Giving Toenail Fungus the Boot

Let's face it - some medical issues are more interesting than others.

For example, there's a disorder called "Foreign Accent Syndrome" where sufferers start randomly speaking in a foreign (re: not their own) accent, even if they've never been to the country of the accent they're talking with.

Another interesting medical condition is "cold urticaria", where people are literally allergic to cold. Skin that's exposed cold develops a histamine reaction that includes hives, meaning a polar dip could cause a deadly allergic reaction. It also gives the sufferer an excellent excuse to move to Bermuda.

But then there's nail fungus.

The only thing exotic about fungus in you nails is where you got it from. That's it. And even then, nobody looks at your fungus-infested fingers and/or toes and says with pleasant curiosity "Oooh, and where'd you get that?"

Unlike Foreign Accent Syndrome or cold urticaria, fungal nail infections are quite common and quite treatable. From laser beams to pills and creams, there is a vast spectrum of treatment options available for this unsightly issue.

The Good News: Treatment Options Have Never Been Better

Historically, treating nail fungus included scouring the poor nail with sandpaper, soaking it in a solution called "potassium permanganate" that turned your nails and skin brown, or disinfecting your footwear with formaldehyde vapour.

Luckily, treatment options have improved over the past few decades.

These days the medical establishment has devised distinctly modern approaches to treating infected nails. As mentioned earlier, lasers are the latest (and undeniably coolest) treatment option. Nail fungus professionals have deduced that lasers emitting a light of 1064 nm are the most effective for treating nail fungi, even on toenails... Which can be the trickier of the nails given they're often thicker and blanketed in a nice warm sock or shoe. And fungus loves being blanketed in warmth.

However, laser beaming your fungussed nails is a comparatively new approach to toenail fungus treatment. Also, some people are uncomfortable with the idea of laser beams burning the fungus out of their nails. For these reasons, your doctor or podiatrist may recommend a more traditional treatment method (ie. pills or creams) or a combination treatment to tackle your fungus. Worst-case scenario is that your nail needs to be surgically removed to allow a healthy new nail to grow in properly. Either way, safe and effective treatment options are available to treat your nails' fungi.

With this in mind, the biggest take-away from this article should be that there is hope for those fighting fiendish nail fungi. Prescription pills or over the counter creams or super cool laser beams, the options for clearing up your nail fungus have never been better.

Don't try to wait out your nail fungus - the fungus will win, every time. For more information about fast and effective fungus therapy, get in touch with experts.