Toenail Fungus Treatments and Their Pros and Cons

Choosing from the most effective toenail fungus treatments  is necessary to be done immediately after discovering the symptoms of toenail fungus infection. There are numerous methods available in treating this fungal infection and selecting the right one might depend on the severity of your fungal infection. These methods can be natural and inexpensive, expensive, extremely dangerous or without assurance of effectiveness. Below are the different kinds of treatments for toenail fungus and their pros and cons:

Prescription Medicines

Surgery

Home Remedies

Laser Treatment

• Oral prescription medicines

Oral medicines are the most commonly prescribed by your trusted medical specialists when it comes to nail fungus diseases or infections. They are considered beneficial because they are recommended by a medical professional. On the other hand, not all kinds of medication are applicable to anyone.  

Oral prescription medication is said to be the most harmful cure for toenail fungus especially the three commonly recommended drugs: itraconazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine. These three kinds of medicines are highly priced and include dangerous substances that may affect those patients who have a liver trouble or a background of congestive heart failure. It is not wise to take these particular medicines since they could result to serious health conditions.

• Topical prescription medicines

Anti-fungal cream is recommended by many people especially by medical experts. However, they can have side effects especially to those patients who are not in good conditions. There are 2 kinds of drugs that are typically prescribed by topical doctors. They are Amorolfine and Ciclopriox which can be availed easily from local pharmacies and drug stores.

Amorolfine is less expensive than Ciclopriox. However, it causes skin irritation and soreness as its side effects. Ciclopriox is a high priced medicine but also creates stinging, unpleasant burning as well as swelling and redness.

•      Over-the-counter medications

Over-the-counter medications, which contain milder formulation than prescribed ones, have been regarded for its effectiveness on mild types of fungal infections. They are reported to be harmless, cheap, and easy to use. Most medical experts highly recommend that you choose one that you are comfortable with in treating your nail fungus.

On the other hand, they are considered mostly ineffective for severe cases of nail fungal infections and can cause allergies. Most topical drugs contain major substances just like miconazole, clotrimazole and terbinafine. The medicine does not get through the toenail bed since they are only applied onto the toenail or around the affected area. As a result, they only cure the surface area of the toenail and fungi can still grow deep within which may require more effective toenail fungus treatments later on.

• Natural toenail fungus treatment

There are various types of natural anti-fungal treatments available but most of them do not hold proof and are not scientifically verified. They are only considered as types of remedies and may not totally eliminate the fungi.

Vinegar, which includes acetic acid, is one of the widely known natural toenail fungus treatments. It is said to be efficient in preventing fungi from spreading and developing. Several researches have proven the effectiveness of this substance in stopping the growth of any harmful organism such as bacteria and fungus. Specialists advise soaking your toes for fifteen to twenty minutes in a mixture of vinegar and moderately warm water with the ratio of 1:2.

There are other natural antimicrobial agents that are viewed helpful in treating nail fungus infection. Most of these are substances from plants like Australian tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, snake root leaf extract and thymol. Multiple studies states these agents have universal antimicrobial properties and have demonstrated abilities to provide treatment for fungal infection.

• Laser treatment

Laser is a modern approach in treating toenail fungus. It is reported to be the most effective, painless and effortless treatment that provides more than 90% success rate. This treatment, which lasts for only 30 minutes, costs a lot. Your thousand dollars is good for only 1 session but it assures that your fungus won't return. However, there are still claims of fungal activity recurrence.

• Surgery

Surgery includes removal of the infected part of the toenail as well as killing the toenail matrix in which the toenail is embedded. The fungi have no way and nowhere to grow after the toenail matrix has been completely removed. The contaminant has been successfully removed after surgical treatment for fungus. It can easily be concluded that surgical procedure is the most effective and the last resort of those who have severe nail fungal infection. The downside to this treatment is the fact that you’ll permanently lose your toenails and it is painful.

To avoid confusion in choosing among these kinds of toenail fungus treatments, examine your condition, physically and financially or ask professional help in deciding which treatment is good for you. You can also click here to know more.