Fungus thrives in moist and dark places so give it some light. Keep them naturally dry by exposing them to the sun whenever you can.
UV radiation is the most harmful and mutagenic waveband of the solar spectrum. Direct exposure to solar radiation for a few hours can kill conidia of most fungal species.
Onychomycosis responds to systemic antifungals and sometimes to topical lacquers, but alternative treatments are desirable. Topical application of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) C radiation may be an acceptable and effective therapy for infected nails.
Don't go barefoot in public.
Fungus loves to grow in warm, wet places. It also spreads easily from person to person. That's why it's key to wear shower shoes or flip flops around public pools, locker rooms, and showers.
Nail removal: If you have a severe infection or other treatments just don't work, your dermatologist may recommend removing the nail(s) to get rid of the infection.
Nail fungus is caused by various fungal organisms (fungi). The most common is a type called dermatophyte. Yeast, bacteria and molds also can cause nail infections. The discoloration from a bacterial infection tends to be green or black.
How Does Laser Therapy Work? In simplified terms, the laser therapy device shines a laser light into the toenail, penetrating down on, in, and through the nail to reach the fungus. It “vaporizes the fungus.” It also leaves the skin and tissue around the fungus alone.
A 2019 study published in the journal American Family Physician by the American Association of Family Physicians found that after 180 days of toenail fungus laser treatment, patients had a 30% cure rate and a 91% improvement in symptoms.
Our Hyper Blue Laser will get your nails back to their old glow in approximately three treatments depending on the severity of the infection. The laser uses wavelengths that will penetrate the nail and safely kill the organisms embedded in the nail bed that cause Onychomycosis – more commonly known as toenail fungus.
Effective products include efinaconazole (Jublia), tavaborole (Kerydin) and ciclopirox (Penlac). All require daily applications, and it may take as long as a year to see noticeable improvement. These products may work for early, superficial fungal infections because they kill fungi on the surface of the nail.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
Light: Fungi can only grow in the dark. For the most part, light does not play a role in how well fungi grow. There are some conditions where light is necessary for reproduction.
Most yeasts and molds are heat-sensitive and destroyed by heat treatments at temperatures of 140-160°F (60-71°C). Some molds make heat-resistant spores, however, and can survive heat treatments in pickled vegetable products.
In the fungal kingdom, light can regulate growth, the direction of growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, and pigment formation, all of which are important aspects for the survival and dissemination of fungal species.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
Medicare will cover treatment for fungus within your toenail. Another term for this treatment is nail debridement.
Nail polish will not treat your nail fungus, but some patients use it to help disguise unsightly nails.
Vicks VapoRub
A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in treating toenail fungus. To use, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day. Shop for Vicks VapoRub online.
Studies have shown that laser treatment can be very effective as it's uses energy to penetrate the nail bed and eliminate the infection from within. HOT laser – this is where the laser uses heat to destroy nail fungus by heating the nail plate.
Causes of Toenail Fungus
Just like with other health conditions that stem from gut-related problems, when you don't have enough good bacteria living within your gut, you wind up developing high levels of yeast and fungus (bad bacteria) in your body that can show up on your skin.
When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.
According to a 2013 study, tea tree oil was effective in reducing growth of the fungus Trichophyton rubrum in nail infections. T. rubrum is a fungus that can cause infections such as athlete's foot and nail fungus. Improvements were seen after 14 days.