Nail fungus treatment options can be overwhelming. But let me guide you in the right direction by going over the three most common fungus treatment options. This post will help you make the best decision to resolve your problem.
Nail fungus treatment option 1:
Topical nail fungus treatments include over-the-counter medications such as creams, solutions, and sprays. While these are very affordable and good at preventing fungal infections, they’re not necessarily great at killing the fungus inside and under the nails. Topical medications are not effective at treating an active infection and are less than 5% effective for severe cases.
Many patients with toenail fungus try to treat themselves with home remedies like apple cider vinegar or Vicks Vapo-Rub. If you are considering these home remedies, consider that fungus is a condition that requires medical treatment.
Nail fungus treatment option 2:
You might have heard of oral medications amongst others when it comes to nail fungus treatment. This is the most common option, despite the fact that it has extreme side effects. Which include liver toxicity and even possibly liver damage, ultimately leading to death or the necessity of a liver transplant. It is so damaging, in fact, that routine testing is required to monitor the health of your liver for the entirety of the 12 weeks while taking the pills. While this may be the most common nail fungus treatment option, it is the one with the most drawbacks. And on top of this, the average cure rate for oral pills is only about 60%.
Stronger, oral medications are prescribed by some doctors but can come with offputting health risks. They often require months of daily administration and can have intense side effects and be toxic to the liver. Even after months of these pills, they don’t have the success rate of laser toenail fungus treatments. Oral medications for toenail fungus work by distributing antifungal chemicals throughout the bloodstream. Once ingested, the body absorbs the antifungals in the pill by digesting it and then processes them in the liver. Because the antifungal agents have to pass through the liver before they get to the toes, these medications can cause liver damage in some people. These treatments require blood tests before and during the course of medication to avoid damage to the liver.
Nail fungus treatment option 3:
Laser is the most modern and technologically advanced nail fungus treatment option, with the greatest success rate. However, there are many different lasers on the market with various success rates which may or may not be FDA-approved. The most effective option by far is the PinPointe laser, which was FDA-approved in 2012 and has an 85% cure rate with no side effects. To add on top of that, it only takes one treatment with no downtime afterward, while other lasers may require up to four sessions.
To get the most effective nail fungus treatment available, call us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our doctors at one of our over 120 locations.
