The medical term for toenail fungus is "onychomycosis," pronounced on * EE sis to * my * ko * ko. Despite the frequently used term "fungal toenails", onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail. The prevalence in America is about 2-3%, but some have reported it as high as 13%. Even with a low estimate of 2%, this figure of 6 million Americans with toenail fungus. Toenail fungus affects men twice as often as women are concerned.
The prevalence in the elderlyDiabetics and persons is 25%. In the 1800s fungal toenails were very rare. The increased prevalence is linked to the increased exposure to fungus through the use of showering facilities in gyms, the use of whirlpools, saunas and public swimming pools. There is an increase in disease footwear, an increase in sporting activities, an increase in diabetes and increasing age of the population.
The risk factors for developing toenail fungus are increasing age, male gender, nailTrauma, sweaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygiene, foot fungus and a compromised immune system.
Athlete's tend to have a higher rate of fungal infection than non-athletes have. The moisture in the shoe combined with repeated nail trauma increases the chance of infection. Can carry walkers, runners, walkers, football, basketball and tennis player, sports wear loose fitting shoes, the disruption of the nails against the shoe and each shoes toe, that are dressed with a risk ofDeveloping toenail fungus.
There are a number of treatments for onychomycosis. The aggressive, effective way to treat the fungus associated with oral anti-fungal medications. The most common oral anti-fungal medications are Itraconazole (Sporonox ®) and terbinafine (Lamisil ®). Both drugs can be quite expensive, since they are taken once daily need for 3 months. The effectiveness of the medications ranges from 60 to 80%, with a recurrence rate of 15%. Lamisil ® appears to be moreeffective and has fewer drug interactions than Sporonox ®.
With both drugs, there is a long list of benign side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, headache, taste disturbances and dizziness. Serious adverse events are very rare, less than 0.5%, but also hepatitis and acute hepatic necrosis.
There are many other options besides oral anti-fungal medications. Unfortunately, they are not very effective. The most effective topical medication isCiclopirox (Penlac ®) lacquer. Some studies have shown cure rates of up to 60%, but in my experience the effectiveness is about 10-15%. Side effects occur in less than 2% of patients and burning and redness around the nail.
This drug is available only by prescription and is also quite expensive. A couple of other prescription medications that help to reduce the thickness of the fungal nails are Carmol ® 40 and Keralac ® Nail Gel. I would not expect to see complete cures with theseProducts, but they can reduce the thickness and discoloration of the nail in some cases.
There are many home remedies and over the counter, you can buy. Some home remedies can be used include bleach, tea tree oil, grape seed extract, and Vics VapoRub ®. With any home remedies or non-prescription is current, you must understand that the effectiveness of the treatment is fairly low, less than 10%. If you try one of these therapies make sure that they use every day.Rough the surface with a nail file and the application of the medication with a q-tip. Bleach can cause skin irritation and some individuals have skin reactions, which had Vics VapoRub ®. In general, these treatments are considered very safe.
Combination therapy can contribute to the effectiveness of treatment. If you are taking an oral medication, make sure that you, as a topical anti-fungal agent well. Nail removal is also an option. Once the nail is removed, can the topical the nail bed and they become more efficient. The nail is growing again over a period of 8-10 months. Permanent nail removal is reserved for those with chronic ingrown nails, ulceration under the nails or pain from the fungal nails.
The best form of treatment is prevention and preventing the spread of fungus to other nails may be the best treatment option. I recommend choosing a topical that you feel comfortable with and use it once a week. No matter what> Treatment option you choose, you should follow these steps to prevent re-infection.
1. Make sure that you rotate your shoes often and keep them in a cool, dry place.
2. Change the number of times your deposit and make sure they dry out between use.
3. Create an anti-fungal powder or spray in the shoes off for the fight against the fungus.
4. Bleach on a weekly basis, and wash your shower mat regularly in hot water shower.
5. Make sure shoes fit wellto prevent jamming at the toes. Disturbance at the toes leads to microtrauma at the nails and increases the chance for fungal infections.
6. If you belong to a gym or health club, sandals in the locker room and you do not go barefoot.
7. Keep your shoes in the gym locker where they do not dry.
8. If your feet sweat excessively, try using an antiperspirant spray on your feet before training.
9. Cut your toenails across. Do not cut too short andcause breaks in the skin. This increases the chance for fungal infections. Do not let the toenails too long or they will jam against the shoe and cause bleeding under the nail, again increasing the probability of fungal infections.
The bottom line is that treating onychomycosis is very difficult. If you are fungi toenails that cause pressure, pain or infection, consider talking to your doctor about prescription medications or nail removal. Make sure to take precautions to preventRe-infection, and take several approaches to remedy the problem. If your fungal toenails are only unsightly and do not cause discomfort, try a weekly application of over the counter topical along with methods to re-infection.
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