What should you know about nail fungus antifungal?

Nail fungus lives within or beneath the nail, so treatment must reach the affected area and continue as the nail grows out. A clinician may examine the nail and sometimes test a clipping because injury, psoriasis, or other nail disorders can look similar. Topical treatment is applied directly to the nail and surrounding skin. Oral treatment travels through the bloodstream to the nail-forming area and may require a review of medicines and medical history.

Keep feet clean and dry, change socks when damp, and trim nails straight across without digging into the sides. Treat coexisting athlete's foot so it does not keep affecting the nails. Use prescribed medicine exactly as directed; stopping when the surface looks better can leave infection in the deeper nail. Do not share nail tools, and clean or replace tools used on an affected nail. Read more about Nail Fungus and available Topical Antifungal Treatment.

Arrange an assessment if a nail becomes thick, crumbly, yellow, white, or separated from the nail bed, especially when several nails change. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or increasing pain around the nail. People with diabetes, reduced circulation, nerve problems, or a weakened immune system should have foot or nail changes assessed early.

Ask whether the appearance needs testing, which treatment fits the nail involved, how long to use it, and whether your current medicines or liver health affect the choice. Ask how to protect other nails while treatment is underway.