Topical Nail Fungus

Topical nail fungus is a very common infection of either the fingernails or toenails.  This occurs when a person has been exposed to a fungal organism that their immune system was not able to fight off.  These infections generally occur more often on toenails than fingernails because fungi are better able to survive in warm, dark, moist environments – such as on the feet of someone who engages in strenuous exercise or wears wet shoes for a long period of time.  Topical nail fungus usually starts out as a small yellow or cloudy-looking spot on the affected nail. 

                If you are suffering from a topical nail fungus infection, there are several things you can do to help speed the healing process.  First of all, keeping your hands and/or feet as dry as possible will help prevent fungal infections as well as slow the growth of an existing one. Additionally, you should wash and dry the affected area at least twice a day.  If you are required to be on your feet for very long periods of time (more than 12 hours a day), you may consider keeping a fresh, dry pair of socks with you during the day.  There are also many drug treatment options, both prescription and over-the-counter, available to combat a topical nail fungus infection.  These drug treatments will often have to be used for several weeks or even months to completely cure a fungal infection.  In some circumstances, it may even spread underneath of the affected nail.  In this case, it may not be possible to treat the fungus with a topical cream or lacquer.  Your doctor will determine if this is the case and may prescribe you an oral antifungal drug instead.

                If you are able to use a topical treatment on your fungal infection, your doctor and pharmacist can work together to compound a special cream, ointment, or lacquer to fit your specific need.  While there are many over-the-counter treatments available to do this, your pharmacist may be able to make a stronger, more effective, or more convenient dosage form for you to use.  Some commonly used topical antifungal drugs include clotrimazole, tolnaftate, butenafine, and terbinafine.  In some cases, these creams are used along with an oral antifungal agent to get the best results.  If you think you may have a topical nail fungus infection, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what treatment options are right for you.