Toenail Fungus Treatment

The medical term used to describe toenail fungus is onychomycosis. In this condition, microscopic fungus enters one or more toenails and causes infection. Initially, a white or yellow spot develops on the tip of the toenail. As the infection spreads deeper, it leads to discoloration and thickening of the nail. In case of a severe infection, the edges of the toenail starts crumbling and it gives rise to a painful condition.

What Causes Toenail Fungus?
This kind of fungus that attacks toenails need damp and dark environment for growth and survival. When you are wearing shoes for long hours, the fungi invade the nails through minor cuts and breaks in the nails and feed themselves on the keratin protein present in the hard surface of the nails. It is highly contagious in nature. It spreads easily from an infected person to others if they are sharing swimming pools or showers. Underlying health problems that affect circulation like diabetes and HIV can also be responsible for this toenail problem.

Toenail Fungus Treatment
A mild infection can be treated with the help of a few over-the-counter medicines. These medicines are available in the form of antifungal nail creams and ointments which have to be applied on the affected toenail. If it does not help, then doctors should be consulted for proper treatment.

For a moderate infection, doctors recommend topical application of antifungal lacquer on the toenail and surrounding skin once a day. Another prescribed medicine for topical application is antifungal lotion with urea content. The topical medicines are often combined with oral antifungal medication that will promote the growth of a fresh nail which is free from infection. The oral medication has to be continued for 6-12 weeks to eliminate the infection completely.

Doctors often file the nail just to minimize the size of the infected part of the nail. If the infection is severe and painful, then the infected toenail is removed surgically and a new nail will grow there. Toenail fungus laser treatment is another popular method where the affected toenail is first treated with an acid and then it is exposed to laser in order to destroy the fungus. This technique is known as photodynamic therapy.

Natural Toenail Fungus Treatment
Usually, toenail fungus treatment has to be continued for a long period of time before one can get relief from the problem. Prolonged use of antifungal drugs can give rise to various side effects including skin rash and liver damage. For this reason, many people prefer to use naturally occurring substances for treating toenail fungus. Here are a few natural remedies for toenail fungus which have been proved to be highly beneficial.

Vinegar: Acetic acid present in vinegar can inhibit the growth of this kind of fungus. You can use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Mix one part of it with two parts of warm water and soak your feet into the mixture for about half an hour. Then rinse your feet thoroughly and pat them dry. This should be done once daily for best results.

Tea Tree Oil: The antifungal components present in tea tree oil makes it an excellent choice for curing toenail fungus. After cleaning the feet properly, apply 100 percent tea tree oil on the infected part daily. You can also use tea tree oil on toenail fungus after soaking the feet in vinegar solution.

These are some of the most effective toenail fungus treatments. The worst part of this infection is that it tends to recur again and again. Therefore, you should follow certain measures to protect the toenails. Always use natural materials like cotton socks and leather shoes so that your feet get the scope to breathe freely. Apply a mixture of olive oil and salt on your toenails before wearing shoes. This reduces the chances of infection to a great extent. Those women who have a tendency to develop toenail infection should not wear nail polish or artificial nails.