Nail Fungus Remedies

Have you fully explored your fungal nail infection treatment options? Most people get to the doctor when the fungus infection has extended to all the fingernails or toenails, or when there is physical discomfort and a really unpleasant appearance of the thickened nails. The more severe the fungal infection, the more difficult it is to treat.

When the fungus has just gone under the nail, it’s easier to target the infection with topical agents, medical lacquer and natural anti-fungal agents like tea tree oil, thyme oil or hydrogen peroxide. A thickened nail with an old fungal infection poses a lot more complex treatment challenges. It is usually for such cases that oral medication is prescribed in parallel with surgical interventions or nail cutting, trimming or drilling.

Where to get the best fungal nail infection treatment

Correct medical diagnosis is a must. You should neither self-diagnose nor self-medicate for fungal infections. See your general practitioner and get referred to podiatrist in order to receive medical expertise and evaluation of your health condition.

The choice of the right fungal nail infection treatment depends not only on the severity of the condition, but also on the patient’s health condition. For example, the specialist needs a full evaluation of your health, because oral fungicides have major side effects and could prove lethal for certain categories of patients. The attention here falls on the health of the liver function, because this is the organ that suffers the toxic impact of anti-fungal treatments.

The treatment for fingernail fungus infections usually takes less than that for toenail fungus, and the response to medication is better in terms of fingernail health recovery. The bad part here is that despite the fact that the fungus may be cleared away completely, there are high chances of infection recurrence. A large number of patients develop fungal infections all over again, even after being cleared of the problem.

Surgery and laser treatments for fungal infections

Surgery sometimes represents a must-have step of the fungal nail infection treatment. The doctor cuts and removes the most severely affected nail plate, so that local anti-fungal remedies may be applied directly on the infected area. Once the fungus is killed, a new, healthy nail will grow.

Laser therapy represents an innovative approach to the treatment of nail fungal infections. It has been only recently approved by regulating authorities, and it has the disadvantage of being incredibly expensive. The costs of laser therapy are not covered by health insurance. And a simple procedure can cost between $1,000 and $2,500, which is quite a sum for an average person with a regular salary.

Natural remedies

Cheaper and more within-reach natural remedies for fungal infections are pretty popular despite the widespread ‘medical’ opinion that there is no conclusive data to indicate that a certain remedy is efficient. Nevertheless, herbalist therapeutic practice makes extensive use of such remedies. Thus, apple cider vinegar, essential oils, grapefruit seed extract and lots of other herbs and plants with healing properties support the natural approach to fungal nail infection treatment.