Fungal nail is a distressing toenail condition that causes many victims to shy away from exposing their feet in public.
But the disease isn’t merely an eyesore. It can progress uncontrollably if untreated, causing irreversible distortion of the nail’s shape, color, and texture.
Fungal nail may also lead to excruciating pain and discomfort at its advanced stages. The infection causes the affected nails to become particularly sensitive to pressure, complicating simple tasks like nail trimming.
Fortunately, fungal nail is treatable and even preventable. This post explores the most effective fungal nail treatment options in Australia.
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What Is Fungal Nail?
Fungal nail is a common infection of the toenail caused by various types of fungi. The disease goes by several other monikers, such as toenail fungus and onychomycosis.
Toenail fungus can distort both the health and appearance of the affected nails. Without prompt intervention, the disease can cause unbearable discomfort and eventually make it difficult to wear shoes.
Fortunately, you can explore the best fungal nail treatment Australia to nip this annoying condition in the bud. Just remember to choose a treatment option based on its efficacy vis-à-vis the potential for adverse effects.
What Causes Fungal Nail?
Onychomycosis is caused by multiple fungi that invade the nail bed. Common culprits include dermatophytes, molds, and yeasts.
While these fungi usually attack the toenails, they may occasionally infect the fingernails too.
Fungal Nail Symptoms
Fungal nail presents nearly similar symptoms as athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).
During the disease’s onset, the affected nails may turn slightly yellowish, brownish, or whitish. You may also observe subtle lifting of the nail bed and abnormal nail thickening.
As fungal nail progresses, nail discoloration and thickness intensify while pain and discomfort set in. These symptoms will only worsen without treatment.
Long enough fungal nails may cause the nails to crumble completely and detach from the nail beds. This stage is also marked by excruciating pain and difficulty walking.
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Common Fungal Nail Treatments
1. Oral Medications
Oral medications are one of the most effective treatment options for onychomycosis.
The following oral drugs have been formally approved for treating toenail fungus;
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Griseofulvin (Gris-PEG)
- Fluconazole (Diflucan)
- Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Taking a single dosage of oral toenail fungus medications once a day can cure the disease within two to three months. Your dermatologist will monitor your condition closely, performing monthly blood tests to track your healing progress.
However, note that oral fungal nail medicines may present adverse effects similar to most systemic drugs. Those include nausea, drowsiness, headache, and gastrointestinal distress. In severe cases, the drugs may cause liver damage.
The trick is to stick to your dermatologist’s prescription. Exceeding the recommended dosage can trigger nasty reactions, especially if administering the medicines for the first time.
2. Topical Applications
If you’re averse to the adverse events associated with oral onychomycosis medications, you may consider topical applications.
Antifungal topicals come in diverse formulations, including creams, ointments, nail polishes, and nail lacquers.
Popular options include;
- Amorolfine
- Efinaconazole
- Tavaborole
- Ciclopirox
While these drugs won’t trigger severe adverse effects, over-application may cause redness, inflammation, and a stinging sensation on the treatment area.
Besides, localized onychomycosis treatments are considerably less effective than systemic drugs. Your dermatologist may prescribe both types of medications to accelerate your recovery.
Again, stick to the recommended doses to minimize the risks of unpleasant reactions.
Like oral toenail fungus treatments, topical solutions may be available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription.
Over-the-counter treatments are typically cheaper but lower in active antifungal ingredients. They may take anywhere from six months to a year to produce meaningful results.
Prescription options contain higher concentrations of active antifungal compounds and may cure fungal nails within three months. However, they can trigger more severe side effects than their OTC counterparts.
3. Hot Laser Therapy
Hot laser therapy is a groundbreaking fungal nail treatment technology in which a concentrated light beam is used to generate heat, which is then focused on the fungi underneath the nail plate.
Note that onychomycosis-causing fungi thrive in moist conditions. The objective of hot laser therapy is to raise the temperature around the nail plate high enough to kill the fungal cells without destroying surrounding tissues.
As a non-invasive procedure, hot laser therapy produces no significant side effects besides mild discomfort or redness around the target area. The treatment has a success rate of 40 – 60%.
That said, hot laser therapy can take several months to work. Besides, the treatment’s efficacy depends on whether a new nail grows strong and healthy.
Certain underlying medical conditions, as well as drugs that increase heat sensitivity, may also diminish the impact of hot laser therapy.
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4. Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy, also known as lunula, involves treating onychomycosis using a low-level laser. The laser emits cooler light compared to hot laser therapy, making this treatment more comfortable.
Lunula targets two distinct light wavelengths, namely 405nm (blue) and 635nm (red).
405nm attack the cell walls of the onychomycosis-causing fungi. Once the cell walls are weakened, 635nm triggers blood circulation and immune responses that destroy the other cell organelles.
Cold laser treatment has an impressive success rate of 80% – 97%. To enhance its efficiency further, consider thinning your nails before the treatment.
However, lunula’s remarkable success rate often comes at a hefty cost. And while the treatment is safe and painless, you’ll require multiple sessions spread over several months to cure fungal nail.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative fungal nail treatments mostly encompass home remedies.
Common options include;
Tea Tree Oil
Clinical studies highlighted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) found that administering tea tree oil might cure fungal nails.
Oregano Oil
Thymol is one of the principal bioactive ingredients in oregano oil. According to a 2016 review, thymol possesses powerful antifungal properties.
Dietary Adjustments
Certain foods may prevent, treat, and even reverse toenail fungus. Probiotics-containing foods, such as yogurt, are particularly recommended for their antifungal properties.
But while home remedies are readily available, they’re the least effective onychomycosis treatments. These interventions typically target fungal nail symptoms like pain and discomfort and may need to be co-administered with other solutions to cure the infection.
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Wrap Up
Fungal nail may be a dignity stripping condition, but it’s relieving to know that it’s treatable. The ideal treatment option depends on the disease’s progression and the number of affected nails.
While topical applications may reverse fungal nail at its onset, laser treatments are suitable for a more advanced toenail fungus.
Fungal nail is preventable, too. You can keep the disease at bay by practicing proper feet and nail hygiene, avoiding overly tight shoes, and keeping your feet clean and dry.
