How do dermatologists diagnose nail fungus?

To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. It ’ s authoritative to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a clamber infection caused by fungus like athlete ’ south foot. To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infect areas. Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may besides take some samples. Collecting a morsel of debris from below a complete, trimming off separate your nail down, or scraping off a bite of skin can be identical helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out what ’ mho causing the trouble .

Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?

Be certain to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.

How do dermatologists treat a fungal nail infection?

Treatment normally begins with your dermatologist trimming your infect nail down ( sulfur ), cutting back each infected complete to the home where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may besides scrape away debris under the nail down. This helps get rid of some fungus. To wholly get rid of the infection, most people besides need one or more of the follow treatments : Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicate that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, normally takes 12 to 18 months. probably the most unmanageable partially of this treatment is remembering to use it adenine frequently as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, it ’ s all-important that you apply these medicines precisely as directed. The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has approved the following medicines that you apply to the collar to treat complete fungus :

• Amorolfine
• Ciclopirox
• Efinaconazole
• Tavaborole

side effects from these medicines are by and large meek. potential side effects include inflammation and well, an ingrowing toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment. Medicine you take: If you need more-aggressive treatment, your dermatologist may prescribe antifungal pills. These have a higher cure rate than medicine you apply to your nails. Antifungal pills besides work more promptly than medicine applied to the nails. Taking fungicidal pills for two months can cure an infection under the fingernails. normally three months of treatment cures a toenail fungal infection. Antifungal pills, however, can cause side effects. Your dermatologist will watch you closely. You ’ ll besides need to have blood tests every calendar month to check for problems. The FDA has approved the following systemic ( works throughout the torso ) medicines to treat nail fungus :

• Fluconazole
• Griseofulvin

  Read more: Nail fungal infection: Causes, treatment, and symptoms

• itraconazole
• terbinafine

Combination therapy: sometimes, complete fungus is hard to clear. Studies show that taking antifungal pills and applying music to your nails can be more effective than using either treatment alone. Nail removal: If you have a hard infection or other treatments precisely don ’ triiodothyronine work, your dermatologist may recommend removing the nail ( s ) to get rid of the infection. Your dermatologist will use one of the following techniques to remove the complete :

• nonsurgical pinpoint removal ( a chemical is applied to the breeze through )
• surgical breeze through removal

Your dermatologist can perform both types of smash removal in a medical office or a clinic. With either operation, the pinpoint can grow back. If the infection fails to clear, however, your dermatologist can treat the smash so that it can not grow back .

Researchers continue to look for safe, effective treatments

While there are many treatment options, none is ideal. Medicine applied to the nails has a gloomy remedy 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 dependable and effective treatment for most people. Researchers are besides looking at early potential treatments, including patches, breeze through lacquers, and gels .

What is the outcome for someone who has nail fungus?

With treatment, many people can get rid of pinpoint fungus. even when the fungus clears, your nail ( s ) may look unhealthy until the infect nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toe in 12 to 18 months. To clear the fungus, it ’ south important to :

• Use the treatment precisely as official
• Apply ( or take ) the medicate for a long as official
• Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist

Nail fungus can be stubborn. If you had a severe infection, it ’ s potential to clear the infection. A healthy looking complete, however, may be unrealistic, but you can expect the nail to look better and feel more comfortable.

even with clear, smash fungus can return. You ’ ll find steps to reduce your risk in Tips : 12 ways to prevent another pinpoint infection. Image
Getty Images Reference
Gold LFS and Rosen T. “ Onychomycosis : diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. ” Dermatology News ( A CME/CE license supplement ). March 2016:2-15 .