Antifungal treatments are believed to be effective in treating approximately 60 to 80% of fungal nail infections. The appearance of the affected nail can take 6 to 18 months to return to normal, and in some cases, the nail may not look the same as it did before the infection. Antifungal pills also work faster than medicines applied to the nails. Taking antifungal pills for two months can cure an infection under the nails.
Usually, three months of treatment cures a fungal infection in the toenails. If treated properly, fungal toenail infections usually take several months of treatment to heal. Since the healing properties of nail fungus treatments work as the nail grows, the speed at which the nails grow makes all the difference. It usually takes 3 to 6 months to see results.
Many people do well with systemic medications, which are available with a prescription. If you take a pill, the digestive system releases the medication and the circulatory system carries it to the network of blood vessels in the nail matrix, which we talked about earlier. These types of medications can have side effects, ranging from headache and stomach pain to liver damage. When taking a systemic antifungal, it is important to monitor liver function by regular blood tests.
Nail growth is slow, which means that the treatment is a long process. Oral treatment for toenail fungus usually takes three to four months, but it may take a year or more to return to normal. Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure, and treatment is most effective when started early. Fungal nail infections don't usually go away on their own, and the best treatment usually involves prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth.
In severe cases, a healthcare professional can completely remove the nail. It can take several months to a year for the infection to clear up. Fungal nail infections may be closely related to fungal skin infections. If the fungal infection is not treated, it can spread from one place to another. Patients should discuss all skin problems with their healthcare provider to ensure that all yeast infections are treated properly.
The most important part of treating toenails for fungus is finding an effective treatment that you can follow. But ultimately, it's ideal for toenail health to detect fungus in the early stages. Surgery may be necessary if you have recurrent fungal infections, especially if nail fungus causes severe pain and other fungal treatments don't work. Surgical treatment for nail fungus may be necessary if the deformed nail reappears and the fungal infection has not yet been treated.
While toenail fungus can easily spread between toenails and turn into athlete's foot, nail fungus isn't usually transmitted from person to person. Usually, when spring or summer comes, patients arrive with complaints of toenail fungus, but the ideal is to start treatment for toenails with fungus in autumn. This new, cutting-edge treatment for nail fungus works by penetrating the nail to attack the fungus at its source. Early treatment is the best way to prevent the condition from worsening and to preserve the appearance of your toenails.
You should not use a nail protector on infected toenails, especially on toenails that are discolored, red, sore, or puffy.
