Onychomycosis Treatment

Onychomycosis is a medical term that is used to refer to a condition wherein the toenails or the fingernails get infected by fungi. Here the affected parts could be the nail bed, the nail plate, nail matrix, etc. Although, the condition does not give rise to any potentially life-threatening situation, but it can greatly interfere with the day-to-day activities of the sufferer. However, as it has been noticed, onychomycosis, more than being a physical discomfort, is a psychological concern among most people. The best way to deal with this fungal infection is to treat it at the first sight of its symptoms. This is due to the fact that, as the infection spreads and goes down deeper, it becomes more stubborn.

Onychomycosis Causes and Symptoms

Dermatophytes is known to be a group of fungi that is commonly held responsible for causing an infection of toenails and fingernails. Besides these, yeasts and molds can also come into the picture, in some cases. Such organisms prefer to reside in warm and moist environment, common being showers and swimming pools. So when you are at such places, and if you have a tiny cut or a wound near your nails, these organisms can easily invade your body and trigger off the infection.

The reason toenails happen to be more vulnerable to an infection is due to their exposure to warm, dark and moist environment, such as the ones inside the shoes. Also, as compared to fingernails, toenails have reduced blood circulation. This in turn keeps the immune system from working efficiently in detecting the toenail fungus and eliminating it.

The early symptom of onychomycosis is the occurrence of a white or a yellow spot under the tip of the affected nail. Now, as the infection gets a chance to spread deeper, the nail may become thick and develop crumbling edges. The affected nail may also become distorted in shape, and lose its luster. You can also notice the buildup of dark debris under the nail.

Onychomycosis Treatment Plan

The treatment choice for onychomycosis is highly individual, and depends upon the type of fingernail or toenail infection, the number of nails infected, and the severity of the condition. Although, people may avail certain over-the-counter medications, they do not stay effective for long, as there always lurks a risk of the infection coming back. So prescription-strength medications are better. The first line of the treatment includes using prescribed oral antifungal medications. The most effective ones are Terbinafine (Lamisil) and Itraconazole (Sporanox). The duration of these medications go up to 6 - 12 weeks. They help in stimulating the growth of new nail, which would eventually replace the infected nail. To eliminate such a kind of toenail or fingernail infection, it takes about four months, or longer.

In the treatment of onychomycosis, topical antifungals are also necessary. Such medications work best when used in conjunction with oral ones. And, to increase their efficacy, it is better to get the infected nail filed. Some people may also benefit from what is known as an antifungal nail polish. It does well for mild to moderate nail fungal infection. The polish has to be painted onto the surface of the infected nail. After a week, the polish has to be removed, and then it can be reapplied.

Surgery could also be opted for the treatment. This is required if the infection is extremely severe and its pain is intolerable. Here, the infected nail is removed. A new nail will grow, but may take a year or more to grow completely.

Lasers could also be employed for treating the infection. The advantage of this method is that, it is drug-free. Also, it only targets the infected part of the nails, leaving out the nearby areas. According to reports, 70-80% of cases have shown appreciable results with laser nail fungus treatment.

As already mentioned, the sooner onychomycosis is treated, the lower are the risks of the infection spreading deeper into the nails, and recurrence of the infection. And for prevention, all you have to do is, keep your hands and feet clean, dry, and protected from unhygienic areas.