Toenail fungus how long

Cutaneous fungal infections in the elderly. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. Gupta AK, et al. Improved efficacy in onychomycosis therapy. Clinics in Dermatology.

Westerberg DP, et al. Onychomycosis: Current trends in diagnosis and treatment. American Family Physician. Fungal nail infection onychomycosis. Rochester, Minn. Nail care. Natural Medicines. Accessed May 17, Gibson LE expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 6, Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.

There is no evidence that any one is particularly effective. Ioli says. Prescription topical treatments. 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. Filing down the surface of the nail may enable them to penetrate more deeply into the nail or the nail bed.

Oral medications. Either of these drugs can harm the liver, so your doctor will check your liver function at the beginning of treatment and again after six weeks. Itraconazole also interacts with a number of other drugs. If you take one of these drugs you'll also need to avoid drinking alcohol and stay out of the sun. Don't expect any product to give you toenails like those in the advertisements. However, if you adopt a daily routine of washing and drying your feet thoroughly, filing down your nails if needed, and applying a topical antifungal remedy, you should see a distinct improvement.

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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. While there are many treatment options, none is ideal. Medicine applied to the nails has a low cure rate.

Antifungal pills can cause side effects. Nail removal requires wound care. To improve treatment, researchers are looking for new and better ways to treat nail fungus. One treatment showing promise is the use of lasers and light treatments to clear nail fungus. While promising, more research is needed to know whether this treatment can provide safe and effective treatment for most people.

Researchers are also looking at other potential treatments, including patches, nail lacquers, and gels. With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail s may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out.

A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months. Nail fungus can be stubborn. A healthy looking nail, however, may be unrealistic, but you can expect the nail to look better and feel more comfortable.

Even with clearing, nail fungus can return. March Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish? Occasionally, due to trauma, infection, or other scenarios, you might lose a toenail or fingernail.

The good news is that nails grow back. It can take up to 6 months for fingernails to grow back and up to 18 months for toenails to regrow. On average, it can take up to 18 months for a toenail to completely regrow, and about 4 to 6 months for a fingernail to grow back.

Although it can take months for nails to grow back, the rate of regrowth can be faster or slower depending on the scenario, as shown in the following table. Stubbing your toe or dropping an item on your foot can damage your toenail. Depending on the severity of the injury, your toenail might turn black and fall off. Toenail regrowth tends to be slower after an injury or trauma, taking anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

Toenails are susceptible to fungal infections because fungus thrives in warm, wet environments. Shoes and socks provide the perfect condition for fungus to grow. Toenail fungus is contagious, too, so it can transfer to your nail after visiting a nail salon or if you walk barefoot in a locker room. Symptoms of toenail fungus include yellow or dark discoloration, brittleness, and thickening of nails.

Over-the-counter OTC and prescription products can treat nail fungus, but it can take 12 to 18 months for the fungus to grow out. Surgical removal of a nail might be necessary with severe fungus, recurrent ingrown toenails, or when a large section of a nail is diseased or damaged. After medical removal, it can take up to 18 months for a nail to fully regrow.

Psoriasis is a condition that causes itchy, scaly patches on your skin — it can also affect your nails.