Remedies for Toenail Fungus

Avoid and minimize toenail fungus by keeping clean. I hope you clean yourself on a regular basis anyway, but keep your feet and toenails clean, dry, and groomed. Dryness is a big one since fungus likes wet places more than dry ones. This includes keeping dry from water and sweat. Change your socks often (try the moisture-wicking variety) and wear dry shoes (or open-toed shoes if you have really sweaty feet). It's also a good idea to stick to clean places. Beware of public pools, showers, and the like. Bust out the shower shoes for these places.

Smart foot care can prevent fungal infections or lessen the severity of one that already exists. I mean don't beat up your feet. If they do get scraped up at all, especially around the toenails, clean the cuts. Breaks in the skin make it easier for fungus to invade. Also, nail polish traps moisture, which makes fungus more comfortable, so knock that off. And then there are over-the-counter anti-fungal powders and things that you can put on your feet or in your shoes. This is a good option if fungal infections are repeat offenders for you.

Try an oral medication to kill your infection. Head to your favorite physician for this method. Active ingredients will most likely be terbinafine or itraconazole. Essentially, these aid healthy new nail growth and prevent the infection from spreading. The drawback is that you won't be completely fungus-free until it's all grown out, which can take several months for some more extensive infections. There can also be side effects. The most severe includes liver damage. Personally, I'd take some fungus over that, but discuss options with your doctor.

There are also topical medications available to manage toenail fungus. These can be a cream or even an anti-fungal nail polish called ciclopirox. They are a less effective option and are often prescribed along with oral medication. Toenail fungal infections are harder to get rid of because the nails are thick and slow-growing. Your doctor might file your nail down to make it easier for the medicine to penetrate your nail. There are also things to try at home. Although there's no medical proof for their effectiveness, some swear by 'em. See the sidebar for more info.

Some toenail fungus requires surgical removal. This is pretty rare, but if you really let things slide you might find yourself here. The surgery would remove your entire nail, giving it a fresh fungus-free start. Your doctor might also have you apply topical medication after the removal. You'll have a strange looking toe for a long time (toes weren't meant to be naked). It usually takes around a year for a toenail to grow in completely. Toes just look lost and alone without their toenail attached. Try not to let it come to this.

Toenail Fungus Cures (or Lack of Them)

Toenail fungus can be a hard nut to crack. It's thick, slow, and stubborn. Just like that guy at the office who you can't believe still has a job. But he's still there, just like your ugly toenail. The suggested home remedies may or may not work for you. Your doctor is really your best source of help and it'll be much easier to get rid of a small infection than a brittle, cracking, discolored nail. So go in as soon as you suspect a fungal infection. Prescribed medications and creams have been known to fail sometimes, but it's better than nothing. There are also relatively new laser treatment out there, but those might not be available depending on where you live. You really just need to be diligent and patient, keep up with your treatment, and don't be disappointed with delayed results. If the infection isn't causing you pain, you always have the option of just living with it. But you'll have to accept that nobody may ever want to rub your feet again.