There are a lot of visually unappealing conditions out there which might stop you from doing the things you enjoy doing.
Going to the beach can be daunting for those of us who have self-esteem issues, but if you add an unpleasant disorder into the mix, it can seem nearly impossible.
Toenail fungus is one of these conditions. Most of the time the only reason to treat or cure toenail fungus is for cosmetic reasons.
Many people live their lives without worrying about their toenail fungus problem simply because they aren’t bothered by it or the visual signs of it are minor.
However, in some situations, toenail fungus can cause pain because of the deformations that occur to your toenail or because of how thick the nail has gotten due to the fungus growing underneath.
When your toenail fungus is at a point that you feel pain and discomfort, it becomes a big barrier in your life.
Things as simple as putting on shoes and going outside can be unpleasant, and the pain caused by wearing shoes over an infected nail can deter you from going anywhere.
It is at this exact point that patients start searching for a cure or a remedy. The problem is that the sudden eagerness to get the issue fixed can cause you to make bad decision regarding what methods to use. We can help you decide, but first you need to know what exactly toenail fungus is.
What is Toenail Fungus?
It is an infection which generally occurs when the fungus gets into cracks in your toenails or cuts in your skin. When a nail is affected by a fungus, it can change its color, usually turning light yellow, green, or gray.
It can even change the thickness of the nail, generally making it much thicker than it used to be, and it can also warp the nail or cause ridges and other deformations.
The major reason why your toenails can get infected by fungus easily is because toes are usually in warm and damp locations, like inside of a sneaker after you go for a run.
It is always recommended to treat your toenail fungus infection as fast as possible. If left untreated, the fungus can spread to other toes, skin, or even the nails on your hands.
Symptoms
Infected toenails are usually much thicker than they are supposed to be, as well as discolored with a yellow, green, or gray tint.
Sometimes the nail will also warp or look misshapen and even start to crack easily. There is also a chance that the nail will separate from your nail bed if the fungus infection is under your nail.
This happens when the fungus builds up to a point that the nail gets pushed up and forces it to separate.
The fungus can also spread to the skin surrounding the nail, causing it to change colors as well and possibly become very dry and prone to cracking.
Who is at risk of getting Toenail Fungus?
Although technically anyone can be affected by toenail fungus, it is more common in men than women. Your age also plays a key role in chances of infections.
As you get older, you become more susceptible to toenail fungus infections. Diabetics and people with immune system issues are also at a higher risk of infections because their immune system isn’t able to fight the fungus infections as effectively.
If you have a family member who has a toenail infection, it also puts everyone who is in the immediate family at risk of infections as well.
Those who spend a lot of time in or around water have a higher risk of infections as well. Any damage to your toenail can also increase those chances. Finally, athlete’s foot can also play a big role when it comes to toenail fungus issues.
How can you tell if you have a Toenail Fungus infection?
This is a rather tricky question. The deformations which occur due to toenail fungus are also very similar to regular visual and cosmetic problems that happen when you physically hurt your nail.
Stubbing your toe or hitting it with something heavy can produce similar visual effects to a toenail fungus infection.
These same physical impacts can also cause your nail to change colors. Because of these similarities, it can be nearly impossible to determine if you are a victim of a toenail fungus infection without proper lab work.
If you suspect that you have a toenail fungus infection, then you should see a professional dermatologist who can take a sample of your infected area and submit it for lab work which will determine for certain if you are affected by a fungus.
How do you treat a Toenail Fungus infection?
Treatment can vary depending on the severity and the type of infection you are dealing with. In the most severe cases, there is even a chance that you might have to undergo surgery and have parts of the infected area removed.
In more drastic situations, you might even have to have your whole toenail surgically removed. These are the most extreme cases, and most of the time this can be avoided with proper care.
Your doctor can determine what the best treatment is in your particular situation. Generally, it is a choice between a topical cream which is applied directly to the toenail and the surrounding infected skin, toenail topical lacquer, or a prescription antifungal pill.
Each one of these is used for different situations. For example, the topical lacquer is usually used for minor infections. It is more of a preventative measure rather than a cure.
In fact, it is rather common for doctors to suggest using the topical lacquer in combination with other treatment methods.
The antifungal pill is used when the fungus has possibly spread to other part of the body and a whole body treatment is recommended, or in more severe cases.
The most common fungal infection treatment is the topical cream or ointment. This method offers the best penetration into the nail and can be applied directly to the infected area rather than forcing your whole body to deal with the medication.
How to Avoid Toenail Fungus Infections
There isn’t anything all too difficult about avoiding a fungal infection. Regular hygiene is definitely one of the most important parts of keeping your toenails free of fungal infections.
Using soap and water to wash your toes, including between your toes, and then drying them off thoroughly should do the trick.
Maintaining your nails is also important if you want to keep your toenails fungus free. Trimming them straight across to keep them shorter than the end of your toes is important.
When taking care of your nails, it is also very important that you keep your tools clean. Washing all toenail grooming equipments with water and soap is recommended before each use, as well as rubbing the tools down with alcohol to disinfect them.
