Who doesn’t love the view at the beach?  If your view includes a few fungal nails to go along with the sand and waves, this post is for you.
A few years back a family member contacted me about a fungal toenail he had had for over 30 years.  He was so embarrassed by the look of his toes that he didn’t enjoy walking barefoot on the beach and found reasons to wear his shoes at the pool. We had already seen a lot of success with our topical prescription medication for nail fungus, but I was anxious to see its results on a prolonged infection. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how it would work because the nail was very thick (about 2.5 times thicker than his other nails). Also, this was not his first attempt to get rid of the fungus. He had tried several topical medications in the past with no success and was not a candidate for the anti-fungal medications taken by mouth due to drug interactions with his cholesterol medicine. I provided some information for his doctor, who encouraged him to give it a try and report back with his results.
For 6 months, he brushed the medication on the nail, like polish, twice a day. Over time, clear nail began to grow at the base. With each trim, more and more infected nail was removed, leaving clear, healthy nail behind. The next summer, he was able to wear sandals and flip-flops for the first time in years.  Now he’s proud of his feet and looks forward to strolling in the sand each year at the beach.
We have shared his success with many patients and physicians and have helped many find a solution for their embarrassing toes and fingers since then.
Many patients seek out a topical medication because they are concerned about or unable to take prescription anti-fungal medications by mouth. Â The problems with oral prescription anti-fungal medications are:
Anti-fungal medications have a lot of side effects. Most notable are problems with the liver, upset stomach, and headaches.
Drug interactions between these anti-fungal medications and other common medications.
Most patients are unwilling to take medication for the 16 weeks required to treat the nail fungus. Studies indicate that only 55% of patients were cured of the nail fungus after 16 weeks (4 months) of treatment.
Once your nails are clear of fungus, I always recommend the following to prevent the fungus from coming back:
Wear dry shoes. Fungi live and flourish in moist environments. If your feet sweat make sure your shoes dry out completely before wearing them again. It’s a good idea to have a second pair of shoes that you can rotate. (Note: We also have a formulation that can help keep your feet from sweating. If this is a problem for you, let us know.)
Apply foot powders/sprays to shoes and feet to help keep the feet dry.
Before you get a manicure or pedicure, ask what procedures the salon takes to prevent nail fungus.
Now is the time to get started on those fungal nails, and you’ll have happy feet by summer!
Call me to discuss how you can have happy feet by summer time. (901) 757-9434