How to clear up ugly toenails?

Nobody likes toenail fungus. The yellow, brittle toenails, however, are very common. Toenail fungus is not only embarrassing, but it can lead to further, more serious foot conditions if not treated.

If you have an event or maybe a beach vacation coming up, and you want to show off your cute and relaxing sandals, you want to get rid of your toenail fungus fast.

As toenail fungus is a common foot health issue, many treatment options are now available. There are over-the-counter creams, and pills as well as those prescribed by your podiatrist.

There are also natural, at-home toe fungal treatments as well that include the use of essential oils, spices, vinegar and a healthy diet.

There are many toenail fungus treatments available in stores and online including antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish. These options are best for the more mild cases of toenail fungus.

Your podiatrist may recommend a paint-on prescription antifungal medication. A prescription cream may also be suggested to use in conjunction with antifungal pills.

Usually, as a last resort, will we suggest prescription antifungal pills. These can take many months to show improved results and can have negative side effects including headaches. Some antifungal pills can cause liver damage so we will closely monitor you while taking these medications.

For stubborn toenail fungus, having it zapped with lasers may work for you. Lasers toenail fungus treatment is expensive as it isn’t covered by insurance.

Some patients prefer and swear by more natural antifungal treatments. The most common remedies include having a diet high in fiber and protein and low in yeast, grain, and sugar, using vinegar, cornmeal, baking soda and essential oils including oregano, lavender, coconut, tea tree, olive leaf, and orange. Other common at-home remedies include consuming probiotics, soaking in Epsom salt and baking soda, over-the-counter urea paste, Vicks VapoRub and Listerine mouthwash mixed with white vinegar.

Toenail fungus can take a year to a year and a half to completely go away. Many of the above mentioned antifungal treatments can yield noticeable results in as little as a few weeks, with some taking multiple months to produce significant improvements. As of now, there isn’t an immediate cure for toenail fungus nor is there a treatment that produces immediate results. In many cases, noticeable results aren’t immediate and not all antifungal treatments address the underlying causes of toenail fungus.

If there’s an event or occasion coming up where you need your toes looking great, it is recommended that you begin treating your toenail fungus a few months beforehand.

Some patients have advanced toenail fungus that can only be treated at the podiatrist’s office. In the worst-case scenario, all or part of the toenail may be removed. This can take around a year to heal.

Whether you have a recent, minor form of toenail fungus or you’ve been battling your toenail fungus for many years, it is a good idea to pay us a visit at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center. Our feet specialist can help you find the best antifungal treatment for your case that is quick and which addresses the underlying cause of your toenail fungus.

Can you imagine not wearing sandals for about nine years, not even at the beach, because you are embarrassed about your ugly toenails? This happened to a patient I saw recently and she walked out the office crying in relief, joy and proud of how her toenails looked good and natural after a cosmetic nail restoration we did.

In her case, previous ingrown toenails surgeries ended up making her nails look ugly, thickened and deformed. Because of that, she only wore shoes that would cover her toes and never went barefoot in public. Other patients also told me that they have used Band-aids for years to hide an ugly toenail.

When I looked at her toes she didn't have any pain, but at that point there were not many options to treat her toenail other than removing the nail. Or trying this cosmetic procedure called KeryFlex.

Same day applicationThe resin nail is applied on the same day of the visit. We grind down the thickened nail, cut back the detached parts and leave only what was attached to the skin. For this procedure there has to be a little portion of the nail because the resin won’t stick to the skin.

A bonding agent is then applied and we put on a special resin. Different from typical acrylic nails that are rigid and can damage the nail bed, the Keryflex nail is flexible and functions just like a natural nail, adapting and bending with the natural movement of the toes. You can paint the nails, remove nail polish with regular acetone and go out and about with your activities, including swimming.

It takes an average of 15 minutes to do the full restoration procedure, but this depends on how many toenails are being restored. Usually the nails last between two to three months - once in a while one can fall off and some things can get underneath the nail. For better results, patients should not use any products on the natural nail for two days prior to the application.

No harsh acidsThis aesthetic procedure is made with a medical grade resin containing an antifungal ingredient and is free from the harsh acids that are common in salon acrylic nails. To maintain the KeryFlex nails, we recommend that our patients shorten the toenails by filing, never trimming with clippers or scissors.

It is a great summertime solution/hack that gives our patients confidence to wear sandals or be barefoot. And give them time as other treatments for fungal nails, for example, take full effect. If you want a quick fix for your ugly toenails this summer, call 508-757-4003 for an appointment.

Read more: Pain free treatment for ingrown toenails

• Things like vinegar wiped over the nail can sometimes help in the very early stages.
• Medication you paint on can help in the early stages.
• Oral medication (have some potential side effects)
• Laser.

With summer almost here, it’s time for bathing suits, barbeques, and backyard parties. And along with these summer favorites is something that 35 million Americans dread every time the weather gets nice. Sandal season!

When you suffer from toenail fungus, it can may your toenails turn yellow and thick and force you to abandon your gladiator sandals, flip flops, and other open-toed shoes, as the last thing you’re ready to do is show the world your ugly toenails.

Although you may think they look unsightly, toenail fungus is a common condition and covering it with nail polish can actually make the problem worse. Here at the Family Foot & Ankle Center of South Jersey, we can help you find the best treatment for your infection and prepare you for what to expect during the process. Before you know it, you and your toes will be ready for summer and sandals.

One of the first visible signs of a toenail fungal infection is the appearance of white or yellowish dots under the tip of the toenail. As the fungus spreads into the nail, your nail may thicken, become discolored, or even crumble along its edge.

When left untreated, toenail fungus can create even more damage to your nail. Your toenails may become significantly thicker and turn yellow or brown; they may also easily split and lift from the nail bed and they lose their firm attachment. If allowed to become severe, toenail infections may lead to nails that are white or yellow and feel soft and dry to the touch. At this advanced stage, the nail may even crumble when clipped.

The pain associated with toenail fungal infections develops when the fungus grows unchecked. It may become so bad, it can make it difficult to wear shoes without pain and discomfort.

The microscopic organisms that lead to a toenail infection thrive in the moist, warm environment provided when you cover your feet in socks and shoes. The fungus doesn’t need light to survive and invades your skin through tiny cuts and abrasions you can’t even see. Sometimes, the infections begin through a small separation between your nail and toe.

Some people may have a higher risk of developing a toenail fungal infection, including those who:

Those individuals with chronic, untreated athlete’s foot have a higher risk of toenail fungus, as do those who’ve had a toenail injury or previous infection. Chronic conditions, such as psoriasis, diabetes, and poor circulation, can also increase your risk of getting a toenail infection.

It is theorized that sometime in the late eighteen hundreds, these fungi were transported to the United States from Asia and Africa. The increase in the occurrence of fungal nails is related to our lifestyle, certain diseases that decrease our immune system’s ability to fight infection, and our ever increasing aging populous.

Anyone can get toenail fungus. Today 36 million Americans suffer from this condition.

However, there are several things that can increase your risk.

No. Many times ugly, discolored, or misshapen toenails are not caused by fungus. Although nail trauma, aging, illness, and tight shoes often result in nail fungus, sometimes it does not.   Dystrophic, distorted nails can sometimes be visually assessed as fungus by a podiatrist, but doctors will often send out toenail clippings to a lab to be analyzed to ensure that nails aren't treated for fungus unnecessarily.

The most typical presentation is gradual invasion of the nail from the tip extending back, with thickening, brownish to yellowish discoloration, and detachment of the nail. The nail can also be infected from the cuticle outward which is less common and may appear more whitish. It can also appear as a chalky, white, patchy invasion of the whole nail plate. (Here are more photos of nails with toenail fungus.)

In most cases, the diagnosis can be made by your physician’s evaluation. When there’s a question about the clinical appearance, additional testing such as a nail biopsy can be ordered.

There are other disorders that can cause nail changes that mimic fungus. Pitting of the toenails can be seen in patient with psoriasis, seasonal allergies or eczema. Severe trauma or microtrauma can also cause a nail to become thickened permanently, with or without fungus.

The following treatments have been used to treat toenail fungus with varying levels of success.

One of the keys to success with laser treatment is finding a podiatrist that includes a fungal toenail prevention program. This involves education about how to prevent re-infection, including hygiene tips, products for sterilizing shoes, use of anti-fungal creams, and other solutions which can increase the efficacy of laser treatment.

Learn more about our Laser Treatment Program.

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Fungus is everywhere. Here are some steps you can take to avoid getting a nail fungus infection.