Topical Treatents for Fungal Nails

During the summer, many people are more concerned about the appearance of their toenails, especially if they are thick, discolored, and irregular looking. Fungal toenails can cause these changes, and a biopsy may be needed to prove that there is fungus in the nail. Fungal toenails can be treated in several ways: oral or topical therapies, laser therapy, or permanent removal. The topic for today is topical treatment for fungal toenails. This therapy involves painting medicine on the nail, and the treatment works from the outside of the nail to fight the fungus. The success rate is lower than oral or laser treatments, often around a fifty percent success rate. There are typically no side effects with topical treatments, other than occasional skin irritation around the nail plate. If the skin does become irritated, discontinuing the treatment will allow the skin to heal. The primary disadvantages of topical treatments with topical antifungal nail treatments include the following: lower success rate, length of use (9-12 months of daily application), and inability to use toenail polish during the course of treatment. If you are interested in getting treatment for your fungal nails, call Dr. Bender today for an appointment! 708-763-0580 Oak Park and 773-776-3166 Chicago.