Toenail Fungus Treatments

Amorolfine and Onychomycosis (Nail Fungus)

Fungal infection of the nails, called onychomycosis, is very common but difficult to treat. There is still no guaranteed way to cure the infection, no matter what treatment is chosen, but there are a number of ways to improve the appearance of the nails, lessen the infection, and perhaps cure it in some people. While there is a lot of agreement between medical professionals who treat this all over the world, the same medicines are not always available in different countries.

The two types of medical treatment are topical, medication applied directly to the affected nail or nails, or oral, taking medicine by mouth so it will get to the nail via the bloodstream. Oral medications usually have to be taken for 12 weeks, and achieve a “cure” from 60% to 75% of the time. However, these drugs have side effects including the potential for liver damage. Recurrence is common, from 10% to 50% of the time. Recurrence may be less likely if topical medicine is used on the nails; using both oral and topical medication may also improve the chance of eliminating the infection.

Oral medications are not able to actually kill all the fungus in infected nails, even if they can in the laboratory. The same thing can be said about topical medications. One idea is to combine the two to kill as many fungi as possible. For toenails, this must always be done along with cutting off as much infected nail as possible.

There are no FDA approved over-the-counter treatments available in the United States. There are creams made to treat athlete’s foot (a fungal infection of the skin) that can be used on toenails with varying success. These included Lamisil® (terbinafine), Nizoral® (ketoconazole), Mycelex® (clotrimazole), and Naftin® (naftifine), which are available without a prescription as well as with a prescription. The prescription medications are usually stronger. There are a couple of choices of topical medications FDA approved for fungal infection of the nails in the United States. These include ciclopirox lacquer (Penlac®) and tolnaftate 1% solution (called Formula 3).

A medicine used in many other parts of the world for the last 20 years is called amorolfine (trade name Loceryl®). It seems to be as safe and effective, if not more so, than the topical medications approved for use here. However, it is not FDA approved, and cannot be acquired in the United States or Canada. There are studies of its effectiveness and safety available because it is in use in Europe, the UK, and other places such as Australia. It can be ordered from other parts of the world.

Amorolfine is a different class of antifungal medication than the other topical drugs. It is active against essentially all the main classes of fungus that infect nails. Fungi called dermatophytes (meaning they like skin and skin structures like nails) are the most common causes of the infection. There are a few other fungi and mold that can cause onychomycosis and amorolfine can kill or stop these from growing in a laboratory setting. It works by damaging the membrane around the fungal cells. This kills dermatophytes like Trichophyton rubrum, the most common fungus involved. However, it does not always kill all the fungus in nails because it is very hard for it to reach every area of infection.

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PurNail Nail Fungus Remedy Review

PurNail Nail Fungus Remedy is an all-natural alternative to the more aggressive products on the market for treating nail fungus. Rather than taking a powerful anti-fungal by mouth, you can use this topical treatment to help rid yourself of the fungus that is growing under the nail. It will take some time for this treatment to work. though. The product estimates that you will need about a three to four month supply, but if you do not want to take prescription medication or they are not effective for you, then scrubbing on a topical treatment might be the solution that takes care of your embarrassing nail fungus.

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From Toenails to Tumors: Itraconazole in the Treatment of Nail Fungus and Cancer

Itraconazole (also known as Sporanox®) is an anti-fungal triazole compound first approved by the FDA in 1992 for the treatment of systemic fungal infections1. Itraconazole is well tolerated and is broadly effective against multiple types of fungus, including Candida and Aspergillus species, Cryptococcus neoformans, and many others2. The anti-fungal activity of itraconazole is mediated through its inhibition of cytochrome P450, a critical metabolic enzyme. Cytochrome P450 is required for the processing of lanosterol, the compound from which ergosterol is derived. Ergosterol is an integral cell wall component specifically found in fungi. Disrupted lanosterol metabolism prevents ergosterol synthesis, which severely compromises fungal membrane and cell wall integrity and leads to cell death3.

Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is the most common affliction of the nails, characterized by abnormal nail color, texture, and thickness. Nail fungus is caused by an infection of one of several possible species of fungi, with humidity, improper footwear, nail trauma, genetic predisposition, and immunosuppression considered contributing factors4. Both continuous and pulse itraconazole treatment regimens have demonstrated efficacy against nail fungus. A clinical response can be observed after several months of systemic treatment with orally administered itraconazole in over 80% of patients. Long-term remissions are observed in the majority of patients, although a small percentage of patients that have been successfully treated do ultimately relapse. Factors affecting treatment outcome include the site of infection (fingernail vs. toenail) and the species underlying the infection5,6. The efficacy of itraconazole in achieving clinical response and long-term cures of nail fungus is likely attributable to its ability to be absorbed into the nail and remain there at therapeutic levels for at least 6 months after completion of treatment5,7.

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Lamisil Warning – Read This Detailed Overview To See if It’s Worth the Risk

Lamisil is the brand name of the onychomycosis drug terbinafine hydrochloride. Lamisil can kill fungus in vitro (in a dish) and is presumed to kill or inhibit fungi in the body as well (in vivo). It is believed that Lamisil inhibits the activity of an enzyme that is important for making a component of the fungal cell wall. Without this component, the fungus cannot grow and reproduce. The drug is much more potent (4,000 times or so) at inhibiting the fungal enzyme versus the human one. Lamisil is particularly useful in treating the two major dermatophytes that cause onychomycosis: Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Lamisil is unable to kill other fungi that may be involved in onychomycosis like Candida albicans. Therefore Lamisil treatment is limited to dermatophytoses of the nail. For this reason it is important for doctors to accurately diagnose the organism that is causing the onychomycosis before starting treatment.

