How To Treat Nail Fungus Infections: 3 Most Effective And Common Treatments
How to treat nail fungus infections is a very common question. The fungus is a nail condition that starts as a yellow or white 
spot under a finger or toe nail. As the fungus infection spreads, the fungus starts to discolour, thicken and crumble the edge of the nail.
Nail fungus can affect more than one finger however, it usually affects one or two fingers at most. If the condition is mild i.e. it’s not bothering you, you can skip treatment however, if the condition is painful and characterised by thickened nails, you need to consider taking medication and using a few self-care steps.
Treatment is important because nail fungus can spread easily to other nails or comes back when it’s not dealt with effectively.
Some self-care methods such as; keeping your nails short and clean, wearing open shoes when it’s hot, maintaining proper foot hygiene, wearing cotton socks etc. can go a long way in preventing fungal nail infections. In this article, our concern will be on nail fungus treatments.
If you already have nail fungus and you’re looking for an effective treatment, look no further. Below are some of the top ways to treat nail fungus infections.
How to cure nail fungus
1.Medication
Medication is one of the most common methods for curing nail fungus. Medication is usually recommended for individuals with mild fungal infections characterised by mild pain and nail thickness. Anti-fungal nail treatments come in the form of nail paints and tablets.
Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on whether you need the treatment, the type of treatment you need and how to take it. It is important to note that your nail may not regain normal colour and thickness even after the fungal infection has cleared.
A test is usually done on a sample of your nail to establish whether the nail is fine if it still looks infected. Let’s take a look at the two main methods of treating fungal infections in more detail.
2.Anti fungal tablets
Anti-fungal tablets treat nail fungal infections by delivering anti-fungal treatment via the bloodstream. Itraconazole and terbinafine are some of the most common anti-fungal medications prescribed to treat fungal nail infections.
Unlike other types of fungal medications, you have to take the Itraconazole and terbinafine tablets for a few months to make sure the infection has cleared 100%. If you don’t take the medication long enough, you increase your chances of getting the infection again.
One of the main benefits of taking anti-fungal tablets for treating nail fungus infections is; the tablets also clear skin infections associated with fungus. Some of the side effects associated with anti-fungal tablets include; itching, headache, nausea, diarrhoea and poor sense of taste.
3.Anti-fungal nail paint
How to treat nail fungus infections with nail paint? As the names suggests, anti-fungal nail paint is simply a nail paint used to treat nail fungus infections. The nail is usually applied like typical nail polish.
Your doctor may prescribe anti-fungal nail paint when your infection isn’t so severe since the paint isn’t as effective as tablets.
This can be attributed to the fact that the nail doesn’t deal with the infection from the inside out which is deemed as the most effective way of dealing with fungal infections. Also, the nail polish may have problems reaching the entire infection.
Fingernails usually take approximately 6 months to heal with anti-fungal nail paint. Toe nails take longer i.e. approximately 1 year.
4.Chemical nail removal
This is another way to treat nail fungus infections. Chemical nail removal is used to treat severe nail fungus infections. During the treatment, the infected nail plates are removed using a chemical paste made of 40% urea; a chemical which occurs naturally in the body.
Urea can also be manufactured. The chemical paste is readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies.
During the nail removal procedure, the paste is applied carefully on the infected nail/s which are then covered and left for several hours or overnight when the procedure is done at home. In the morning, the paste is washed off and the process is repeated the following night.
It takes approximately 2 weeks for the nail plates to be dissolved completely.
Contrary to popular belief, the treatment is painless. It gradually removes abnormal nail plates as well as the fungus. It’s an effective treatment for anyone who wants to avoid surgery or taking tablets for a prolonged time period.
Once the nail plate/s are dissolved, an anti-fungal nail paint is applied twice every week to avoid re-infection as the new nail/s form.
5.Surgery & laser treatment
This is by far the most effective nail fungus treatment for very severe nail fungus infections. This method is usually used as a last resort i.e. when all the other treatments have failed. Surgery is done to remove the severely infected nail.
When the nail is removed, a new one grows replacing the old infected one. It however takes long i.e. approximately a year or longer for you to have a new complete nail.
Although surgery is capable of addressing just about any type of nail fungus infection regards of severity, there are some nail fungal infections which are downright stubborn. In such cases, surgery can be done and laser treatment conducted to destroy the fungus completely.
Laser treatment involves the use of high intensity light energy to destroy the fungus. The treatment is usually 99% effective.
According to research studies, laser treatment has been deemed 100% safe. The treatment is also faster than most treatments i.e. treats the most severe nail fungus infections in record three months. For the best results i.e. to prevent re-infection, it’s advisable to seek treatment a few times after the initial treatment.
In a Nutshell
In a nutshell, the above information summarises the most common methods for treating nail fungus infections. It’s important to note that the appropriateness of the treatment depends with the severity of the fungal infection as well as personal preferences i.e. if you don’t want to take tablets for a long time, you shouldn’t consider medication treatment.
The cost also matters. Surgery & laser treatment is the most expensive.
After going through the above information, you shouldn’t have a problem answering questions on; how to treat nail fungus infections, how to treat toenail fungus etc.
It is however important to note that there is more about how to treat nail fungus infections than what is discussed above. It is therefore important to use this article as a basis for further research.