Nail fungus is a fungal infection that is caused by the dermatophyte family of fungus. Medically known as Onychomycosis, the nails can be infected by bacteria and yeast too.
How does one get nail fungus or nail infection? It can happen due to unsanitary nail grooming, contaminated pedicure or manicure tool or even by filing an infected nail and then moving it on an uninfected nail. Even cuts on the skin, cuticles and the nails themselves can make it accessible for fungi to enter. People who wear artificial nails are risk factors for developing nail fungus infections even from a minute damage that is caused on the nail plate.
Nail fungus is characterized by yellow, solidified, splitting nails. Due to this, the nails start to peel or become brittle. Thick fungi seem to proliferate under these thickening nails. The nails start getting loose (onycholysis), a condition that happens due to fungal infection of the nail plate.
Lamisil(terbinafine) is the latest and according to most medical professionals, the most effective medicine to treat Nail fungus. You can take it orally as well as apply it as a cream; but the oral form is superior to other forms of treatment.
How does Lamisil treat Nail fungus? Lamisil remains in the nailbed and fights the germs or fungi that have accumulated in the nails. The doctor will advise you to take the medication once a day, the dosage being 250mg. It has been seen that the condition of the toenails are rectified in 3 months while fingernails need only 6 weeks of treatment. Remember that while, the therapy speeds up due to the medication, it can still anywhere between six and twelve months for fingernails to grow as healthy as they were before the disease. For toenails, it can take 1-2 years.
What about the side effects of Lamisil in treating Nail Fungus? There are short-term side effects like diarrhea, stomach upset, lethargy associated with Lamisil but the benefits can easily outdo the short-term side effects which are not much a problem. In rare cases, there can be heavy side effects that can result in damage to the liver, bone marrow and kidney. But the doctors make sure that they thoroughly check your condition by doing blood tests etc before giving you the dosage. In case you develop any of the symptoms that hint towards a liver disease like yellow colored skin, yellowish fingers, vomiting, nausea, you can stop the medication and inform the doctor. |
