Can Fungus On Toes Be Cured: What Happens If Left Untreated?

Aside from keeping toenails trimmed and painted, most people don’t pay much attention to their toenails unless a problem develops. Typically, healthy nails are pink, smooth, and shiny. However, a fungal infection can cause them to be discolored, brittle, thick, and at times, very painful.

Toenail infection, also named onychomycosis, is a prominent condition that needs immediate attention before it infects the rest of the neighboring toenails. The condition begins as a yellow, brown, or white spot under the tip of a toenail. Then, the nail thickens, crumbles, and discolors at the edge as the infection goes deeper.

If your condition is stable and not bothering you, there is no need for treatment. However, if the condition is painful and has resulted in thickened nails, you might need to follow self-care steps coupled with medications. Unfortunately, even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often comes back.

Can Fungus Infection on Toenail be Cured?

Yes, someone can cure nail fungus. However, if the condition doesn’t go away by itself, you might need to administer treatment before it worsens. Failure to treat toenail fungus on time might make it spread to the neighboring toenails and the rest of the body. The problem with toenail fungus is it can cause pain when.

There are multiple forms of fungal treatment though some are quicker than others. According to studies, the fastest way to cure the infection is through toenail laser treatment.

Laser nail therapy is a form of toenail fungal treatment that targets the microorganisms found beneath the nails while leaving the keratin intact.

Laser nail therapy can eliminate toenail fungus in just a few treatments. This allows the toenails to regrow healthy, clear keratin that then pushes out the old, discolored, damaged regions of the toenail.

However, treatment for toenail fungus is not always required. Most are when self-care and nonprescription products tend to cure the infection. However, you should communicate with your healthcare provider if the condition doesn’t naturally improve with time.

Treatment is based on how severe the illness is and the type of fungus causing the infection. Some of the medications that doctors might administer are:

• Oral antifungal drugs

This is the first medication most doctors administer to patients suffering from toenail fungus. An excellent example of these drugs includes itraconazole. Such drugs are essential as they help the nails regrow while eliminating the traces of toenail infections. As the nail grows, it slowly replaces the infected area.

Once these drugs are administered, the patient is expected to take them for approximately 6-12 weeks without skipping a day. However, patients might not be able to see the result of this treatment until when a new toenail has finally grown back.

Getting rid of the infection might take approximately four months. Unfortunately, treatment success rates with oral antifungal drugs appear lower in adults over 60.

Studies also indicate that oral antifungal drugs might cause side effects such as liver damage or a rash. People using other prescribed drugs should also refrain from using oral antifungal medicines as they may interfere with their performance.

The patient might also undergo occasional blood tests to see how they are doing with the prescribed toenail drugs.

9 Ways To Cure Toenail Fungus Fast

• Medicated nail polish

Antifungal nail polishes are also available to treat and cure infected toenails. Ciclopirox is a perfect example of a medicated toenail polish that has shown promising results in treating toenail fungi. The patient must paint the polish on the infected nails and the surrounding skin at least once daily.

They should then wipe the piled-on layers with some alcohol. They should then begin with a new application once the cleaning is done. Patients might need to use the polish for a year without skipping a day to be effective.

• Medicated nail cream

Most healthcare providers recommend that their patients use medicated nail creams to treat toenail fungus because they are also safe and effective. Therefore, most healthcare providers prescribe medicated nail creams, including efinaconazole and tavaborole. You can also read this guide on how to treat toenail fungus naturally.

The creams are applied to some of the infected areas of the nails after soaking. However, if you want the cream to be more effective, you should first thin the nails. The benefit of using medicated nail cream goes through hard nail surfaces to the underlying fungus. You might need to purchase a nonprescription lotion containing urea to thin your nails.

Alternatively, you might consider visiting your healthcare provider, who might thin the nail’s surface using a file or other tool.

• Surgery

Healthcare providers might suggest that their patients undergo a temporary surgery that removes the infected nail so that the antifungal drug can be applied to the infected areas under the nail. However, surgery is the most effective method of curing toenails infected with fungi as it permanently removes the infected nails and their roots.

Additionally, specific home treatments can be utilized to cure toenail fungus. They include:

• Tea tree oil

Tea tree is one of the most effective natural components used to get rid of toenail fungus at home. The product is an essential oil that contains antifungal and antiseptic properties. To cure your infected toenail, apply the product directly onto the affected nail at least twice a day using a cotton swab.

• Garlic

Garlic is a natural product found in almost all homesteads and can cure infected toenails. Garlic is, however, more effective in its crushed form. After crushing the product, place the garlic cloves on top of the infected toenails for approximately 30 minutes. However, if you don’t like the smell of garlic, you might consider taking garlic capsules that are less smelly and more effective.

• Vicks VapoRub

This is a topical ointment that is specifically designed to suppress cough. It also contains active ingredients such as camphor and eucalyptus oil that may help treat toenail fungus. To use the product, apply a small number of Vicks to the affected area at least once daily.

Wrap Up

Prevention is always better than cure. While there are multiple methods of curing infected toenails, it is always better to prevent the fungal infection in the first place. One of the things that you might need to do is keep your feet clean and dry. You should also wear shower shoes in locker rooms and public areas.