Our Foot Doctor In Merrillville, IN, Can Help With Your Toenail Fungus Treatment

5-Star Toenail Fungus Treatment in Merrillville, Valparaiso, Portage, Munster, Schererville, Dyer, Chesterton, St. John, Crown Point, Porter, & Highland, IN

Toenail Fungus

A fungus is an organism that thrives in warm, moist areas. Fungus of the toenails is a common problem that can affect people of all ages, although it most commonly affects individuals who are older.

Toenail fungus often begins as an infection in the skin called tinea pedis (also known as athlete’s foot.) The fungus often starts under the nail fold at the end of the nail. Over time it grows underneath the nail and causes changes to its appearance, such as a yellow or brownish discoloration. It can also cause thickening and deformity of the toenail.

Many people have difficulty with their toenails and need assistance in caring for them. Our experienced Merrillville foot doctor can diagnose the cause of toenail problems and recommend treatment options.

Merrillville Foot Doctor For The Treatment Of Toenail Fungus

If self-care strategies and over-the-counter (nonprescription) products haven’t helped, our Merrillville foot doctor may suggest a combination of prescription drugs and other approaches. But even if you find relief from your symptoms, repeat infections are common.

Medications For Toenail Fungus

• Oral antifungal drugs. Your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal drug. Studies show the most effective treatments are terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox.) These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part. Patients typically take this type of drug for 6 to 12 weeks. But you won’t see the end result of treatment until the nail grows back completely. It may take four months or longer to eliminate an infection. Treatment success rates with these drugs appear to be lower in adults over age 65. In addition, treatment success seems to improve when you combine oral and topical antifungal therapies.

• Medicated nail polish. Our Merrillville foot doctor may prescribe an antifungal nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it on your infected nails and surrounding skin once a day. After seven days, you wipe the piled-on layers clean with alcohol and begin fresh applications. You may need to use this type of nail polish daily for a year.

• Medicated nail cream. Our Merrillville foot doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream, which you rub into your infected nails after soaking. These creams may work better if you first thin the nails. This helps the medication get through the hard nail surface to the underlying fungus. To thin nails, you apply an over-the-counter (nonprescription) lotion containing urea. Or our Merrillville foot doctor may thin the surface of the nail (debride) with a file or other tool.

Learn More About Our Treatment Options for Toenail Fungus at Weil Foot & Ankle in Merrillville, Indiana (IN)!

Over 200,000 patients have found relief at Weil Foot & Ankle, and we’re confident we can help you too. Your feet will thank you! For additional information on toenail fungus treatment or to schedule an appointment, call Weil Foot & Ankle at 847-390-7666. Come experience Weil Foot & Ankle Institute! Our Merrillville foot doctor offers the best podiatry care to patients suffering with a neuroma in and around Merrillville, Valparaiso, Portage, Munster, Schererville, Dyer, Chesterton, St. John, Crown Point, Porter, and Highland, IN.