Say Goodbye to Fungal Toe Nail Problems
Symptoms Of Fungal Nail Infections
How Do You Know If You Have Fungal Toe Nail?
Fungal nail infection problems occur when a type of fungus gets beneath the toenail and into the nailbed.
Various kinds of fungi can cause nail infections, including dermatophytes, certain molds, and yeasts.
All of the above types of fungi will be requiring some kind of toenail fungal remedy to resolve.
You can pick up fungal infections by walking barefoot in public places like changing rooms, pools, and showers.
Anywhere warm and damp where people go barefoot is a perfect environment for the fungus to pass from one person to another.
The fungi infection can enter the nails through an injury or spread from a nearby skin infection, such as athlete’s foot (tinea unguium).
Fungal infections can lead to several changes and symptoms in the affected nail, such as:
- White or yellow spots or lines beneath the nail’s tip
- Thickening and roughness of the nails
- Fragile and crumbling edges of the nails
- Discoloration of the nails, which can make it appear white, yellow, or brown
- Separation of the nails from the nail bed
- Experiencing discomfort and tenderness in the affected toenail area
Risk Factors of Fungal Nail Infections
Some People Are MUCH More Prone To Fungal Nail Infections...
Several factors can make you more likely to get a toenail infection that will require some kind of fungal-nail infection treatment. These factors include:
- Having diabetes
- Having circulation issues
- Having a weakened immune system
- Being over 60 years old
- Wear shoes that are closed, don’t let air in, and don’t absorb sweat
- Working in a humid or damp environment
- Having consistently moist skin, often because of excessive sweating
Individuals who participate in sports like running may have a higher chance of getting a fungal toenail infection because they often harm their toenail health, creating an entry point for infections to go under the toenail.
Moreover, wearing running shoes can expose the feet to warm and damp conditions, which are perfect for fungal infections to thrive requiring them to treat toenails with one or more of the following fungus health treatments.
Toenail Fungus Diagnosis
We Test Your Nails So You Can Be Sure If You Have A Fungal Toe Nail Infection
To confirm the diagnosis, the Podiatrists at Bellevue Podiatry will collect a small sample or clip a piece of the affected nail, which will be tested on the spot with our fungal nail test kits.
This process also determines the specific type of fungus causing the issue toenail fungus issue, which is crucial in guiding the appropriate fungal infection health treatment.
Fungal Toe Nail Infections Treatment & Remedies
Prevention is better than cure, and early intervention increases your chances of success...
Early intervention with nail fungus can help prevent damage or loss and alleviate discomfort while improving the nail’s appearance.
Nevertheless, fungus infections can be stubborn, sometimes recurring after some treatments, especially if the patient doesn’t follow more strict nail and skin health care habits.
Considering that nails, particularly toenails, grow slowly, it may take many weeks for the nail’s appearance to fully normalise, even with successful resolution – unfortunately there is no fast track here unless you compliment the nail with a nail restoration product like KeryFlex.
Topical Antifungal Treatments
Typically only have success in very "light" cases of fungal nail...
If the fungi-nail infection is on the surface or affects only the nail’s tip (covering less than half of the total toenail fungus area), your Podiatrist may suggest a topical (surface) cream.
However, it’s important to note that sometimes these treatments may not penetrate the nail deeply enough to treat the infection effectively.
There are various antifungal creams available for treating fungal infections, including amorolfine (Loceryl), ciclopirox (RejuveNail Antifungal Nail Lacquer), and miconazole (Daktarin tincture).
Oral Antifungal Medicines
Have a greater chance of success, however can come with some unpleasant side effects...
More extensive infections that involve nail’s base or bed typically require oral antifungal medication.
The specific choice of medication depends on the type of fungus causing the infection, your overall health, pregnancy status (as some treatments can affect an unborn baby), and any other medications you may be taking.
Common oral antifungal options include terbinafine (e.g., Lamisil), itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox), and fluconazole (e.g., Diflucan, Dizole).
The duration of the therapy can range from 6 weeks to 12 months or longer, depending on the specific fungus and the location of the infection.
It’s important to note that oral antifungal medications may have potential health side effects due to their active ingredients, including liver issues, skin rashes, headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort (such as diarrhea), and heart-related concerns for some people.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy or photodynamic therapy is a relatively recent approach for treating toenail fungus infections.
While there is some evidence suggesting its safety and short-term effectiveness, its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
In some cases, people may need to undergo treatment sessions every three months for a duration of up to 12 months to address their fungal infection effectively.
It needs to be noted that even then there are no guarantees that the onychomycosis will be gone for good.
Clearnail: Best for Toe Nail Fungus Treatment
Fungal nail infections are usually caused by the same fungus that causes tinea. Terbinafine has been shown to be a highly effective treatment in destroying spores in cases of tinea.
Tinea is easier to treat as it lives on the skin surface, but in the case of toenail fungus infections, it is much harder for the terbinafine to reach the infection under the toenail.
We know topical terbinafine works as an antifungal medicine and is safe to use so it is the active agent used in Clearanail.
The only barrier to its effectiveness is the toenail itself – this is the problem Clearanail solves by safely and painlessly getting through the nail and killing the fungus (onychomycosis) underneath with a proven fungicide.
The Benefits Of Clearnail Compared To Other Antifungal Nails Treatment
Once-off treatment: Depending on the number of nails to be treated, only one treatment session is required to drill holes.
The holes remain in the nail bed until the toenail grows out and you see the results you want.
Safe: Some anti-fungal medications, such as Lamisil oral, can cause liver damage. Drilling is localised, and the advanced technology does not harm the soft tissue of the nailbed.
Cost-effective: The typical total cost for Clearanail fungus treatment is only a fraction of other treatments such as laser therapy and PACT treatment and it usually only requires one visit.
Laser therapy treatment for toenail fungus can cost well over \$1,000 and require multiple visits – Clearanail on the other hand is only \$220 for the complete treatment (plus consultation fee).
If you still have further queries please don’t hesitate to read through our Clearanail FAQ page.
Prepare for the next warm season by acting now so you can go barefoot with confidence!
Take the first step by calling us today on (03) 9000 0418 or book online for our fungal nail analysis appointment at our clinic.
Get peace of mind Clearanail is right for you before having the treatment.
Fungus Nail
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