Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis)
What Is Toenail Fungus Infection?
- Onychomycosis
is a fungal infection of the finger or toe nails which is difficult to cure.
- It occurs in 12 million Americans and many do not even know they have it.
How Do I Know If I Have It
- Begins as a small separation between the end of the nail and the nail bed.
- Soft yellow material gradually builds up in this separation.
- Nail becomes thick and yellow.
- May appear as white spots or streaks on the nail.
- Usually doesn’t itch and is painless, unless the area becomes infected.
- Eventually, the entire nail separates, resulting in partially destroyed,
yellow nail.
What Causes It and Who Is At Risk?
- Typically, caused by an infection with Trichophyton fungus.
- Occurs when the nail is damaged or is continuously exposed to a warm moist
environment.
- Other risk factors include hot humid weather, poor circulation, and diabetes
mellitus.
How Do I Treat the Infection?
- Onychomycosis
never resolves by itself.
- Treatment is an antifungal drug, which is taken by mouth for several months.
- The following drugs are available:
- Griseofulvin(Fulvicin, Grisactin)-taken
6 months and costs about $350 ~40% effective
- Terbinafine(Lamisil)- taken 3 months and
costs $500-up to 70% effective
- Itraconazole(Sporanox)-taken 3 months and
costs $400-same as above
- Treatment is lengthy because of the slow growth of the nail. Toenails
grow at 1-3mm per month and fingernails at 2-4mm per month.
- Side effects of these oral drugs include headaches, rash, nausea, vomiting
or stomach upset, and rarely, reversible liver damage or blood disorders.
- An interesting natural solution that I have become aware of (along with
an equally interesting story of how the solution was found) is at ClearNails.com.
- Surgery may be used with the other methods of treatment but this can be
painful and disfiguring.
- Eventually, the entire nail separates, resulting in partially destroyed,
yellow nail.
How Can I Prevent Toenail Fungus?
- Keep your nails short, dry, and clean - after bathing, dry your feet well,
especially between your toes.
- Change your socks often- If your feet sweat a lot, switch socks several
times a day. Consider using an antifungal foot spray or powder.
Avoid wearing socks or hose made of polyester or nylon, which don’t absorb
sweat well.
- Don’t pick or poke around your toenails- A small cut in the skin beside
the nail becomes the entry point for fungus.
- Don’t walk barefoot around public pools, showers, and locker rooms.
What If I Don’t Treat the Toenail Fungus?
This may lead to permanent nail loss or nail deformity.
Internet Sites with More Information:
