Nail Treatment Fungus Infections
Have you been diagnosed with a fungal nail infection or suspect you may have one? Nail fungus is usually brown or yellow in color, and over time causes the nail to degenerate and even causes pain. So the earlier you get treatment for nail fungus, the better. There are prescription medications, over the counter medications and even home nail fungus remedies. The right treatment for you depends on the severity of your fungus problem and what is recommended by your doctor or podiatrist, who is a doctor specializing in the feet.
Oral medications are a popular nail fungus remedy. Ask your medical professional about drugs like Terbinafine or Fluconazole. You may know these better by the names Lamisil and Diflucan. You can find over the counter topical Lamisil for athletes foot but this does little for fungal nails. One of the major precautions with oral nail fungus treatments are the effect they may have on the liver. For many they are safe, but for those on other medications or those with liver disease they may not be recommended. Your doctor can tell you more about the prescriptions available and their potential side effects.
When it comes to topical treatments, it is unlikely they can penetrate the nail to get to the fungus. However, all hope is not lost. There is a new treatment out there that is a lacquer called Penlac that may be applied to the nails in some cases to deal with fungal infections. Some people swear by home remedies, such as soaking the nail in white vinegar or dabbing it with tea tree oil, as far underneath the nail as you can manage to get to the fungus. You may read home remedies that involve household bleach, this is not advisable under any circumstances as it can be dangerous.
As you can see, there are many nail treatment fungus remedies out there. However the best way to fight off the fungus is to avoid it if you can. This means when you go to the gym or the community pool, always wear shoes made for water in the locker rooms and showers. Don't walk barefoot, especially outdoors, and keep your feet as clean and dry as possible. Simple preventative measures like these can go a long way towards ensuring you don't get a fungal infection in the first place.
