Ways to Treat Nail Fungus

Nail fungus can be an embarrassing problem. Even people with good hygiene habits can find themselves dealing with nail fungus. No one type of fungus will affect the nails. A doctor will need to take a clipping of the infected nails and send them to the lab to see what type of fungus is present. Some common causes are yeast, bacteria, and other microorganisms. The doctor will examine the fungus and determine which nail fungus treatment will be the most effective.

Treatments

Treatment for nail fungus is not always easy and it will take some time for the fungus to go away.

Oral Medications

A doctor may prescribe certain oral medications such as Lamisil. This will help the new nails grow free from fungus. A person may need to take this medication for 6 to 12 weeks and it may take months to eliminate the fungus completely.

Medicated Nail Polish

Antifungal nail polish is painted on the nails that are infected with the fungus and the skin around the nail. The special nail polish is left on for seven days. After this time it is removed and a fresh coat is applied. This may need to be done for a year but eventually will rid the nail of the fungus.

Medicated Nail Cream

An antifungal cream can be used on the nails. To use this cream a person should soak their nails in water and once they are done soaking the cream can be applied. A person can get over the counter medication or they can get a prescription for this cream. These creams are designed so they can get through the hard layers of the nail and get to the fungus that is living in the layers under the nail. This will help fight the infection and will help kill the fungus.

Surgery

This is an option that the doctor can discuss with the patient. The doctor may need to remove the nail so antifungal medication can be applied to the area under the nail that has become infected. The nail may need to be removed if other treatments are not effective. This will allow a person to start over with another nail. There may be some pain associated with their surgery and this is why other methods are often tried before this option.

Nail Care

To try to prevent nail fungus a person needs to take care of their nails. They should keep the nails trimmed. This will help reduce the pressure that is put on the nail and the body. If a person already has fungus they should trim the nails and then apply an antifungal to the area. This way it is can get into the deeper layers of the nail to help stop the spread of the fungus.

These are some things that a person can to when it comes to treating their nail fungus. Nail fungus can happen to anyone so it is important they begin nail fungus treatment to help prevent the spread of the fungus.