Nail fungus is a fungal infection that occurs in both the toenails and the forehead nails, which occurs frequently in most people and at any age. Nail fungus is a disease that can occur for various reasons at every stage of our lives. Although you are well-groomed and clean, it is possible for nail fungus to manifest itself. If left untreated, it has serious effects on both aesthetic appearance and physical health. It is very important to go to a doctor’s examination and be treated in order to prevent the spread of nail fungus when it is noticed and to prevent serious problems.
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What is Nail Fungus?
Nail fungus: It is a fungal infection that manifests itself with a whitish color in any or most of the fingernails and toenails and then turns yellow. Nail fungus infection spreads in the space between the nail and the skin. In other words, the infection progresses inside. It first appears as a white dot. Untreated, yellowing occurs, the white area of the nail increases towards the bottom, and hardening of the nail edge meats occurs. If the fungus is left untreated, it begins to deepen inside the nail. When the deepening begins, the nail loses its health. The nail color will be yellowish, quite hard, and look bad. In addition, the skin around the nail begins to break down and become damaged. As the situation progresses, a bad image appears in the general appearance of the nail.
If nail fungus is left untreated, it can spread in the nail. Fungal infection, especially in the toes, can spread between the two toes. Such advanced conditions are called tinea pedis. It is also known as athlete’s foot and athlete’s foot among the people. Treatment is important because infection can occur from the slit between the toes.
Nail Fungus Treatment with Laser
Laser treatment is not applied to every nail fungus. It is applied in some patients with special conditions. Nail fungus treatment with laser is an expensive method. For this reason, it is not preferred and applied very much. Carbon dioxide laser treatment can be applied together with antifungal nail cream. However, there is no definite information about whether this treatment method is effective or curative.
Nail Fungus Surgery
Nail fungus surgery is a simple operation performed under local anesthesia. If the infection in the nails due to fungus has progressed and does not respond to drug treatment, the nail is completely removed by surgery. The aim here is to remove the nail to heal the fungus and allow the drug to directly contact the problem area. The surgery is a simple procedure, after which the new nail can take up to 6 months to come out completely.
Nail Fungus Symptoms
The symptoms of nail fungus that occur in people are quite easy with a physical examination. You can easily find out if you have a nail fungus problem without the need for a doctor’s examination. Symptoms of nail fungus;
- Thickening of the nail tissue more than normal,
- whitening of nails,
- Easy nail breakage
- Matting of the glossy appearance of the nail,
- The color of the nail becomes yellowish,
- Fragmentation of the nail skin, an irregular structure,
- Distortion of nail shape,
- If the fungus progresses, the odor problem arises.
When you see one of the above-mentioned symptoms, we recommend that you consult a specialist doctor for treatment. The spread of nail fungus, especially on the fingers, will cause people to feel bad and have an unhealthy appearance.
Nail Fungus Causes
- Nail fungus can occur for many reasons. Known and common causes of nail fungus;
- Being in contact with some organisms such as yeast and mold,
- The nails are constantly damp or wet,
- Not cleaning the shoes regularly
- Being an athlete or athlete,
- Not paying attention to hand and foot cleaning,
- excessive sweating problem,
- Frequent use of areas such as the common pool, shower, locker room,
- To step barefoot on the ground or on the ground in common areas,
- Sharing the place where manicure and pedicure is done and the tools and equipment used
- Impact or previous damage to the nails,
- People with a weak immune system,
- Having diabetes, thyroid, psoriasis.
Due to the above-mentioned reasons, people can experience nail fungus infection. In some cases, it can be seen in only one nail, and in some cases, in more than one nail at the same time.
How Is Nail Fungus Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of nail fungus is quite easy. Changes in nail shape are due to nail fungus infection. If any of the above-mentioned symptoms appear on your nails, you should go to a doctor’s examination for a definitive diagnosis. Your doctor should examine you to determine the level of nail fungus and how it should be treated. Physical examination accounts for fifty percent of the diagnosis. For what reasons did the fungus appear?
In order to learn the disease, a section is taken from the fungal area on the nail skin, except for the physical diagnosis. This section is sent to the laboratory for examination. As a result of the examination, the size of the fungus and for what reason it appeared will be determined more precisely. The treatment method to be applied should be selected according to the result. Incorrect drug use and treatment method can trigger the emergence of different diseases.
