Finger Nail Fungus Treatment

The finger nail fungus treatment will mainly depend on the type of fungal infection you have. If you have a fingernail fungus, it means fungi are present in and around your fingernails. The strain of fungus that could thrive in your nails will vary. Thus, the treatment for the nail infection will vary as well. Best finger nail fungus treatment however will be a supplement that is made of all natural ingredients.

Also called onychomycosis, fingernail infection is a type of infection that could occur once a fungus gets into your fingernails. The infection will normally develop over time, so you might not notice any significant difference in how your fingernails look during the initial stage. But once it starts to develop, that’s when you begin to notice symptoms like a deformed nail that could lift off from the nail bed, brittle or thickened nails, and odor coming out of the infected nail.

Thankfully, you can treat onychomycosis easily. In fact, you will find lots of options for finger nail fungus treatment.

Diagnosing Finger Nail Fungus

Once you develop an infection in your fingernails, consider seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The doctor will examine your nails to see if what you have is due to fungus. Remember, there are many reasons why your fingernails will get infected. Sometimes, you get fingernail fungus from acrylic nails. Other conditions, like psoriasis, can also look like a fungal infection of the fingernail. But fingernail fungus is usually a result of microorganisms like bacteria and yeast. Determining the cause of the condition can help your doctor decide on the proper finger nail fungus treatment.

The doctor will take some nail clippings or scrape debris under your nail to diagnose your fingernail infection. The doctor will send the sample to the lab to determine the strain of fungus that’s causing the infection on your fingernails.

Finger Nail Fungus Treatment

Sometimes, the finger fungal infection can be difficult to treat. Although it will not pose any serious complications, it is best to talk to your doctor, especially if none of the over-the-counter medications have worked. The finger nail fungus treatment will depend on the strain of fungus that caused the infection and the severity of the condition. It could take several months before you start to see improvement. And even if your fingernail infection has healed, there are chances of repeat infections.

After diagnosing your fingernail infection, your doctor will prescribe you antifungal drugs that you can take orally or apply to the nail, like nail polish. Sometimes, it will help to combine topical and oral antifungal medications.

Oral antifungal drugs

Oral antifungal drugs are often the first treatment choice since they help clear the infection faster than topical drugs. Some of the most popular medications for fungal fingernail infection are Lamisil and Sporanox. These drugs work by helping new nails grow to replace the parts that have been infected.

Typically, these drugs have to be taken for six to twelve weeks. But you will only see the result once the nail grows back completely. It could take up to four months to totally eliminate the fungal infection. Also, the success rates of these drugs are lower for adults over the age of 65.

Sometimes, these drugs can cause side effects, such as skin rashes and liver damage. You might have to undergo occasional blood tests to check how well you’re doing with these drugs. Sometimes, doctors will not recommend them for people suffering from liver diseases or congestive heart failure, especially if they also take other medications that could interact with the antifungal drugs.

Medicated nail polish

Sometimes, the doctor will prescribe antifungal nail polish known as ciclopirox (Penlac). It will be applied to the infected fingernails like nail polish. After seven days, you can wipe the nail layers clean using alcohol and apply a new coat. Depending on the severity of your infection, you may have to use this finger nail fungus treatment daily for up to a year.

Medicated nail cream

Sometimes, the doctor will prescribe an antifungal nail cream, which you can rub into the infected fingernails after soaking. The creams will work better if you will first thin your nails. That way, the medication can get through the fungus under fingernail. You can apply a lotion that contains urea to thin your infected nails. Sometimes, your doctor will thin the nail surface with a file or other tools.

Surgery for Finger Nail Fungus

For severe cases of a fungal fingernail infection, the doctor might require for the nail to be temporarily removed before applying antifungal drugs directly to the infected area of the nail. However, some infections will not respond well to medicines. In this case, your doctor might suggest permanent removal, especially if the infection causes extreme pain.

Home Remedies

For mild cases of fungal nail infections, there are home remedies that you can try:

Over the counter antifungal creams and ointments

You will find plenty of over-the-counter medications for finger nail fungus treatment. Once you begin to notice white markings on your fingernails, file them off. Soak your nails in water and dry them completely before applying the medicated cream or lotion.

Trim and thin the fingernails

Trimming and thinning the nails can help to minimize the pain by reducing pressure on the infected nails. It’s also a good idea to do this before applying the antifungal treatment, as it helps the drug penetrate the deeper layers of the fingernails. Before you trim and thin your nails, soften them with a lotion that contains urea.

Conclusion

Fingernail fungal infections are a common condition that can leave you with discolored and brittle nails. But having discolored and brittle nails does not always mean you have fungal infections. It can be due to something else. But if you believe you have a fungal infection, you can try over-the-counter finger nail fungus treatment. But if none of these options work, then your best bet is to see your doctor. The doctor can get a sample from your fingernails to examine at the lab and determine the type of fungal infection you have on your fingernails. You can also try out the nail fungus treatment supplements that are presented on this best toenail fungus treatment site.