Treatment works best when started early.
Medications are effective for about half of people who use them to treat fungal nail infections.
Somehome remediesandnatural treatmentssuch as tea tree oilhave shown some promise as an antifungal outside of the body.
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Toenail Fungus Treatment: Prescription
Prescription treatments for afungal toenail infectionmay include topical or oral medications.
These are outlined below .
How Effective Are Prescription Topical Toenail Fungus Treatments?
Prescription topical medications have about a 30% success rate, but the infection may return.
The fungus returned within a few months in 15% to 20% of cases.
Oral antifungal medications may include:
A course oforal antifungal medicationfor a fungal toenail infection is about three months.
These medications can also interact with several other medications, as well as alcohol and the sun.
Talk to your healthcare provider about whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
This can be, but is not always, more effective than using one treatment alone.
Medication may also be combined with medical procedures to improve the medication’s effectiveness.
These include:
Does Any Toenail Fungus Treatment Work Fastest?
Factors That Can Prolong Healing
Treatments work best when started early.
If the infection has spread or becomes more severe, it may be harder to treat.
Havingmixed infectionsand not completing the treatment plan as directed can also contribute to a recurrence.
Summary
Fungal toenail infections can be difficult to treat and often return.
Available treatments include prescription topical medications and prescription oral medications.
These treatments may take months to over a year to fully work.
OTC and home treatments are not usually effective for fungal toenail infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal nail infections.
Harvard Health.Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus.
Canadian Dermatology Association.Nail fungus and infection.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nail fungus: overview.
Christenson J, Peterson G, Naunton M, et al.Challenges and opportunities in the management of onychomycosis.JoF.
2016;55(5):461475. doi:10.1093/mmy/myw084
DermNet.Fungal nail infections.
Gupta AK, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management.F1000Res.
