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Nail fungus is a common problem. The fungus develops in our nail beds, the skin directly underneath our nails. The symptoms of nail fungus include discolored nails, crumbly or brittle nails, thickened nails, nails growing irregularly, and pain in the affected finger or toe. Since nail fungus is not a rare disease, many people have already contracted it without them knowing it. Only when it has advanced to a later stage do they find out about it and visit a doctor for treatment.
Diagnosis of Nail Fungus
Doctors would usually confirm their diagnosis by scraping or clipping the nail. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing and evaluation. This is because other nail ailments mimic nail fungal infection.
Surgery is the traditional way of eliminating nail fungus. The nail is removed in severe cases of nail fungus and a new nail grows to replace it. The growth of a new nail could take up to a year to the chagrin of many. But because of technological breakthroughs in the field of medicine, several anti-fungal medicines that combat the said ailment have been developed.
Popular Medication of Nail Fungus
The most popular form of medication are topical creams and ointments. These topical medicines focus more on treating the fungal infection from the outside. The fungus underneath the nail plate is usually not reached and treated. Thus, topical medicines are usually used side-by-side with oral medications in order to attack the fungus from within as well. Alternative medicines such as home remedies are also being used by some people to slow down the growth of the fungus. However, similar to topical commercial medication, these home remedies merely focus on the surface infection and not on the fungus hiding in the nail bed. They are thus generally ineffective at completely eliminating nail fungus.
The most effective way of treating nail fungus is by taking anti-fungal medications prescribed by a physician. These medications are very potent and as such, they pose the risk of side effects to our internal organs. Thus, monthly blood tests are usually ordered by doctors. Also, those who are undergoing such treatment should be wary of symptoms of organ damage such as fatigue, appetite loss, vomiting, change in urine and stool color, skin rashes, bleeding, and enlarged lymph nodes. If you experience any of these, you must report it immediately to your doctor. Because of such side effects, doctors usually recommend the treatment of nail fungus only when the patient is having secondary problems (i.e. pain in the affected area, ingrown nails, and other infections). If no secondary problems are experienced, treatment of nail fungus is discouraged because of the possible side effects of oral medications.
Can Nail Fungus Be Eliminated Permanently?
Anti-fungal medications do not guarantee a lasting cure from nail fungus. The recurrence of infection is very common. According to studies, at least 20 percent of patients will experience a recurrence of their condition. Therefore, what is vital is the continuous use of the treatment until the nail fungus totally disappears. After the nail fungus has been cured, prevention of the disease through the practice of good hygiene and maintenance of the proper diet is needed.
(ArticlesBase SC #438526)
Onychomycosis, more commonly known as nail fungus is a common condition that affects millions of people. It may start as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the nail and if left untreated it will spread and the nails will become discolored, thick, and brittle. A fungal infection can be embarrassing, irritating, and even painful in some cases. It’s important to start treatment for toenail fungus as soon as possible because the earlier you start treating it the easier it will be to get rid of it.
To get rid of a fungal infection completely can take months so it’s best if you can prevent it from happening in the first place. Fungi thrive in warm, dark, moist environments which makes your toes a perfect environment. To prevent infection it’s a good idea to take off your shoes and socks when you get home at the end of the day so that your toenails are not trapped in an ideal environment for fungi to propagate. If you go to the gym, public swimming pools, or anyplace with a locker room and public showers, it’s a good idea to wear waterproof sandals. This will not only help prevent nail fungus but also athletes foot.
If you suspect that you already have a fungal infection it is important to visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis. There are other conditions which have a similar appearance and you need a proper diagnosis in order to treat any condition effectively. Treatment for toenail fungus can last several months. Whichever treatment option you choose is important to stick with the program and follow the directions religiously. Even if the symptoms have cleared up some infection can return very quickly if it is not completely eradicated.
There are a number of treatment options available from prescription medications to over the counter options to various home remedies that can be found on the Internet. I would avoid the home remedies that could be found on the Internet because you really have no way of knowing whether they will work or not and the longer a fungal infection goes untreated the longer it will take to get rid of it. Prescription medications can be very effective but can also be pretty expensive and have potential side effects. There are several treatment options available without a prescription can be very effective in treating and eliminating toenail fungus. A good treatment option will be able to penetrate the nails and the surrounding tissue to get to the source of the problem. The fungi reside in the nail bed with the skin and nail meet. If a topically applied cream or ointment and not penetrate the nail it will not be able to effectively kill the fungus.