Nail Fungus Treatment
Nail fungus, like some other skin diseases, is a type of disease that can go away on its own. It is absolutely necessary to pay attention to regular use of drugs and personal hygiene. If the appropriate drugs you buy from the pharmacy do not treat the nail fungus, you should start the treatment under the supervision of a doctor. The treatment process varies depending on the cause of the fungus and the type of fungus. Depending on the treatment and the condition of the fungus, surgical operations can be performed when necessary. Treatment is a long process. In addition, even if the fungus heals as a result of treatment, it may reappear after a while. Therefore, it is a type of disease that requires regular control.
In the treatment of nail fungus, drug therapy is usually applied. Oral, topical and antifungal drugs are used in drug treatment. Oral medications are aimed at the progression of the infection. Topical, that is, drugs applied directly to the nail, prevents the spread of the fungus and also helps to improve the deteriorated nail tissue. Antifungal drugs are drugs for cleaning the fungus. Depending on the way your doctor applies the treatment, the drugs mentioned above may be more effective when used together during the treatment period.
Among the drug options in the treatment, firstly oral drugs are started. Oral medications are more effective in treatment. This is because they are more effective at clearing the infection. Oral medications, especially terbinafine and itraconazole, are more effective than other drugs to completely clear the infection and prevent it from recurring. While clearing the infection, it helps the problem area heal and regenerate the clean nail. The duration of drug use is spread over an average of 6-12 weeks in nail fungus. The time for the treatment to be completely successful and the infection to disappear is about 4 months on average.
Oral antifungal drugs can have serious side effects. Therefore, it must be taken under the supervision of a doctor. Oral antifungal drugs can cause liver disorders and conditions such as skin rash. Before your doctor treats you with these drugs, he or she will definitely ask for a blood test. If your blood test results are not normal, it will not be appropriate to use these drugs.
Another drug treatment used in nail fungus is the types that are applied directly to the nail like nail polish. Nail fungus drugs applied like nail polish should be used regularly every day for at least 1 year. In addition, the layer accumulated on the nail should be cleaned with acetone every seven days and the use of the drug should be renewed.
Another treatment method is to thin the nail layer with a nail file after applying an anti-fungal cream. Here, the purpose of filing and thinning the nail is to allow the drug to reach the fungus more easily. In addition to thinning the nail, the nail can be pulled out completely so that the fungicide is in direct contact with the infection. If the infection has progressed and does not heal with drug treatment, it is recommended to remove the nail completely.
Nail Fungus Prevention Methods
To prevent nail fungus and prevent it from recurring, you need to follow some regular methods. Methods of preventing nail fungus;
- Take care not to keep your hands and feet too moist. Bacteria and infections appear and spread more quickly in a humid environment.
- When cutting your nails, take care to cut straight rather than shape them. After cutting straight, you can straighten the edges with a rasp. Don’t forget to disinfect your nail clippers and nail file regularly.
- Pay attention to hygiene in common areas such as the gym and pool. Especially walking barefoot on the ground can cause athlete’s foot.
- Pay attention to the use of shoes and socks. Prefer breathing shoes and socks. Pay attention to the hygiene of shoes and socks.
- If you are having a manicure and pedicure, do not use shared tools. Take care to use your own special manicure and pedicure tools.
- Be careful to avoid using too much fake nails, nail polish and nail polish.
- Be sure to use the medications recommended by your doctor regularly so that the infection does not recur.
- When you pay attention to the above-mentioned items, you will prevent the occurrence and recurrence of nail fungus.
Nail Fungus Treatment Prices
The main factors affecting nail fungus treatment prices are the experience of the doctor, the treatment method to be used, and the size of the infection caused by the fungus.
The main factors affecting nail fungus treatment prices are the experience of the doctor, the treatment method to be used, and if the fungus does not respond to the drug treatment, surgery may be required. Surgery prices may vary depending on the experience and clinical equipment of the doctor who will perform the operation. How many nails have fungus also affects the price. If the non-surgical treatment will continue as drug treatment, the costs of the drugs used in the treatment may also change. You can get nail fungus treatment at government institutions free of charge. In cases such as laser and surgery, it will be a better choice to be treated in private clinics for the fungus to heal in a shorter time.
According to the rules of the Ministry of Health, it is not correct to give prices for health transactions on the internet pages. The prices for your treatment by experienced doctors with high patient satisfaction may also increase. To get more information about nail fungus treatment prices and examination fees, you can reach us from the information on our contact page and easily make an appointment. After making an appointment, the staff and doctors in our clinic will answer all your questions about nail fungus treatment prices. We provide services with our specialists in the treatment of many diseases to make you healthier and feel happier. You can get information about nail fungus treatment prices by calling our polyclinic on +902122414624
