← All guides · Skin and minor surgery
Treating nail fungus
nail fungus · onychomycosis · toenail fungus · fungus treatment · nail cleaning for fungus
Nail fungus makes nails thick, yellow and brittle. Treatment is long: ointments, lacquers, pills and nail cleaning by a doctor.
When your nails have changed and the doctor has confirmed fungus with a test.
⏱ Duration: nail cleaning usually takes 20 to 40 minutes; treatment usually takes months, until a healthy nail grows out
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Test. Before treatment a nail scraping is usually taken to confirm the fungus.
- Feet. On the day of cleaning wash your feet and take the polish off your nails.
- Blood tests. Before pills the liver is sometimes checked - your doctor will say.
What to bring
- Your referral and the test result
- A list of your medicines
- A change of socks
How it goes
- The doctor examines your nails
- Your feet are treated with antiseptic
- The affected part of the nail is carefully filed away with a device or instrument
- The nail becomes thinner - medicine gets in better
- An antifungal product is applied
- The doctor explains the home treatment plan
What you'll feel
- Cleaning is usually painless, with light vibration or warmth
- If the nail is very thick it can be unpleasant
Afterwards
- Apply the product every day as your doctor prescribed - skipping slows down treatment
- Treat your shoes and wear clean socks
- Do not walk barefoot at the pool and bath house
- Do not stop when the nail seems better - finish the course
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Redness, swelling, pain and pus around the nail - see a doctor
- Yellow skin, dark urine or nausea while taking pills - see a doctor right away
Common questions
Why is treatment so long?
A nail grows slowly. Treatment ends when a healthy nail has fully grown out.
Can the fungus come back?
Yes. To prevent it, treat your shoes and do not walk barefoot in shared places.