Toe nail fungus treatments and cures
There are many options available for treating nail fungus infections. Some focus on removing the fungus while others work to boost your immune system and encourage healthy nails to grow.
Current therapies fall into two main categories: topical treatments (in the form of laquers or nail paints, washes, oils and creams) and oral prescription medications. Homeopathic and home remedies are also available.
The effectiveness of different treatment methods will depend a great deal on the severity of your fungal infection, the part of the nail that is affected, the number of nails affected and the rate of growth of the infection. You should seek the advice of a doctor once you suspect toenail fungus infection.
For prevention and mild disorders
If your focus is mainly on prevention of cross-infection to other nails or you have a mild infection that has not penetrated to the base of the nail, then it may be worth ‘experimenting’ with a home remedy. But remember that home remedies are not designed for and have not been tested for the treatment of nail fungal infections. Home remedies are generally in-expensive but time-consuming to apply with long treatment times.
Read our reviews of home remedies:
- Australian Tea Tree oil treatment review
- Acidophilus beer soak treatment review
- Vinegar bath treatment review
- Listerine treatment review
- Vicks VapoRub treatment review
Mild to moderate infections of nail fungus
For mild or moderate infections, it is worth considering a topical medication, particularly if the infection has started at the side or the tip of the nail and has not spread to cover all of the crescent shaped area at the base of the nail.
There are many available options, some of which use all natural, homeopathic ingredients. Treatment times are generally long and require daily or weekly applications. The effectiveness of topical nail treatments is dependent on whether the application can penetrate the nail structure and reach the fungus. In some cases, you may be advised to use these creams with an over-the-counter lotion containing urea to help speed up absorption.
Read our reviews of topical treatments for mild to moderate infections:
- Fungisil treatment review
- ZetaClear treatment review
- Nail-Rx treatment review
- Miracle Plus System treatment review
- Loceryl treatment review
- Curanail treatment review
- Penlac treatment review
Severe nail fungus infections
For severe cases, or if many nails are infected, your doctor may prescribe an oral (or systemic) anti-fungal medication. The medications can have side effects (especially the liver, skin and/or bone marrow). In order to monitor any side effects, your doctor is likely to order periodic blood tests during treatment. You doctor will also consider any other medications you are taking.
Oral medications are usually prescribed over a 6-12 week period but you'll only be completely free of infection once a new nail grows back in full. For toe nails this may take over a year (finger nails grow faster than toe nails). Actual growth rate can vary considerably and is affected by age, exercise, diet and genetic factors.
Read our reviews of treatments for severe infections:
Finally, surgical removal of an affected nail remains an option. This method of treatment can be successful; however it can take up to a year for a new, healthy nail to grow in.
Information on this site is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended as professional medical advice and should not be used to substitute for a doctor's recommendation. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or for choosing any medication. Any individual who develops a fungal infection should consult a licensed physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Please read our Disclaimer.