How can toenail fungus be cured

Here are some techniques for the prevention and treatment of toenail fungus. Anyone who enjoys wearing open-toed sandals in the summer knows how good it feels to have healthy-looking toenails. Fungal infections of the toenails — also known as onychomycosis — don't go away on their own, and if left untreated, the fungus will spread and can eventually destroy the nail. However, because toenail fungal infections are typically painless, people are often unaware that they have a problem unless they are inspecting their feet regularly.

Still, some people are more vulnerable than others, she adds. It's not as straightforward as it seems, and it's an annoying problem. Getting rid of established toenail fungus can be difficult. Successfully eliminating it depends on careful adherence to a treatment plan. In white superficial onychomycosis, for example, the white patches of fungus that form on the nails can sometimes simply be filed off and an over-the-counter antifungal topical medication can be applied to the nail to kill the fungus.

For infections affecting deeper layers of the nail, over-the-counter topical medications often don't penetrate the nail deeply enough to kill all of the fungus and prevent the infection from recurring.

May be a sign of underlying immunodeficiency. Fungal melanonychia: 6 An uncommon nail infection caused by melanin-producing molds such as Scytalidium, Alternaria, and Exophiala, causing brownish or blackish discolorations of the nail plate. May present similar to subungual melanoma. Diagnosis of onychomycosis can often be made by visual inspection alone; laboratory tests may not be needed, but include: Microscopy: Potassium hydroxide KOH stain is a commonly-used method because it is inexpensive and easy to perform.

Nail clippings or scrapings are placed in a drop of KOH and examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal elements. J Am Acad Dermatol. The epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of onychomycosis external icon. Semin Cutan Med Surg. Prevalence and epidemiology of toenail onychomycosis in diabetic subjects: a multicentre survey external icon.

Br J Dermatol. Elewski BE. Onychomycosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management external icon. Clin Microbiol Rev. Hay RJ, Baran R. Onychomycosis: a proposed revision of the clinical classification external icon. Fungal melanonychia external icon. New reasons for histopathological nail-clipping examination in the diagnosis of onychomycosis external icon. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Office practice-based confirmation of onychomycosis: a US nationwide prospective survey external icon.

Arch Intern Med. Here are 5 things you can do to help your teen. Find out what helps. If your child develops scabies, everyone in your household will need treatment. Follow this advice to treat everyone safely and effectively.

We're helping you achieve YourHealthiestSkin from head to toe. Use these tips from dermatologists to keep all your skin looking and feeling its best. AAD Shade Structures provide permanent outdoor shade in areas that are not protected from the sun.

When it comes to treating the skin, plenty of people say they have expertise. Only a board-certified dermatologist has these credentials. To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin.

Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful.

Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail s , cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus. To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:.

Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months. Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed.