By Sam Fowler, PMAC, Office Manager, Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates
Have you noticed that there seems to be a lot of advertising for toenail fungus treatments? Magazine ads with photos of disgusting looking toenails and TV commercials featuring cute characters that “fight the fungus” are hard to miss. Many of these ads promise to quickly wipe out the fungus, eliminate the thick, ugly yellow nail, and restore your nails to their former good health… or your money back!
Toenail fungus is a very common condition and can be difficult to treat. A large number of our patients come to see us to treat their fungal infection — often after they’ve tried all kinds of other treatments that didn’t work. Anyone with toenail fungus would like to get rid of it quickly by simply applying some sort of cream or polish. But the truth is that nails take 9-12 months to grow out, so evaluating the progress or improvement is like “watching paint dry.” And if the treatment doesn’t work, then you start all over.
Sometimes patients don’t even know they have fungus — they just want to know what’s wrong with their toe and why it won’t go away. Toenail fungus has varying symptoms including discoloration, thickening, or brittleness. It’s important to realize that fungal-like symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as micro trauma, so it is very important for a podiatrist to perform a biopsy of the affected nail to diagnose if the nail is fungal or not before starting treatment.
There are a variety of treatment options for fungal nails, falling into three main categories:
Oral Treatment
- Effective 80 percent of the time by itself
- One pill, once a day for 90 days
- Side effects include metallic taste, stomach upset, allergic reactions, liver issues
- Cannot take oral treatment in conjunction with certain medications including cholesterol medications and birth control
- Have to perform two blood tests (one at the beginning, one in the middle) to check liver enzyme levels
- Our office does not recommend the oral medication due to the side effects. Also, many patients don’t qualify for the oral medication because of their liver enzymes or medications.
Topical Treatment
- Effective 30 percent of the time by itself
- Apply every day for one year (because it takes 9-12 months for a toenail to grow out!)
- Painless, no side effects
- Difficult to penetrate through the nail bed (causing decreased efficiency and/or application error)
Laser Treatment
- Effective 94 percent of the time by itself (the most effective singular treatment)
- Effective over 94 percent of the time when used in combination with topical medications
- Three in-office treatments within the course of 3 months
- Quick, painless, no side effects
Whether you have toenail fungus or any other medical concern, the best way to get real results is to ignore the advertising blitz and consult a medical professional.
If you suffer from toenail fungus or any other foot or ankle problem, you may contact the experts at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates, 309-661-9975 or online at www.heartlandfootandankle.com. With a fungal nail center of excellence and state-of-the-art comprehensive treatment programs, they guarantee results.