Toenail Fungus

Toe nail fungus is a condition where the nail plate becomes infected with fungal organisms and changes its appearance from the normal clear nail colour to one that is anything from milky white to yellow and even green in a few cases. It is terribly unsightly and embarrassing toe nail fungus has been terribly difficult to treat up to now. 

Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophytic molds. The dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes cause ~80% of all cases of onychomycosis in temperate climates. Approximately 5%-17% of fungal nail infections are caused by yeasts, and Candida albicans is isolated in >70% of these cases. Candida albicans is more frequently cultured from fingernails than from toenails. Nondermatophytic molds such as Scopulariopsis, Scytalidium, Acremonium, and Fusarium cause approximately 3%-5% of cases of fungal nail disease, which may develop secondary to dermatophytic infection, trauma, or direct invasion into the nail.

There is a wide range of medicament’s from topical paints such as loceryl, daktarin etc right up to tablets which will help inhibit fungal growth these have many serious side effects and taking them should not be taken likely. It is advisable to read the side effects before embarking on this form of treatment. It is also possible to surgically remove the nail plate this will cure the fungus in some cases.
The latest form of treatment is the use of laser this targets the fungal elements within the nail and destroyes them so that as the nail grows forward the fungus will simply grow out with the nail plate.
This technique is in its very early stages but is by far the most promising form of treatment available today.