Toenail fungus which is characterized by yellow, thickened, brittle, crumbly nail with thick debris underneath in severe cases are very common and can be caused by feet being in moist environments which are damp and darkened. Can also be encouraged by wearing the same shoes often and not drying feet very well. People with weakened immune systems such as diabetics are also very prone to toenail fungus.
While toenail fungus will not make a person physically ill, many people desire to treat it because of its undesirable cosmetic appearance.
There are many natural remedies such as Listerine, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar or Vick's vapor rub to name a few. These options for curing fungus, which are not FDA approved, exist as options to those who are aversed to taking oral or topical medications.
The FDA has recently approved two topical medications Kerydin and Jublia. While neither have 100% cure rates, it is the best available.
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Another option which is a prescribed drug called Terbinafine which is taken for 90 days once per day. One's liver must be first checked prior to taking this drug and can have rare but serious potential side effects including--liver damage, loss of taste, blurry vision, and upset stomach.
For this reason, many people opt for conservative home remedies or topical medications.
Some tips to avoid toenail fungus include:
- Wearing open-toed shoes in warmer weather
- Not wearing toenail polish for longer than two weeks at a time
- Bringing your own tools to the salon and not sharing instruments such as nail files, orange sticks, or buffers
Dr. Monique Renee Rolle, DPM, MEd, AACFAS is an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, member of the American Diabetes Association, Virginia Podiatric Medical Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, & Owner/Podiatrist of Lansdowne Podiatry with locations in Leesburg, VA and on Capitol Hill. She is also an entrepreneur with her own foot product line, Dr. Mo's Products. You can follow her on social media @drmrolle, @doctormosproducts, www.facebook.com/LansdownePodiatry.
