Finding permanent remedies for nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is not easy. It is common for the condition to return even after treatment. Nail fungus is a disease that affects both fingernails and toenails. Affected nails appear discolored and may thicken, crack or crumble. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 12 percent of Americans have nail fungus. Left untreated, nail fungus can continue indefinitely, permanently damaging the diseased nails. In more extreme cases, the fungus spreads, infecting other parts of the body. Individuals with diabetes are particularly at risk of developing multiple infections. For an effective treatment plan, consult a dermatologist, a physician who specializes in nails, hair and skin.
Topical Treatment
Antifungal creams and nail lacquers efficiently deliver treatment directly to the affected nails. Amorolfine is the generic name for nail lacquers such as Loceryl and Curanail. These drugs are especially effective because they leave a thin film on top of the nails infected by fungus. This film can last up to a week, delivering medicine to the nails during that time. Ciclopirox, also known as Loprox or Penlac, is a topical cream that is applied daily to the infected nails. With topical treatments, several weeks may pass before an improvement is observed.
Oral Medications
For more serious infections, a physician may prescribe an oral medication in conjunction with a topical treatment. In the December 2004 issue of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Dr. Robert Baran wrote that this combination therapy was more effective than topical treatment alone. Dr. Baran is the head of the Nail Disease Center in Cannes, France. Doctors commonly prescribe itraconazole or terbinafine, also known as Lamisil, to treat nail fungus. Potential side effects of both drugs can be serious, including possible liver damage, but the drugs are normally taken for a short period of time. It may take several months, however, to see positive results.
Surgery
A physician may suggest surgery in the most severe cases of nail fungus or if the condition causes great pain. In surgery, the entire nail is removed. In most cases, it will grow back within a year. After the nail is removed, a topical treatment may be required to keep the infection at bay.
Laser Treatment
As of 2010, the laser treatment of nail fungus is still in its infancy. While the procedure does show promise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not specifically approved laser devices to treat nail fungus. In March 2009, The New York Times reported that Nomir Medical Technologies, based in Waltham, Mass., was developing Noveon, a laser designed to treat nail fungus and staph infections. In "Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus," a 2009 paper presented to the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers, Dr. David Harris wrote that in an experiment at the private practice of a podiatrist, 79 percent of patients who received laser treatment for their nail fungus experienced improvement in their conditions, with no reports of adverse effects. Dr. Harris is a senior research fellow at the University of Washington in the Department of Otolaryngology.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology: Nail Fungus and Nail Health
- “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”; Topical Antifungal Drugs for the Treatment of Onychomycosis; Robert Baran, M.D.; December 2004
- New York Times: False Start on a Laser Remedy for Fungus
- “Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics V”; Nikiforos Kollias; February, 2009
- “PDR: Physicians Desk Reference 2010”; PDR Staff; November, 2009
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