It can take 6 to 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal, and in some cases, the nail may not look the same as it did before the infection. If treated properly, fungal toenail infections usually take several months of treatment to heal. Since the healing properties of fungal nail treatments work as nails grow, the speed at which nails grow makes all the difference. In general, it takes 3 to 6 months to see results.
It usually takes a few weeks to a few months to eradicate the underlying infection. In most cases, this is achieved by a combination of topical and oral antifungal medications. Because the fungus is protected from topical medications through the nail plate and is semi-protected from oral medications because the toes have limited circulation, the process is a little slower than it might be in other areas of the body. Your nails may not look normal after treatment.
It can take between a year and 18 months for the nail to produce a fungus. Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure and treatment is most effective 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.
It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away. Fungal nail infections can be closely related to fungal skin infections. If a fungal infection isn't treated, it can spread from one place to another. Patients should discuss all skin problems with their healthcare provider to ensure that all fungal infections are treated appropriately.
As long as it comes back, your doctor will likely give you a cream or other treatment to put it on your nail bed to keep fungus away. Early treatment is the best way to prevent the condition from getting worse and to preserve the appearance of your toenails. While toenail fungus can easily spread between toenails and develop into athlete's foot, toenail fungus is not usually transmitted from person to person. Don't use nail protector on infected toenails, especially those that are discolored, red, sore, or swollen.
Surgical treatment for nail fungus may be necessary if the deformed nail reappears without treating the fungal infection. This new, state-of-the-art treatment for nail fungus works by penetrating the nail to attack the fungus from its source. Sometimes, nails can look thick and discolored due to damage, trauma, or even anatomy, so confirming the presence of the fungus through a laboratory test is the most effective first step in any treatment plan. Usually, when spring or summer comes, patients arrive with symptoms of toenail fungus, but the ideal is to start treatment for toenail fungus in the fall.
The most important part of treating toenail fungus is finding an effective treatment that you can follow. However, nail fungus has the ability to develop into athlete's foot if the fungus spreads from one nail to the other and then to the skin of the foot and between the toes. Surgery may be necessary if you have recurrent fungal infections, especially if nail fungus is causing you severe pain and other fungal treatments aren't working.
