Fungus Nails (onychomycosis)

Nail fungus or onychomycosis is an infection of the nails occurring both on the hands and feet but certainly more frequent in the foot because of the environment that feet are in. Nail fungus generally thrive in dark, damp , so when one takes into account the use of shoes and socks all day along with perspiration that occurs, ends up being a perfect medium for nail fungus. The hard truth, to get rid of nail fungus, actually grows underneath the nail. As it grows, it forces the nail up from the bed of the nail and the nail becomes thick and brittle and discolored ranging in color from yellow to brown. There may also be an odor. It is not uncommon for these infected nails to transmit then the remaining healthy nails in the foot. Nor is it uncommon for nails to fall and unfortunately, in most cases grow back the same way if not treated properly. In addition to the unsightly appearance of the nail fungus, other problems can arise. Having nail fungus makes most people more prone to developing athlete’s foot skin. (The reverse is also true.) Additionally, thick fungal nails can be uncomfortable in closed shoes as they feel like rocks underneath the top of the shoe. These infections can make people more susceptible to secondary bacterial infections because they will exacerbate the formation of ingrown nails, plus the absolute distortion of the nails tends to irritate the healthy skin adjacent toes causing abrasions that can become infected. This is especially dangerous in people with diabetes or poor circulation. Treatment can be difficult due to the fact that fungus grows in “dark moist environments.” The elimination of these factors can go a long way to reducing recurrence. Many patients ask me if the infected nail has to be removed. The only time I remove them is if they are already partially loose. If the nail fungus adheres to the nail and I did not favor removal of the nail, because the simple truth is, simply remove a nail all the way back to its growth plate will cause the nail to grow thick with a degree even if there is no presence of fungi. There are both oral and topical medication treatments. The gold standard for treating onychomycosis in an otherwise healthy individual is the oral therapy. The most prescribed medication today is Lamisil tablets (Novartis), although there are certainly other oral antifungals that can be used. The new generation of oral antifungal medication is very safe if properly used. Your doctor may prescribe one or two blood tests during the course of treatment to ensure that no adverse effects. In addition, your doctor should take a sample of the nail and I tried to confirm that this is true nail fungus. Visual inspection is not the right way to make a diagnosis. Many times what looks like fungus is not only a hyperkeratinization the nail bed, which is a thickened, deformed nail. This can lead to fungi, but in itself is not treated with an antifungal medication orally or topically. Although topical treatments are available tend to be less effective. The main problem, as stated, is that fungi growing under the nail, so as to administer medication to the top of the nail becomes futile. Trying to force the drug under the nail almost never works. The best way to use topical medication is to see a foot specialist that grind and cut as far from the diseased nail as possible (a painless procedure) to the topical medication penetrates the fungus lives easier . This can become a tedious process as general medicine, apply twice daily by the patient (being lazy about it defeats the whole purpose) and then the nail has to be ground on a regular basis. The other problem is that, depending on the degree of fungus this process can take more than a year. Another problem is that the larger the number of nails that are infected, the lower the probability of clearing them all with topical medication. That said, I have seen some very gratifying results with topical medication.

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4. Nail Fungus: The Only Option is to Seek Proper Medical Care
5. Nail fungus Cure Enhances Beauty and Look of Nails