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Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus – A Guide

In this article you will learn about the 4 different types of Laser Therapies, costs and efficacy of each, and the effectiveness of the laser therapy overall. We highlight different studies and clinical trials involving this latest medical breakthrough in treating nail fungus.

• Pin Pointe Laser
• Q Clear Laser
• Cool Touch Laser
• Cutera Genesis Plus™ Laser

If you have Onychomycosis, the medical term for fungal infection of the nails, you have probably tried many remedies. This is a very difficult infection to treat, especially in the toenails.

You may have heard that lasers are now being used to treat fungal nail infections. This is a relatively new nail fungus treatment which has definite potential. This article should give you enough information to know whether or not you might want to seek laser therapy for your nail infection.

There are a number of ways to deal with onychomycosis. They almost always include cutting away as much of the affected nails first.
These include:

• Topical medicines – creams, ointments or lacquers applied to the toenails.
• Oral medicines – systemic therapy where the medication gets into the bloodstream and then to the nails.
• Removing most or all of the toenail, then using local therapy as the new nail grows out.
• Removing the toenail permanently by killing the toenail root.
• Using some other technique along with topical medicines to try and force the medication into the nail. This has included drilling holes and using heat.
• Alternative and complementary medications, like tea tree oil.
• Laser therapy, which is used to try and kill all the fungus, often along with removing as much of the thickened toenail as possible beforehand.

Each new treatment has been hailed as a potential cure, only to prove less effective than hoped, or in the case of oral medicines, potentially dangerous because of the medications’ side effects.

Many people wonder if whatever treatment they use is going to kill the fungus or just slow it down. Killing fungus is called fungicidal. Slowing it down is fungistatic. While many medications as well as lasers can kill fungus in a laboratory setting, essentially all therapy fails to kill all fungus in infected nails. That is why the infection comes back after treatment, or only improves the appearance of the nail without eliminating all traces of fungus.

Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) treatment

Laser is a form of light energy. The energy of the light is strengthened and sharply focused, so it can hit a narrow and specific target. When a laser beam of sufficient energy hits a target, it causes damage. Temperatures may rise at the site. This can kill funguses, and other organisms that cause disease. However, lasers do not have to produce heat to be used to treat disease. Their energy may have other specific effects.

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Ciclopirox Penlac Nail Lacquer Reviews

Ciclopirox lacquer has been shown to have a 30% success rate with Nail Fungus Infections.  It probably works as well as fluconazole pills. So if you’d rather put something on your nails than take pills, you may prefer ciclopirox, especially if your infection is mild.

But ciclopirox doesn’t seem to work as well as itraconazole pills or terbinafine pills. Ciclopirox is a chemical that you paint onto your infected nails like nail polish. (more…)

Terbinafine Lamisil Reviews

Terbinafine is an antifungal drug (a drug that kills fungi). It’s used to treat infections that are caused by fungi, including those that affect fingernails and toenails. It doesn’t change the way that damaged nails look. But, by stopping the fungus, it allows new nails to grow normally. The brand name for terbinafine pills is Lamisil.

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Itraconazole Sporanox Reviews

Itraconazole is an antifungal drug (a drug that kills fungi). It’s used to treat infections that are caused by fungi, including those that affect fingernails and toenails. It doesn’t change the way that damaged nails look. But, by stopping the fungus, it allows new nails to grow normally. The brand name for itraconazole pills is Sporanox.

You’ll need to take itraconazole pills for at least three months. There are two ways you can take itraconazole pills:

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Nail-Rx Reviews

Nail-Rx is a 100% safe and effective remedy for treating nail fungus infections.  Nail RX uses100% essential oils extracted from plants, Nail-Rx is highly concentrated and has strong anti-fungal properties. Some of the active ingrediants found in Nail RX include: Melaleuca laterifolia, Lavendula officinalis (Lavender), Cymbopogon citrates (Lemon Grass), Syzygium aromaticum (Clove Oil). It has been shown that Nail RX works for mild to moderate cases of Fungil Infections of the nail and toenail. (more…)

Funginix Reviews

Many people do not like going to a doctor regarding their nail fungus because they are concerned they will get put on a prescription drug. Who can blame them? Prescription drugs for nail fungus have side effects and don’t always work to clear up the fungus they are intended for. If you are looking for an all-natural, topical formula to help rid yourself forever of unsightly nail fungus, then Funginix may be the product you are looking for. It is made up of all-natural ingredients and is applied directly to the nail bed. You won’t have to take a prescription drug to effectively get rid of your nail fungus if you try Funginix.

Funginix (formerly known as Fungisil) is a topical nail fungus treatment that contains anti-fungal agents, essential oils and fungus-fighting extracts.  Its has been shown that users have seen results with mild to moderate cases of nail fungus infestation. Also it should be noted that Funginix is a topical treatment therefore users will see more effective results if they file down the nail fungus to allow the treatment to reach the nail bed.

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