Dear Pharmacist,
One of my toenails has developed a yellowish-green fungus that won’t go away. Can you help? –A.M., Boulder, Colorado
Answer: Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is not merely an unsightly cosmetic problem, it sometimes causes physical pain, disfigurement or disability. Once you’re infected with fungus, it spreads easily and it’s tough to get rid of. This may shock you, but nail fungus is not a topical problem. You may see it on the surface, but those fungal spores are inside you causing dozens of other seemingly unrelated health problems! Medications aren’t usually effective long-term because they kill the fungus temporarily, but they don’t improve the health of the host (you) meaning the left-over spores will just start multiplying in the host again. If you take medication, you should also change your diet and lifestyle habits in order to prevent the fungus from taking hold again. Step one is no more sugar or grains.
There is no shortage of drugs to kill fungus. Some of them include nystatin, griseofulvin, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine. Depending on the medication, it could cost you several hundred a month, and side effects range from minor nausea to hair loss and possibly liver or heart failure so make sure you remain monitored and take routine lab tests. Treatment could take up to a year. I told you fungus is stubborn! Sometimes people use a prescription nail lacquer called Penlac; I like this option because there are few if any side effects.
All those creams, sprays, and gels containing anti-fungal ingredients are intended for less challenging skin infections, such as ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot, but you can certainly try them for toenail fungus. They’re easy to find, and easy to use, and a safe place to start. I think store-brand generic equivalents offer consumers an even better deal because generics always save you money.
The most promising natural is 100 % tea tree oil, an inexpensive, widely available antiseptic oil from Australia. You can buy it any any health food store and some pharmacies. Tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties because of the terpenoids. One little study from 1994 conducted at the University of Rochester found that tea tree oil provided “full or partial resolution” for some 60 percent of the study participants.
One of my new buddies has been applying tea tree oil daily to his nail fungus for 12 weeks and the new growth is coming in normal. That’s awesome considering he’s had that infection for about 40 years. If you’d like to try tea tree oil, just apply it every morning and night to dry nails. Dab it on the area, and don’t give up because it may take several months before you see results. In the unlikely event that it irritates your skin, discontinue use.
Did You Know?
A new JAMA study found that using a cell phone for less than an hour speeds up brain activity in the area closest to the phone!
