best over the counter for toe nail fungus

zane23877 April 26, 2023 Comment

The 7 Best Toenail Fungus Treatments of 2023 You also might want to opt for an oral medication if more than one nail is affected. What is the best over-the-counter nail fungus treatment?

There really is no ‘best’ over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for nail fungus. OTC products are available to treat fungus on the skin around the nail bed, but are not very effective at treating the hard nail bed. Prescription medicines, which you either take by mouth or apply to the nail, are more effective for nail fungus.

A fungal infection of the nail is called onychomycosis. Fungus growing under your nails can appear as a white, yellow, brown or black color with a crumbly texture. Fungal nail infections occur most frequently in the toenails, but can occur on the fingernails, too.

Treating Toenail Fungus

Be sure to treat any athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) you may have as well, as these can worsen or lead to fungal nail infections. Effective antifungal products like creams or sprays for athlete’s foot can be found over-the-counter.

Treatment for nail fungus can take months, but not all people need to be treated. While the nail fungus may not fully clear up, in many people it may not cause any long-term effects, either.

Urea (Kerasol) can help to soften and improve the appearance of brittle, yellow nails, but it does not treat the nail fungus.

How To Clear Up Fungal Toenails Fast: Advanced Foot & Ankle Center: Podiatry

The best products for nail fungus are prescription medicines you take by mouth or topical liquid medicines you apply to the nail.

Oral antifungal medicines tend to work better than topical ones, but are associated with greater side effects and drug interactions. In some cases, your doctor may decide to combine treatments, or use laser or photodynamic therapy. Speak with your podiatrist (foot doctor) about these techniques.

This is not all the information you need to know about this condition and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Always discuss any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

Danielle Zoellner is a freelance writer with an emphasis in health and wellness. She graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Jennifer Nied has written about health, fitness and wellness for over 10 years. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women’s Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.

Top Home Remedies To Treat Toenail Fungus

Leah Ansell, MD, is board-certified in cosmetic and medical dermatology. She is an assistant professor at Columbia University and works in private practice in New York City.

Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails. When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. If left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.

Lamisil Terbinafine Antifungal Cream treats fungus all over the body, including athlete’s foot, making it the best overall choice. The Fungi Nail Anti-Fungal Ointment is infused with five oils and makes for a budget-friendly option.

Cure Toenail Fungus Naturally: Home Remedies To Treat Toenail Fungus

“The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies, ” says Shari Lipner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine. The fungus often begins in the form of athlete’s foot between the toes or on the soles of the feet. At this stage, the fungal infection is easier to treat with over-the-counter medication, and that’s where toenail fungus treatments come in. In addition to understanding stage and severity of your toenail fungus when shopping for treatments, you should carefully assess the ingredients and the type of treatment for the fungus based on its location.

We researched dozens of toenail fungus treatments and evaluated them based on the following attributes: cost, medication forms, ingredients, and treatment areas.

Toenail fungus, if left untreated, can become a tough problem to treat and will greatly influence what medications you need. In fact, it’s best not to wait until your problem is severe before starting some kind of treatment, especially if you’re hoping to stick with OTC products.

Topical Treatments Options For Toenail Fungus

“Toenail fungus is very hard to treat, and even under the care of a dermatologist it doesn’t always resolve, ” says California-based dermatologist Caren Campbell, MD. “Given how difficult it can be to treat, it’s best to get in to see a dermatologist as soon as possible to avoid it worsening.”

Furthermore, the fungus can spread to other nails and other areas of the body, adds Dr. Campbell, another reason why early treatment is ideal. If you notice the fungus spreading, or if your toenails have become thick and yellowed, you might need either a prescription-strength product or to seek help from a board-certified dermatologist.

Dr. Lipner says toenail fungus starts as athlete’s foot: “It begins with a rash on the foot and spreads to the toenails, ” she says.

What Should I Do If My Nails Are Fungal?

Since treating athlete’s foot differs from treating toenail fungus, you’ll have to pay attention to where your problem is on your foot. Athlete’s foot can be addressed with antifungal ointments, sprays, and powders available over-the-counter, but if your fungus has moved to under the nail or the surrounding skin, says Dr. Campbell, you’ll need to focus on treating it with topical creams, ointments, and polishes, or oral medications.

Zinc undecylenate and undecylenic acid are both FDA-approved ingredients to treat toenail fungus. Also, if you seek help from a dermatologist, they will likely prescribe medications in the “azole” family. “The compound interferes with the synthesis of the fungal cell membrane, ” Dr. Lipner says, which essentially kills the fungus.

One common medication in the “azole” family used to treat toenail fungus is Jublia (efinaconazole). Other medications often prescribed include the active ingredient terbinafine, which is usually prescribed as oral or topical Lamisil.

The 7 Best Toenail Fungus Treatments Of 2023

Toenail fungus treatments can come in a variety of forms, but oral, topical, and homeopathic medications are the most commonly used for treating toenail fungus.

“Lamisil also has the lowest side effect profile of the oral antifungal medications and works as a fungicidal which destroys a fungus by blocking its ability to ‘breath’ or make the oxygen molecules it needs to survive, ” says Orit Markowitz, MD, founder and CEO of OptiSkin treatment center in New York City.

But there are several conditions that can make people ineligible for oral antifungal medications. The same underlying comorbidities, including chronic renal failure (with dialysis) and renal transplant, immunodeficiency, diabetes, cancer, and peripheral arterial disease that make someone more susceptible to toenail fungus also make them more at risk for side effects when taking the drugs. Speak with your doctor to ensure you can safely take an oral antifungal.

What You Should Know About Toenail Fungus Medication

If you’re eligible for oral drugs, however, you may want to take a multi-pronged approach: “I prefer to do orals and topicals if patients really want a chance at a cure, since it is so difficult to treat nail fungus, ” says Dr. Campbell.

“[You] might use [Lamisil] if there are multiple nails involved, ” says Michelle Henry, MD, founder of Skin & Aesthetics Surgery of Manhattan, “because oral treatment is significantly more effective in clearing the fungus.”

Topical treatments (like amorolfine and ciclopirox) can help with minor toenail fungus. They cause fewer and less serious side effects. But, it’s difficult for them to penetrate the nail plate so treatment is longer and efficacy is low.

Best Treatments For Toenail Fungus

“Azole antifungals like Jublia inhibit fungal elements involved in the biosynthesis of critical fungal elements like fungal cell membranes, ” says Dr. Markowitz. She adds that, “topical therapies can be effective, but require lengthy and costly regimens without an established method for predicting outcome.” It could mean daily topical treatments for 52 weeks.

Natural preventative measures can be effective, but once fungus sets in, your best bet is a research-backed and FDA approved oral antifungal. Garlic has antifungal properties, and when used in a footbath can provide some relief.

“Given that topical prescription remedies take at least one year of daily use to work in only two thirds of mild to moderate cases, it is difficult to recommend an off-label natural remedy treatment, ” says Dr. Markowitz.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

You could also try tea tree oil in conjunction with other more traditional treatments, says Dr. Henry, or even white vinegar: “I often recommend white vinegar soaks: patients [put] a quarter cup of white vinegar in a bowl and soak the toenail once or twice a day.”

A complete cure can take as long as 18 months; while you wait, Dr. Campbell suggests washing your socks in hot water to prevent reinfection and using antifungal powders, like Zeosorb, in your shoes. Keep in mind that for fungal nail infections, a cure is not achieved at all in 20 to 25 percent of treated patients.

“I’ve always counseled patients that even oral medications [only] work approximately 60% of the time, so it’s oftentimes a chronic condition, ” says Dr. Campbell.