Do your toenails look a little worse for wear? You might think you simply have dirty nails that won’t seem to scrub clean. This could be the case but if your toenails are developing a white or yellow tinge and they’re becoming brittle and ragged, you likely have a fungal infection. Don’t feel ashamed as this type of infection can and does happen to anyone. Toenail fungus is a very common condition. The only problem is that if it’s left untreated it can become painful and troublesome.
How does it happen? Toenail fungus develops when you sustain small cracks in your nails that allow fungi to enter and grow. If you visit public areas like swimming pools and you’re prone to athlete’s foot, it can be easy to develop a fungal infection under your nails. This type of infection is more likely to strike older people who have more exposure to fungi, reduced blood flow, and nails that grow more slowly, but really, people of any age can develop it.
What can you do about it? Once you discover you have toenail fungus, you’ll likely want to treat it. If it’s left untreated for too long, toenail fungus can lead to a larger, more serious infection, so you’ll want to take care of it.
Here’s a look at several ways you can treat toenail fungus, including our leading treatment system, for effective, lasting results.
How to Treat Toenail Fungus
There are several possible steps to treating toenail fungus. When patients visit our office to learn about treating their nail fungus, one of the first things we do is a biopsy. A small sample is taken from the debris under your nail, close to your skin. Sometimes other conditions and diseases can look like toenail fungus, such as ingrown nails and Darier disease, so it’s important to find out exactly what you have.
Once your infection is confirmed as fungus, we sit down with you and discuss the possible treatment options. Fungal nail treatments are available in a wide variety and we’re here to help you choose what might work best in your particular situation.
Treatment options include:
Topical Medications
Prescription medication can be used to treat your fungus and it’s easily applied directly to your affected nails. Some people find this does the trick. Because the fungus on your toenails is sitting under the nails,
however, it can be difficult to get rid of all the fungus using a polish or cream. You might also experience some irritation around your toenails along with an itching or burning sensation where the cream soaks into the area surrounding your nail bed. This is temporary, though, and will go away once your treatment is over. You may have to thin your nails in order for a medicated nail cream to be effective and get at the underlying fungus. In addition, some antifungal nail polishes need to be applied for up to a year to be effective.
Pills
Pills taken orally to treat nail fungus have a better chance of getting at the fungus from the inside out. They can also work more quickly. Medicated pills help a new nail grow that’s free from fungus, to replace your old one. You’ll have to take these pills for about six to 12 weeks, or up to a few months, to see results.
Laser Treatment – the Best Toenail Fungus Treatment!
Light therapy is one of the best solutions for toenail fungus. LunulaLaser treatment is a groundbreaking approach to treating nail fungus that can be done in just minutes with each session. It involves targeting your nail fungus directly at its source with light energy. This treatment is simple, painless, and comes with many benefits. Typically, patients visit our office and receive light therapy treatment for their nail fungus in sessions that last about 12 minutes. Many patients only need one session to eliminate their fungus. It can take six months to about a year for the normal appearance of your toenail to return but this is typical with most toenail fungus treatments. The best news is that LunaLaser treatment is incredibly effective and cures about 90% of nail fungus cases! This means it’s one of the most powerful solutions now available to patients. As a painless, fast-acting treatment, this is one of your best options.
Fungal Fighting Kit
In order to keep your toenail fungus from spreading, it’s important to do a few things. You can create your own “fungal fighting kit” by sourcing:
- Antifungal shoe spray
- Vitamins
- Creams or topical medications that target nail fungus
Antifungal Shoe Spray
If you suffer from toenail fungus, it can be a good idea to get rid of your present footwear and buy new shoes once your nails have been treated. You might want to take steps to prevent it from coming back, as well. Antifungal shoe spray is more than a deodorizing spray. This spray kills fungal spores to prevent them from growing and spreading. Moisture can be quickly trapped inside your shoes, creating an ideal environment for athlete’s foot to flourish. An antifungal spray can act as a preventive measure to help keep your fungus from coming back.
Vitamins
There’s some evidence to show applying vitamin E topically to your infected toenails can help eliminate toenail fungus over time. It’s also important to make sure you stay healthy by getting enough biotin, a B-complex vitamin integral to good nail health.
Creams and Topical Medications
Once you’ve treated your toenail fungus, you might consider applying a topical medication or cream to the previously infected area. This can help to keep your toenails protected and prevent regrowth.
Need Help with Toenail Fungus? Contact Us!
We can help you regain healthy feet! At Third Coast Foot and Ankle, we have the best toenail fungus treatment available for effective, painless results that last. Book your treatment session in either Oak Creek or New Berlin, Wisconsin, and regain the healthy toenails you want. We’re here to help! Contact us today!