Nail fungus can be treated in different ways – depending on how far the fungal infestation has progressed. For external treatment, special nail polishes or tinctures are used. The internal therapy of nail fungus is carried out with the help of tablets, which usually have to be taken over several months. What else helps against nail fungus? Which drugs are used and whether home remedies can help, you will learn here.
Nail fungus: treatment required
Unlike athlete’s foot, which can be treated with appropriate ointments in a relatively short time, nail fungus on toenails or fingernails often requires a lot of patience. In any case, the earlier the treatment begins, the quicker the success will be. Conversely, a nail fungus is stubborn and almost never heals on its own. If a nail fungus is not treated, it can not only develop into athlete’s foot, but can also lead to tears in the skin, which can be the entry point for bacteria – this is, for example, a common cause of erysipelas in the leg. Any existing athlete’s foot should always be treated along with the therapy of nail fungus.
External therapy for nail fungus
As long as the fungal spores have affected only one to a maximum of three nails and no more than 50 percent of the nail surface is affected, the fungus can still be treated externally (local therapy). Special fungal nail polishes (water-soluble or waterproof) or sets with creams, ointments and tinctures (for example with the active ingredients bifonazole, amorolfine or ciclopirox) are available for this purpose. Water-soluble nail polishes with the active ingredient ciclopirox are usually considered the best remedy for nail fungus. These antifungal (fungicidal) preparations can be prescribed by a doctor, but they are also available over the counter at pharmacies. If the pathogen is known, the appropriate antimycotic can be selected specifically, otherwise a broad-spectrum agent is used. It is important to actually choose a preparation against nail fungus, since conventional fungal ointments do not penetrate the hard nail material to the base. Often, the preparations contain urea or potassium iodatum to remove the affected nail layers so that the antifungal can penetrate better – because sometimes the fungus sits in air-filled cavities between the nail layers. Well-known products against nail fungus are, for example, Canesten
, Loceryl
or Ciclopoli
.
Tips for external treatment
Be sure to follow these tips when using antifungals for external treatment:
- Before applying the nail polish or tincture, the nails should be cut briefly and roughened with a file, then the fungicidal agent can distribute well in the nail.
- So that the fungi do not grow back, it is important to apply the agent consistently according to the package instructions. Depending on the preparation, for example, initially every other day, then about once or twice a week.
- Sometimes additional hand or foot baths are recommended to soften the nail – do not forget to dry thoroughly afterwards.
- After a certain exposure time of the fungicides, the infected nail components can be removed or filed off with a spatula. Remember that the removed nail parts may be infectious and use disposable files.
Internal therapy for nail fungus
If the fungal spores have already penetrated the nail bed, the regrowing nail is also repeatedly infected anew. In this case, only additional drug treatment with tablets will help. This is also called systemic therapy. The fungicidal active ingredient then reaches the spores via the bloodstream and settles in the nail bed. Active ingredients of these antifungal tablets for internal treatment are, for example, terbinafine, fluconazole, itraconazole or griseofulvin. Drug treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. The prescribed medication must be taken until the nails have grown back healthily. And this takes time, because a nail grows back slowly.
Duration of treatment for nail fungus
The duration of therapy for nail fungus depends on the type of treatment and which nails are affected:
- With at least three months of therapy must be expected when taking tablets.
- With a fungal nail polish, the therapy can take about six months, but with heavy infestation sometimes a year or longer.
- On the fingernails, the healing progresses somewhat faster and success is usually seen after about three months.
Laser against nail fungus
If the treatment with tablets is not effective or not possible (for example, due to pregnancy), laser is sometimes used to combat nail fungus. This is a fairly new form of treatment for nail fungus, which is also to be counted among the local therapies. The laser is supposed to penetrate through the nail and kill the fungi. This treatment is considered to be a fast way to fight nail fungus. It requires several sessions and is currently performed by few dermatologists. Also, the costs of pulse laser treatment are not yet reimbursed by statutory health insurance companies. In addition, the study situation on this method is currently still unclear.
Home remedies against nail fungus?
About home remedies against nail fungus many rumors circulate. For example, rubbing the nails with apple cider vinegar, vinegar essence, lemon, toothpaste, lavender oil, tea tree oil, thyme oil or baking soda are said to help get rid of the fungus. Even if the treatment with natural means seems tempting and at least some essential oils like tea tree oil have a fungicide effect: Their effect against nail fungus has not been proven. There is a risk that treatment attempts with home remedies may delay effective treatment with medication – making therapy all the more protracted later on. Home remedies can also even have an opposite effect, for example when foot baths or rubbing with coconut oil help to create a warm, moist climate in which a nail fungus can spread particularly well. It should also be borne in mind that home remedies are generally unable to penetrate the deep layers of the nail, where nail fungi like to settle. Home remedies should therefore be used at most as a supportive measure and only after consultation with the treating physician.
9 tips for prevention and treatment
Even though the use of home remedies is not considered advisable, you can still do a few things to combat nail fungus yourself in addition to using medication. The following tips can help get rid of a nail fungus or prevent a nail fungus infection:
- Dry your feet carefully after swimming or showering – especially the spaces between your toes.
- Wear bathing shoes or slippers in public areas.
- Use socks and shoes made of natural, breathable materials and give your feet frequent fresh air.
- Perform regular alternating foot baths – these promote blood circulation to toes and nails.
- Then massage your feet and nails once a week with a thyme or tea tree oil – this counteracts inflammation.
- Change your towels at least once a week. If you already have a nail fungus, use an extra towel for the feet and change it daily.
- Accompanying the nail fungus treatment, the shoes should be disinfected with suitable shoe spray, as fungi find ideal living conditions in the warm, moist environment of the shoes. Bath mats, socks, bed linen and towels must also be disinfected or washed at a minimum of 60 ° C.
- If a nail fungus is already present, disinfect after each foot and nail care the equipment used (nail scissors, nail file, etc.) and wash your hands thoroughly after each contact with the affected nail.
- If your feet are infected with nail fungus, you should not walk barefoot even at home, so as not to spread the fungi and possibly infect others.
