Nail fungus is a common problem especially to those who visit swimming pools or public baths frequently. It's usually not painful and with little care one will be able to treat it at home. However, in severe cases it can be painful and discomforting. In this case the patient should consult an expert for advanced treatment.

How the infection happens?

Discolored, deformed, thicken or brittle toenails can be sign of fungal infection. Fungus is a microscopic organism that survives without sunlight and grows in moist, warm and damp environments. The nail infection is mostly caused due to dermatophyt, a fungus that invades the skin through tiny cuts and the little gap between nail and nail bed. This can grow under the nail for a long time and gradually infect it and the surrounding.

Treatments –

Home remedies –

• Tea Tree oil-

One can start nail problem treatment Houston at home. Tea tree oil contains natural antifungal properties that have been great for treating toenail fungus at its early stage. Mix it with olive oil or coconut oil (also contains antifungal properties) and apply it on the infected nail with a cotton ball. After 10 minutes, scrub the nails with a clean brush.

• Coconut oil -

Simple application of coconut oil will also help to kill fungus.

• Mouthwash-

Mouthwash used for killing the bacteria in mouth is also effective on the fungal infection. It contains alcohol working as antiseptic to save the nails from fungi attack.

Medication-

• Oral drugs –

If the doctor diagnoses you with advanced case of fungal infection, he may suggest you having oral medication like terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox). You have to take the drugs for 6 to 12 weeks as per the doctor's prescription. The drugs effect slowly by replacing the infected nail with new, uninfected nails. It may take four months or more for entire replacement.

• Medicated nail cream –

If doctor prescribed antifungal cream, you have to rub it on the infected nail and let it soak properly. It's important that you thin the nails so that the medication enters through the hard nails and treat the fungi underlying. You can use some over-the-counter lotion that contains urea. Or ask your doctor to thinning the nails by removing the deposits.

• Medicated nail polish –

Doctors often prescribe antifungal nail polish that you apply on the contaminated nails and the skin around. One must do it once a day and after seven day clear the debris that build up with alcohol. You repeat the same practice for a year.   

Surgery –

If everything else fails, the doctor has no option but to remove the deformed nail surgically so that fungus-free healthy nails can grow at the same place. The new nail may take a year to grow back completely. The surgeons will only perform a surgical treatment if the infection is too severe and pain is unbearable. The surgical process includes ciclopirox to treat the nail bed.

Other procedures –

Laser nail treatment is the latest nail problem treatment Houston that uses carbon-dioxide laser therapy to treat the infected nail and bring out natural shiny nails after a few sittings.