Nail Fungus 101

Nail Fungus 101:

How to Successfully Treat Onychomycosis

If you have ugly, thick, yellow, brittle nails, chances are you have nail fungus or Onychomycosis. You have probably tried several different products both medical and home made to get rid of this problem with little or no success. If so, you are not alone. Approximately 35 million Americans suffer from nail fungus, or Onychomycosis, and there are almost as many remedies to cure it. The problem is, there are only a handful of treatment options that have been proven successful in the treatment of this stubborn condition.

First, a little background on nail fungus or Onychomycosis. It is caused by fungal organisms that occur naturally in the environment much like the bacteria that cause colds. When it enters the body, it circulates in the blood and infects the nail matrix, which is where the nail originates. It then settles on the nail bed where it thrives and makes it way up into the nail causing the unsightly appearance that everyone associates with nail fungus. It grows mainly on the nails of the feet since it thrives in dark, damp, warm environments like the one found inside of shoes. Nail fungus can appear as a white, flaky plaque on the surface of the nail or it can make the nail thick, brittle and yellow. Occasionally the deformation of the nail can cause infection and pain, making nail fungus a serious medical condition, not just cosmetic. There are only 3 treatments that are used by podiatrists regularly that have been proven reasonably effective: topical and oral medications and laser treatment.

Topical medications, usually recommended for mild to moderate cases, come in the form of creams or polishes. They usually combine a traditional anti fungal with some type of nail softener to allow for penetration of the nail down to the nail bed, which is where the fungus lives. In addition, some products combine this with proven “natural” ingredients, such as tea tree oil and grape seed extract among others.

Oral antifungals are also used but are somewhat controversial because of the misconception that they cause liver damage. While rare, there have been instances where liver enzymes have become elevated in patients taking oral antifungals. However, this condition is easily reversed by stopping the medication. Therefore, it is necessary to do blood work before, during and after treatment to make sure liver function is not adversely affected and that it is prescribed to patients with normal liver function. Usual treatment course is one pill daily for 12 weeks and it is indicated in moderate to severe cases.

Finally, laser treatment is relatively new, and in my opinion, the best way to go. One 30 minute treatment is usually enough to kill the fungus no matter the degree of infection. Treatments are done in the office without anesthesia and rarely need to be repeated. For good measure, I also recommend applying a good topical antifungal polish 3-4 times per week as added insurance and to prevent recurrence.

As with any medical condition, if you suspect you have nail fungus, it is best to treat it as early as possible to have the best chance for a complete cure.