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Miconazole to Heal Toenail Fungus

Sep 11, 2011 | By Diana Kaniecki
Miconazole to Heal Toenail Fungus
Photo Credit woman's foot image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com

Nail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a fungal infection in one or more of your nails, typically a toenail. You can recognize the beginning of a nail infection as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. When the fungus spreads into your nail, your nail may become discolored and thickened, with crumbling edges. Fungal infections in your nail may be difficult to treat and they often recur. However, there are medicines that can help you treat nail fungus. Miconazole is an antifungal drug that helps prevent fungus from growing on your skin and may be useful for treating nail fungus.

About Toenail Fungus

Nail fungus occurs more in toenails than in fingernails. If a nail appears thickened, brittle, distorted, dull or dark in color, you may have a fungal nail infection. Your toe may also be painful, have a slightly foul odor and separate from the nail bed. If you do not treat a nail infection, it can continue indefinitely. The infection is typically caused by a fungus in the group called dermatophytes. The fungus does not need sunlight and grows in warm, moist places, such as swimming pools and showers. The fungus can cause an infection through tiny cuts in your skin or through a small separation between your nail and nail bed.
Because you have less blood circulating to your toes compared to other parts of your body, your immune system cannot easily detect and eliminate toe infections. Decreased blood circulation also occurs with aging, which is the most common risk factor for developing nail fungus. Other risk factors for nail fungus include diabetes, blood circulation problems or a suppressed immune system. According to MayoClinic.com, nail fungal infections can be very painful, cause lasting damage to your nails, and possibly lead to serious infections that can spread beyond your feet, especially if you have a weakened immune system caused by certain medicines or by diabetes. Treating your nail infection is a slow process of replacing the infected portion of your nail. Medicines are usually taken for six to 12 weeks, but it may take four months or more to cure an infection and for the nail to grow back. However, if you continue to expose your toes to warm, moist conditions, they may get infected again.

Miconazole Effectiveness

Miconazole is an over-the-counter antifungal topical medication used for treating nail fungus. It is sold under various brand names, including Cruex, Desenex, Fungoid,and Micatin, among others. Laboratory studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of miconazole against various types of fungus. According to the MayoClinic.com, over-the-counter antifungal medicines may not penetrate the nail deeply enough to kill all of the fungus and prevent the infection from recurring, so repeated treatments with the medicine may be necessary. A report published in the “Cases Journal” in 2009 presented a case of a person with a long history of repeated toenail infections who required weekly miconazole treatments to prevent reinfection. This person remained infection-free during four years of weekly miconazole treatment. Miconazole topical treatment is usually well tolerated without serious side effects, says Drugs.com However, you should stop using miconazole and call your doctor if you develop unusual irritation, blistering, itching, redness, peeling or dryness on the area of your skin where the miconazole was applied.

Considerations

Miconazole should be applied to the nail for the full length of time prescribed by your doctor or as recommended in the package instructions even if you begin to feel better, says Drugs.com. You should not use bandages or dressings that do not allow air to circulate to the infection unless your doctor tells you differently. You should also wear loose-fitting clothing that is made of cotton to cover the infected area. Do not get miconazole in your eyes, mouth or nose. According to Drugs.com, you should avoid miconazole if you are pregnant or lactating.

Prevention

You can prevent nail fungus and reduce recurrent infections by adopting good hygiene habits. You should keep your nails short and clean and completely dry your feet and between your toes after bathing. Wearing synthetic socks that prevent moisture and changing them often may help keep your feet dry. Take off your shoes a few times during the day and after exercise, especially if your feet sweat a lot. Avoid trimming the skin around your nails because it may give access to fungus and cause infection. Do not walk barefoot in public places, such as swimming pools, showers and locker rooms. Thoroughly wash your hands after touching an infected nail because the fungus can spread from nail to nail.

References

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Last updated on: Sep 11, 2011

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