I like feet, especially toes. For some reason, Jonathan finds this revolting. I don't care what he thinks, and neither do his toes (but don't tell him that). However, those toes have to be healthy. A little dirt is fine, but when in comes to the creepy-crawlies that are toenail fungus, I draw the line. Are you grossed out yet?
Toenail fungus is actually a somewhat common problem in which a fungus or bacteria attracted to dark, damp environments takes up residence under and around your toenails, where it thrives, protected by the nail itself and feeding off the warmth and moisture in your socks and shoes. This infestation of your feet with toenail fungus (known to medical professionals as onychomycosis), can result in discoloration (brown, yellow, white, etc.) of the toenail, swelling of the toe, thickening and crumbling of the nail, streaks or spots on the nail, and even complete loss of the nail. Nail fungus can also effect fingernails, but thrives more often and is harder to treat on toenails (usually the big or little toe) because toenails are more exposed to ideal environments for catching and maintaining the fungus and also grow more slowly. Preventing toenail fungus is easier than treating it, so we offer suggestions for both avoiding the spread of toenail fungus (see the left sidebar, below causes) and getting rid of your toenail fungus.
Treating Toenail Fungus
See a podiatrist immediately to get rid of toenail fungus. Before you begin treating an infection yourself, see a foot doctor for a diagnosis and access to professional treatment. A foot doctor can get rid of toenail fungus by prescribing an oral antifungal medication (this treatment usually lasts 12 weeks), filing and trimming the infected nail, and providing prescription-strength topical medication.
Medicated nail polish can get rid of toenail fungus. Applying nail polish to an infected nail is generally not a good idea, as the polish can seal in the fungus and make it harder to reach with treatment. However, there are medicated nail polishes used specifically to treat toenail fungus, effectively sealing in the fungus with the medication. A podiatrist can prescribe such a polish, to be applied twice a week, to get rid of a milder toenail fungus.
Cut and file down the infected nail to get rid of toenail fungus. Regularly trimming and filing the infected nail reduces the amount of infection and can help to reduce spreading of infection. A process called debriding (usually done by a podiatrist) involves filing down any part of the nail thickened by infection. Because, if treated properly, the infection should grow out with the nail, this maintenance will help you to get rid of your toenail fungus faster, and reduce the nasty appearance of the infection.Topical creams and ointments can help you get rid of your toenail fungus. There are a plethora of products out there claiming to get rid of toenail fungus, so do your research before you sink twenty bucks into a bottle of llama sweat for your toes. Vick's VapoRub is a popular and fairly succesful treatment for toenail fungus.
Practice preventative measures to get rid of your toenail fungus. The last thing you want your toenail fungus to do is get worse, so cover your feet in public places like gyms and pools, avoid shared showers, and dry your feet well. Avoid wearing tight socks or shoes that don't let your feet breath; look for moisture-wicking fabric to put near your feet; and consider using a foot powder to keep your feet dry (or less sweaty). Check out the left sidebar for more preventative details.Further Treatment for Toenail Fungus
Sometimes toenail fungus just won't respond to treatment, and in some cases will temporarily respond, only to return days, weeks, or months later. If your toenail fungus is persistent and painful, you may want to talk to your foot doctor about surgical removal of the nail--the only guaranteed permanant solution to toenail fungus. The offending nail will be removed and over time will be naturally replaced with a thick layer of skin.
Another possible "permanant" solution to getting rid of toenail fungus is the long-term use of the oral antifungal medication. This is probably only an option in extreme cases; you should consider and talk over other treatments with your podiatrist before putting your body through the additional stress of long-term medication.
