Nail fungus treatment

Nail fungus is a chronic condition that is often extremely difficult to cure. Since nail fungus is a chronic condition it often recurs and is ongoing in its nature. Getting nail fungus is very easy to get. It is caused by a fungus called onychomycosis. You can get it simply by walking on a damp surface like in a public shower at a swimming pool or in a public sauna at a fitness gym because it is highly contagious.

There are various nail fungus treatment options available. The first one involves prescription medications. If you go to your medical doctor complaining of nail fungus you will leave with a prescription for a strong anti-fungal medication like terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox). These types of medications are very expensive and the unfortunate truth is that they have been shown to cause liver problems for some people. However, your medical doctor will recommend this medication if you have diabetes or a history of cellulites. If the nail fungus is causing pain you should consult with your medical doctor. Prescription nail fungus treatment can help the healthy new nail to grow and slowly replace the infected portion. The treatment time can take up to 12 weeks. However the entire nail will have to grow back completely for the nail fungus to be totally gone. This can take four months or longer. Recurrent infections may be possible.

The doctor can also prescribe a nail fungal lacquer for a mild to moderate case of nail fungus. This is a nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it around the infected nail every day for seven days. This treatment is effective but it takes up to one year to completely rid the nail of fungus.

You can also try a topical over the counter nail fungus treatment. This type of treatment coats the nail with a number of different substances to kill the nail fungus. There are creams and lotions that contain urea that you can buy to use a nail fungus treatment. These over the counter creams and lotions should be used in tandem with the prescription medication your doctor prescribes. As a last resort your doctor may suggest surgical removal of the infected nail. This is only done if the fungal infection is severe enough to cause pain. After the nail is removed a new one will grow back. However, it can take up to a year for it to grow back completely. The newest nail fungus treatment option available nowadays is photodynamic therapy. This is a treatment that uses a laser to kill nail fungus after it is treated with acid and is extremely expensive.

Tea Tree oil is a very effective natural substance that is often used in treating nail fungus infections. Tea Tree oil is also known as Melaleuca oil. It is oil that is taken from the Melaleuca tree. It is not the same thing as tea oil that is used in cooking and should not be confused. You can purchase it at your local health food store or online. You just paint the tea tree oil on the infected nail and will kill the fungus and help keep the nail clean. Several applications may be needed. Because Tea Tree oil is an essential oil it is completely safe to use in treating nail fungus. It has none of the nasty side effects that prescription medications for nail fungus have. It is also very inexpensive to use. This essential oil can destroy fungus, bacteria, viruses and yeast. However, it is a home remedy and no scientific studies have been done to prove or disprove its claims as a nail fungus treatment. Other essential oils like oregano oil is also used to treat nail fungus.

Last updated on Sep 14th, 2010 and filed under Other Conditions & Diseases. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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