Nail fungus is not generally painful, yet having yellow, thickened, crumbling nails is embarrassing. Treatments often take a few months to clear up the infection, but it could still take many more months after that for a healthy nail to grow in, leaving people frustrated.
In most cases the fungus gets in under the overhanging tip of the nail (known as the distal edge) and spreads towards the cuticle. This is the most common manifestation of the disease and is known medically as Distal/Lateral Subungal Onychomycosis. After the fungus reaches the cuticle, it becomes harder for treatments to reach, so it’s important to start a treatment regiment as soon as symptoms appear. Treating toenail fungus is particularly difficult and can take many months due to the thickness of the nails and the fact that toenails grow much slower than fingernails.
Topical treatments such as Funginix or Zetaclear are popular cures. Some people report success from using home remedies for the treatment of nail fungus such as apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, Vicks VapoRub, and Listerine, but health professionals are quick to point out that such treatments are unproved and not recommended. Home remedies may help reduce nail discoloration (through bleaching for example), but might leave the actual fungus untreated. Oral medications are also available, but have some nasty side effects, including a risk of liver damage.
There might be a third option: laser treatment. This is a painless procedure where a laser is passed over affected nails in a specific pattern, penetrating nail layers to reach the fungus and destroy it.
While this sounds like an attractive option, keep in mind that laser fungus removal is expensive. It can cost around $1,200 per nail and it’s not covered by health insurance. Plus, repeated laser treatments are necessary.
This is a relatively new procedure. Some studies show promising results, but experts believe that more clinical trials are needed. For now, most sufferers will probably not want to shell out money for laser nail fungus treatments, but it is in an evolving field that’s worth keeping an eye on.