Besides these grooming suggestions, you can also take some other precautions to keep fungus away from your body. One of the biggest things contributing to fungal development is moisture and warmth.
This is why you should always keep your feet as dry as possible. Use socks that keep moisture away from your feet as much as possible and change them frequently as well. Correct shoe sizing is also vital.
Extra gaps in your shoe can cause your feet to move more than necessary, which can produce more moisture from sweating and result in fungal favorable environments.
When choosing the proper foot ware, we suggest something that’s breathable and doesn’t completely cut your feet off from outside air.
Proper ventilation throughout your shoes will ensure that stagnant moisture is a thing of the past. If you frequently visit public pools or saunas, it is strongly recommended that you have a pair of shoes dedicated to those damp areas which you also clean on a regular basis.
Public showers create a favorable environment for fungus because of the moisture found in the areas and the possibility of infection from other people who also use these locations frequently.
Pay Attention
Keeping an eye out on the condition of your nails is very important. You should take some time to properly inspect your nails and the surrounding areas at least once a month.
Use a mirror for those difficult to see areas. Take note of any discolorations or irregular warping and bring them up on your next doctor’s visit, or visit a dermatologist with your possible concerns.
Check for cuts and cracks. If they don’t improve over time, then it might be a good idea to see your dermatologist.
Now that you have a little bit more information about toenail fungus, its symptoms, and how to do everything you can to prevent it, we can talk about the different varieties of treatments.
As we mentioned earlier, there are basically three types of treatments for non-severe fungus infections: topical creams, topical lacquers, or antifungal pills.
Out of all of these options, we believe that topical creams are the best solution for most people.
The reason for our decision is that topical creams can be applied directly to the infected area, they are absorbed by your nail and skin more easily, and you don’t need a prescription to use most of the creams out there.
With that said, there is another little dilemma. Since so many people are affected by fungal infections, the topical cream market is saturated with hundreds, if not thousands, of different types of products which promise to be the next cure for your toenail fungus infection.
Choosing the right one can be a daunting and difficult task. Don’t worry though, you are in luck! We have compiled a list of the 3 best toenail fungus topical creams and ointments for your disposal.
We believe that these creams have the best potential for curing your fungal infection without causing any discomfort.
We have considered many different factors when choosing these products, such as scent, price, texture, effectiveness, and customer reviews.
Because every person is different and some products might work better for some than others, we decided not to arrange these products in any specific order.
We will simply give you the most basic information we have gathered about these products and let you make the decision on your own. Let’s get started!
FUNGINIX
This topical ointment is extremely easy to use. Each bottle comes with a brush that you can use to apply the ointment to the desired area.
The primary focus of FUNGINIX is to target the fungus under your nails and around your nails on both feet and hands.
It contains antifungal agents which have been proven to have a great effect against fungal infections, as well as minerals and oils which also have been researched to show great result when fighting fungus.
The oils which are incorporated in the FUNGINIX formula also help with the absorption of the fungal fighting elements into the skin and under the nail.
This gives the formula a better chance to penetrate the fungus and eliminate it at the core. There have been no side-effects reported from any customers who have used this product in the past.
It is estimated that FUGINIX can take up to 2 months before there are visible improvements to your conditions, but some people have reported improvements in as little as two weeks. In some severe cases, it can take up to 6 months to see any visible results.
All claims aside, let’s talk about all the reviews we read and feedback we have seen regarding this product.
It seems that the majority of the people who have had success with FUNGINIX had to take some extra steps to make sure it functioned as well as possible.
It was recommended by users to cut your nails as short as possible before applying the ointment under the toenail and onto the infected area.
Furthermore, filing the top of the nail to penetrate the nail and give the ointment access to the infected area under the nail is also suggested.
Afterwards, it was recommended to keep a band-aid on the area where you applied FUNGINIX to keep it from soaking into your socks or shoes.
Another option was to wear flip flops or other open-toed foot ware to ensure that the ointment isn’t soaked away from the infected area.
Those who followed these directions were able to see results relatively quickly. Others who did not take extra care to ensure the ointment stayed on the infect area as long as possible did not see positive results as quickly, if at all.
We understand that taking these extra steps can be a big pain, but correct applications and maximum contact will always be necessary no matter which product you choose to work with.
You can’t simply spray or rub the topical ointment on top of your nail and expect results when the infection is under your nails as well.
Overall, as long as you take the steps necessary to ensure the ointment is in the right spot and is working as intended, this product does the job.
There have been no odors reported with FUNGINIX. It was recommended to apply this ointment twice per day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
The price is very affordable at $31.50 per bottle, which should last you up to four months if applying twice a day. We find that with a little maintenance, this product is very effective and can definitely help you with your fungal infection.
If you give it a try and it doesn’t seem to work for you, the company does have a no questions asked refund policy which will be honored as long as ineffectiveness is reported within 60 days of purchase.
NATURASIL Nail Fungus Treatment
The main focus of this antifungal ointment is its natural ingredients and homeopathic formula.
The company responsible for this product has been around since 2003 and has created many different natural products targeted towards people who have fungus infection issues, skin tag problems, warts, and many other similar problems.
