Nail Fungus Treatment
Fungal infections are anti-aesthetic besides being hard to treat and eradicated. Many people believe that the condition will go away on its own or by applying creams and ointments that usually do not help to improve it. Instead, some health care providers may recommend oral medications, however this treatment may take several months before any improvement can be seen.
The efficacy of some drugs, such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox), has been proven in about half of all patients, the problem is the numerous side effects that this medication may cause, particularly if an individual is taking another medication or suffering from other medical conditions.
In addition, when nail fungus is left untreated, it can spread to other nails, making it even harder for treatment. Nail fungus is usually cured without a major hassle by the growth of new, non-infected nails, although it may take more than a whole year before the nails return to normal. All fungus infections usual have a relapse, so the care of your nails is very important.
Treatment with oral medications, usually last 12 weeks in which the active compounds of the formulas travel through the bloodstream to reach the fungus. For better results, health care providers usually recommend a polish treatment to remove little by little the undesirable appearance of nail fungus. Polish treatments must be applied daily and requires at least 48 weeks before you will notice expected results.
One of the things that people usually under-estimate is the fact that many over-the-counter treatments are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should not be used for the treatment of nail fungus infections, including but not limited to lotions, creams, and nail polishes from the pharmacy, drugstore or supermarket.
A few traditional home remedies can alleviate nail fungus, such as vinegar and other solutions, although none of them can cure the infection. Fungal infections cause you discomfort when you are doing any activity where people may see your feet, not to mention the pain as the infection is progressing.
In order to get positive results after starting a treatment against nail fungus, keep your feet dry, avoiding constant moisture and wearing nonporous, closed shoes, particularly those made of synthetic materials. Wear absorbent socks and waterproof sandals when in swimming pools, public showers and moist environments.
If your doctor recommends an anti-fungal medications, take it as directed to suppress the nail infection, because the cure is not permanent. Research has shown that 1 in 5 patients will have a recurrence of nail fungus after the first time it is treated. This is the equivalent of 20% of all patients suffering from fungal infections, requiring new treatments if they do not observe the basic hygiene and prevention measures that doctors recommend.