In the 21st century, few things are as unappealing as fingernails covered in green, white, or yellow spots. Gross, right? Well, that’s because you have nails infected with fungus. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments that can help reverse this embarrassing problem and get your nails looking clean and shiny once again. Pending the severity, your doctor may recommend one treatment over another. While all of these cures won’t necessarily work for everyone or in every case—there is no universal remedy for nail fungus—and it is worth understanding which ones will likely be best suited to your situation. Here are the top five treatments for nail fungus…
Oral Medications
Oral medications are the most common way to treat nail fungus, and they work by killing the fungus’s infection and spreading out the infection underneath the nail. This is why they are one of the most effective treatments; however, they are also one of the most risky treatments. The risk is that because the medication goes out underneath the nail and into the surrounding healthy tissue, it can cause side effects in the healthy tissue. The most common side effect is a rash. There’s also the fact that oral medication is a lifelong process. In other words, you have to take it forever to maintain the health of the nail. If you stop taking it, the nail fungus could come back. When it comes to oral medication, doctors recommend that patients take it for one to two years after their nail fungus has cleared up. This ensures that the infection remains cleared for good.
Topical Medications
Like oral medications, topical solutions are applied directly to the nail. However, topical medications are generally milder than oral options and come with significantly fewer side effects. Topical treatments also don’t pose the risk of the nail crumbling or coming apart like oral medications might. Like oral medications, you may need to apply the topical medication daily for months or even years. This can be a challenge, but it’s worth it when you consider all the benefits of the solution. Topical treatments are non-invasive, they don’t require a long-term commitment, and they are generally quite affordable.
Light and Laser Treatments
Light and laser treatments are particularly useful when you have nail psoriasis rather than nail fungus. Psoriasis is a condition, not an infection; therefore, nail fungus treatments won’t work. Light and laser treatments aren’t particularly effective on nail fungus either—approximately 20% of people treated with this method experience significant improvement. The reason light and laser treatments are so effective for nail psoriasis is that they penetrate the nail and reach the nail bed—the layer of skin that the nail grows from. While these treatments are only effective for psoriasis, they are very effective for psoriasis. Not only will the treatments clear up the psoriasis, but they will also likely help prevent the psoriasis from coming back. The only major downside to these treatments is that they are expensive. However, if you have psoriasis in addition to nail fungus, it might be worth the investment.
Natural Options
There are a few natural solutions that people use to treat nail fungus. Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are some of the most common ones. Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are potent, albeit extremely diluted, solutions. Because they are so diluted and they are applied to the skin—not the nail—there is little to no chance of them clearing up the nail fungus. However, there is a chance that these natural solutions can be effective in preventing the nail fungus from spreading. If you’re on the fence about these treatments, there is a small but real chance that they might just work. And if you’re looking for a more affordable treatment, these are definitely worth trying.
Serious Cases: Surgery or Prescription Medication
If you have a severe case of nail fungus that has been growing for a long time and hasn’t responded to treatment, you might be facing a surgery to remove the infected part of your nail. While this may sound extreme, it is a common and effective treatment in some cases. If you are facing surgery, your doctor will likely prescribe you a topical antifungal cream, like terbinafine or naftifine, beforehand to try and clear up the infection. If all of these treatments fail, or if you want to get to the root of the problem, your doctor might suggest that you take a course of oral antifungal medication. While these come with the same risks as oral medications, they are extremely effective at treating and stopping the spread of infection. Here is best supplement oil https://www.kerassentialssusa.com
Conclusion
Nail fungus is a serious problem that can cause a lot of anxiety, self-consciousness, and shame. Luckily, there are many treatments available for this common ailment. If you are struggling with nail fungus, it is important that you find a solution that works for you. While stronger treatments may work faster, milder treatments tend to be safer and have fewer side effects. It is important to keep these treatments in mind, so you can start fighting nail fungus today.