Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure and treatment is most successful when started early. Fungal nail infections usually don't go away on their own, and prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth are usually the best treatment. In severe cases, a healthcare professional can completely remove the nail. Antifungal pills also work faster than medications applied to the nails.
Taking antifungal pills for two months can cure an infection under the nails. Three months of treatment usually cure a fungal infection in the toenails. However, nail fungus does not go away on its own. And if you don't treat it, there's a chance it could get worse.
It may spread to other nails or through the body. It may cause pain when walking. Terbinafine and itraconazole are the two medications most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infections. Toenail fungus can be resistant to treatment, sometimes leading to prolonged resolution.
In some cases, fungi infect nail cells, making it difficult to get rid of them. This is one of the main reasons why many people don't seek treatment for toenail fungus or wait for the infection to start causing pain. Usually, with the right treatment, getting rid of toenail fungus takes a few weeks to a few months, and maybe even longer. The reality is that toenail fungus can spread to other toenails, to the fingernails, or even to the skin, so treatment must begin immediately.
Usually, toenails grow by less than 2 mm per month and the infection has to go away completely before a toenail can be considered to be “cured”. As it reappears, your doctor will likely give you a cream or other treatment to put it on the nail bed to keep fungus away. We treat toenail and toenail fungus infections and can determine what best cures toenail fungus for your specific situation. To learn more about laser fungus removal and to determine if this treatment is right for you or your family, contact the professionals at Arizona Foot Doctors.
If left untreated, toenail fungus can increase in severity and spread to other areas, making it a condition that requires proper attention and care as soon as possible. Some patients require only one treatment to completely eliminate the fungus, while others may need several treatments.