Prevention is always best but if you have an infection, find an antifungal solution that can penetrate the nail and get to the source of the infection. Follow the directions closely and stick with it. There are no overnight solutions. It can take several weeks to several months before you completely rid yourself of the infection and you’ll want to make sure that it is completely eradicated so that it does not return.
If you’re thinking of trying some toe nail fungus remedies then you are more than likely going to if you haven’t already try using Listerine, but the pressing question that you have is will it really correct your nail fungus issues? Well there are a few factors that really need to be considered before you can answer that question truthfully. The main factor that will really determine that answer is it depends on the strand or what severity of your toenail fungus.
Of the many different people that have tried using an oral antiseptic for a nail fungus solution only the ones with mild cases have had the results that they desired and even some of them have had reports of there toenail fungus recurring again after they stopped the treatments. So the question about using mouthwash as one of your toe nail fungus remedies still stands as a hard one to call.
The Main Reason Why Mouthwash Shouldn’t Be A Preferred Method Of Treatment For Nail Fungus
Now there is a reason as to why the infection doesn’t fully go away when mouthwash is used as a remedy. One reason is that it is not strong enough to do the job right. In order for toenail fungus to be cured it has to be attacked at the source of the problem.
In a situation when you use a treatment like this and it clears up for a little while and then recurs when you stop treatment then that tells you that the root of the problem is still intact and was never really dealt with so therefore it will continue to cause trouble as long as it isn’t dealt with.
Why Doe Toenail Fungus Infections Recur When You Use Oral Antiseptics To Treat Them?
The reason why it clears up for a while is because the mouthwash just eats up the fungus on the surface of your nails and continues to do so as long as you use it. This makes you think that the infection is cleared up and you stop using it and then it starts producing trouble again.
So now the question of using Listerine as one of your toe nail fungus remedies should be answered, well at least to the point of if you want to use it to try to cure your nail fungus problem. Is it a waste of your valuable time? You decide.
Now Pay Close Attention To This:
Although listerine should not be your preferred method of treatment for you to eliminate toenail fungus you shouldn’t give up hope and think that it cant be fixed. There is a way that you can treat your problem and start to see results in as little as 2 weeks time with no harmful side effects to worry about.
Over-the-counter medicines are drugs that are bought without a doctor’s prescription. Most of the time, they are commercially prepared products that may be used in a do-it-yourself approach. Organic and household remedies for treating fungal infections are time consuming but are affordable and produce lesser or no side effects at all. For this reason, people tend to use over-the-counter nail fungus treatments more often than any other toenail fungus remedy available.
There are thousands of over-the-counter nail fungus treatments available in the market nowadays. However, keep in mind that not all of them are effective and safe. To name a few types of these treatments are antifungal creams, ointments, lotions, home remedies and all-natural products.
All-natural over-the-counter nail fungus treatments include olive oil and tea tree oil. Saprox is an antifungal mud treatment coming form Czech Republic. Home remedies include Vicks vaporub, vinegars (ex: Apple Cider vinegar), DMSO or dimethyl sulfoxide, and mouthwash (Listerine). In using tea tree oil, a cotton swab is used and rubbed into the affected nail twice a day.
Topical antifungal drugs and pills are categorized according to the active ingredients in the drug. There are 3 active ingredients, namely: Miconazole nitrate, Cotrimazole, and Terbinafine hydrochloride.
The most common type of active ingredient used in an over-the-counter nail fungus treatment is Terbinafine hydrochloride and is very effective. It also works very fast and is available in cream or lotion. The item is directly applied to the nail infected. A popular example for this type of over-the counter nail fungus treatment is Lamisil and is trusted by most people.
Miconazole nitrate, a chemical compound, is composed of imidazole and benzyl alcohol, sorbitan sesquioleate, isobutene, cocamide, and tocopherol. For this type category, be sure that the solution is shaken well. Apply it using a dropper two times a day until the healing process is complete.
Furthermore, it is given to prevent ringworm, jock itch scalding, and athlete’s foot. Thus, extreme caution should be well observed and must be use for external use only. It is contraindicated for patients who are pregnant and lactating, and even for children below 2 years of age. On the other hand, Cotrimazole is available in ointment or cream and applied in small amounts once a day.
Finally, keep in mind that everybody is unique from everybody else. Therefore, never expect that a particular kind of over-the-counter nail fungus treatment that cured your friend will and should also cure your medical condition as well.
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