Because of their natural formula, their products are a wonderful alternative to sometimes dangerous chemical-filled ointments which can cause unwanted side-effects and complications.
The natural ingredients found in the NATURASIL formula are designed to reduce symptoms of fungal infections, as well as eliminate your existing infection as fast as possible.
The product is designed to be used three to four times per day and is to be applied directly to the affected area. Just as with our previous product, it is recommended to trim the nail as closely as possible and gain access to the directly fungus infected area for best results.
Results should be visible within two to three weeks of use. In some situations where the fungal growth and infection is severe, it might take up to six months to eradicate the infection.
No matter how positive your results are, you must continue using the product until your nail is fully grown out. This will ensure that the infected area has been eliminated and reduce the chance of the fungal infection returning.
If you are experiencing pain due to your fungal toenail infection, then using this product might be more beneficial to you than other products.
The ingredients found in NATURASIL’s formula are not only targeted towards stopping fungal growth and spread, they also contain pain-reducing elements as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
This greatly helps with painful infections, especially those that have caused your nails to start separating from the nail bed.
So what do the customers have to say about this product? The feedback from NATURASIL users has been overwhelmingly positive.
Customers are reporting major improvements in nail conditions in as little as two days! Some stated that they get an even better result when paring NATURASIL with other products such as Vicks Vapor Rub.
Most people have also stated that you have to be vigilant when using this product and continue applications at least twice per day.
If you miss just one day, the fungal growth can return to its previous state and you will have to start your treatment all over again.
Almost all users reported very fast results and improved visual condition of their nails in a very short amount of time.
This product also comes with an antifungal bar of soap, which was a pleasant surprise for customers and is an excellent addition to keep the fungal infection from spreading to any other part of your body.
The excellent response from customers who have been using this product speaks for itself. Nearly all users had a positive experience and are amazed at the results from this product.
We researched a bit more about the type of guarantees that NATURASIL offers and found that they have a 90 day, 100% money back guarantee as long as you have faithfully use it for at least 30 days.
The ability to offer this type of a guarantee means that the company is very confident in their product. This is good news for those of who are planning to use it.
The price is also very welcoming at $20.98 for the whole Naturasil Nail Fungus Treatment Bundle, which comes with the topical ointment and the antifungal bar of soap.
It seems that with a bit of vigilance and some maintenance, this product is an excellent choice and should work for you quickly and effortlessly.
PROBELLE Natural Anti Fungal Gel
This topical gel is a bit different from other products we have listed. It seems that the main focus of PROBELLE is to be used by people who might have sensitive skin.
The company’s formula is natural and all ingredients are based around natural elements. It is suggested that you soften up the nail with warm water and cut away any excess dead skin before using the gel.
The reason behind this is simple, it is much easier to penetrate the nail and the surrounding area after it has been softened up by water.
This increases the effectiveness of the gel and will give much better results when combating the fungal toenail infection.
The main and most effective ingredient found in the PROBELLE gel is lauric acid ester, which is derived from pure coconut oil and is 100% natural.
This ingredient is widely known for its ability to fight fungal infections and its antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the good bacteria which surrounds your nails is encouraged to grow fast with the help of lauric acid ester.
Users should see results within two to three weeks of using the gel, as long they pay a good amount of attention to their application process and make sure that the gel isn’t absorbed by socks or shoes.
We recommend using a Q-tip to apply the gel onto the affected area, then leaving your feet to dry for about 10 minutes before putting on any foot ware or socks.
There is no odor associated with this antifungal gel, mostly because it is 100% natural. Most of the time, the strong odors found in creams or ointments are a result of heavy chemical use in the formula.
We have seen wonderful feedback from users of this product. Everyone who has had a positive experience have stated that the product works relatively fast and you should see results in as little as one week.
The odorless and colorless properties were a big plus when using this product for most customers. Very few have reported no difference in their conditions.
A few reviewers have said that this is a great alternative for traditional prescription pills, which might be too strong and can cause liver damage. Users have also stated that the new nail growth was fungus free while using the product.
Overall, it seems like PROBELLE is a good solution for those who have a less extreme infection.
The odorless and colorless solutions is excellent, especially when it comes to creams and ointments which we all know can be very greasy and sometimes have an unbearable odor.
We tried to find out if PROBELLE has any guarantees but were unsuccessful, which can be a game changer for some potential users but isn’t necessarily that big of a deal.
The price is what really caught our eye. One tube of PROBELLE will cost you $19.99, which is a small price to pay for eliminating toenail fungus infection.
The tube contains .50oz of gel, which is more than enough for continuous use up to 4 months.
Toenail Fungus Creams Review Summary
Toenail fungus can cause some major issues and can be a pain to deal with. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions out there that you can take advantage of.
The ointments we listed aren’t the only ones on the market. There are plenty more out there, and you should consider other options if none of these seems like the right choice for you.
Always keep in mind that every person is different and unique in their own way, and their body is no exception.
Some will have quick and positive results within days of using a specific product, while others might have to wait longer.
There are many factors which will change the amount of time it will take for you to get rid of your toenail fungus infection. Be patient and vigilant with your treatments and results are bound to show up sooner or later.
