Before starting nail fungus treatment, see a doctor. He can tell you whether your fungal nail infection is at the beginning stages or if it has progressed into a more serious condition. In the latter case, a diagnosis of onychomycosis is critical because the treatment plan may not be successful. He may have to take a sample of the fungal nail sample for laboratory testing and culture to make a conclusive diagnosis. The sooner the onychomycosis is detected and treated, the better.

Symptoms

A nail with a white or yellowish coat is the first sign that you have a fungal infection. As the infection spreads, other signs will become apparent. The nail may change shape and may also darken or thicken. If the infection spreads beyond the onychomycosis itself, the nail may separate from the nail bed and crumble away. Other symptoms include pain and swelling of the nail and the surrounding areas, sometimes accompanied by skin discoloration.

Treatment

You may wish to begin treating onychomycosis using over-the-counter or home oral medications. However, since these medicines only attack the symptoms of the disease, they may not help in the long run. Onychomycosis treatment through medications and traditional therapy usually takes weeks or months before the symptoms clear up. So in the meantime, you may want to consider onychomycosis cures that can give immediate relief.

Many people prefer natural onychomycosis treatment for this reason. Herbs like onychomycosis sand, oregano oil, or tea tree oil are used to apply directly to the nail bed or to mix with lacquer or other natural topical nail polishes to protect the nail from further fungal growth. Since these natural treatments attack the root cause of onychomycosis, they are more effective than over-the-counter or home remedies.

If you want an effective topical onychomycosis treatment, you might also want to try herbal oils. Tea tree oil is particularly effective because it has antifungal properties. It can kill the fungus that causes onychomycosis in the nails while also soothing the area and preventing further infection. In addition to tea tree oil, several other herbs have antifungal properties that you might want to consider for your onychomycosis treatment.

Once you’ve gotten rid of your onychomycosis, don’t forget to take good care of your nails. It’s best to avoid wearing nail polish, false nails, or other nail accessories to avoid re-infection. You should also be careful when taking care of your feet. Always wash your feet carefully and wear clean socks and gloves if possible.