Toenail Fungus

Get the care you need for your toenail fungus.

Our Foot Doctors Can Help with Your Toenail Fungus Treatment

A fungus is an organism that thrives in warm moist areas. Toenail fungus is a common problem that can affect people of all ages, although it most commonly affects individuals who are older. Toenail fungus often begins as an infection in the skin called tinea pedis (also known as athlete’s foot). The fungus often starts under the nail fold at the end of the nail. Over time it grows underneath the nail and causes changes to its appearance, such as a yellow or brownish discoloration. It can also cause thickening and deformity of the toenail. Many people have difficulty with their toenails and need assistance in caring for them. Our experienced Doctors can diagnose the cause of toenail problems and recommend treatments.

Weil Foot and Ankle for The Treatment of Toenail Fungus

If self-care strategies and over the counter (nonprescription) products haven’t helped, our Doctors will suggest a combination of prescription drugs and topical approaches to solve your problem. Even if you find relief from your symptoms, repeat infections are common.

Medications For Toenail Fungus

Oral antifungal drugs. Your Doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal drug. Studies show the most effective oral treatments are found using terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox). These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part. You typically take this type of drug for 6 to 12 weeks. Results take over 6 months until the nail grows back completely.
Treatment success rates with these drugs appear to be lower in adults over age 65. Treatment success seems to improve when you combine oral and topical antifungal therapies.
Medicated nail polish. Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it on your infected nails and surrounding skin once a day. After 7 days, you wipe the piled-on layers clean with alcohol and begin fresh applications. You may need to use this type of nail polish daily for a year.
Medicated nail cream. Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream, which is rubbed into your infected nails after soaking. These creams may work better if you first thin the nails. This helps the medication get through the hard nail surface to the underlying fungus. To thin nails, you apply an over the counter (nonprescription) lotion containing urea. Alternatively, your doctor may thin the surface of the nail (debride) with a file or other tool.
Medicated Foot baths. One of the latest and most effective treatments is the use of a medicated foot bath in which you soak your foot in medicated water each night. The bath saturates the nail making certain the medication gets to all locations around and below the nail. Prior to starting the medication, your Doctor will take a culture to identify the exact organism causing the infection so it can be treated most effectively.