the fungi can thrive and easily spread to adjacent areas.

Below are 7 risk factors that increase your risk for fungal infection of the feet and nails:

1. Unfortunately, it was observed that people with a family history of fungal nail infections are more prone to have the infection. Therefore, genetics plays a major role in the risk of developing the condition.

2. It is estimated that around 30 percent of people with diabetes have fungal nail infections. Thus, diabetes increases the risk of having feet fungus. Likewise, people with a weak immune system are more at risk.

3. People with psoriasis are also more at risk of having fungus nails. Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by having thick, red skin, and scaly patches. Psoriasis and fungal infection can affect the feet at the same time.

4. If you wear tight shoes or footwear that crowds your toes, then this increases your chances of having fungal feet. Tight fitting shoes trap moisture or sweat and encourage the growth of fungi. Closed shoes do not let in any airflow. Wearing socks that do not absorb perspiration well also puts you at risk of having nail fungus.

5. Having damaged nails or cut in the skin can also increase the chances of contacting fungal infection of the feet and nails.

6. Walking barefoot in public places particularly gyms, shower rooms, and swimming pools puts you at risk of getting the infection.

7. If you perspire heavily or have hyperhidrosis, then you have increased risk for fungus feet. Fungi flourish in wet and warm environments.

It can be a challenge to treat foot and nail fungus. Treatment includes antifungal creams, ointments and oral antifungal medications. However, it can still take many weeks to months before improvement can be noted.

To help prevent infections, practice good hygiene. Wear good fitting footwear with adequate ventilation, keep your feet dry, use antifungal powder, and wash your feet regularly.

Terpenoids from plant extracts have been used widely for their aromatic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. One of the well known plant terpenoids is tea tree oil, derived from the leaves of the tea tree. It is used in many products and may be used as an adjunct in feet and nail fungus treatment.

Neutrea soap has an organic proprietary blend of tea tree oil and other essential oils to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of fungal feet and nails at http://www.drlamlabs.com/neutrea-soap.php

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Toe Nail Fungus Cures - The Many Treatments

By Aaron C Stevenson

Toe nail fungus is also referred as Onychomycosis, which means a condition that mostly affects toe nails. The condition can begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toe nails. Toe nail fungus is very unsightly and makes those suffering from the condition very uncomfortable to show their feet. There are different types of toenail fungus with different types of appearances. The toe nail fungus make the nail appear as thickened, discolored, and distorted. Infected nails are also very painful and can sometimes have a foul odor. Treatment for toenail fungus is sometimes difficult and it has a tendency to recur.

This condition can occur as a result of the following: hyperhidrosis, immunodeficiency, poor hygiene, exposure of nails, too much water, diabetes, nail trauma, male gender, or even increased age. The condition can be addressed either through natural home remedies or taking medicine prescribed by a doctor. Most people prefer natural methods since it is less costly and easily available. Treatment for toenail fungus using over the counter medications has been associated with some cases of liver damage by some patients who suffer from the condition. Therefore, there is a need to have the liver tested before taking the medication.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

In the past, treatment for toenail fungus was limited and inefficient. However, with the advancement of age and technology there are various options available for treatment. Any person suspecting of having toenail fungus infection needs to, first of all, seek the advice of a doctor to ensure that it is really a fungal infection before starting treatment.

Treatment for toenail fungus requires a lot of patience from the victim before it can be cleared. Some patients have there symptoms clear in a month and others it can take up to six months depending on how extreme the infection is. Toenail fungus can either be severe or mild. Doctors usually prefer giving the patient an oral medication for a condition that is severe. Mild cases of toenail fungus can be treated by applications such as tea tree oils or a type of nail varnish in order to kill the fungal infection. However, in very extreme cases, doctors can advocate for partial or complete removal of the toe.

Over the counter anti-fungal nail creams and ointments are available but some are considered less effective. One of the most recent non prescription medications that is getting popular reviews is a product called Zetaclear. Most doctors prefer putting their patients on terbinafine and itraconazole. This medication allows for growth of a new uninfected nail slowly replacing the infected portion of nail. The medication is taken six to twelve weeks but the patient starts to see results once the new nail starts growing. Sometimes the process can take four months or more to completely get rid of an infection.

Home Remedies

Treatment for toenail fungus at home is preferred by most people if they can find something that works. It involves use of mostly herbal ointments to get rid of the fungus.

Some of the methods employed are:

-Soaking the feet in Listerine and vinegar for 15-20 minutes in warm water. Vinegar is believed to inhibit growth of certain bacteria. Then, rinse the feet well and pat them dry.

-Rubbing feet with Vicks Vapor Rub works best because of eucalyptus present in it.

-Rubbing Vitamin E oil on the affected area several times in a day produces very good results.

Also, people are advised to keep good personal hygiene in order to prevent future toenail fungus infections.

More information can be found on popular products that have been proven to work like Zetaclear on the Toe Nail Fungus Cures website.

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