Millions of people throughout the world suffer from onychomycosis, or nail fungus. As it’s a slow process, it may pass off unnoticed. Then, it goes on to cause pain, discoloration and even the thickening of fully grown nails that are generally overlooked. The condition can really disturb your quality of life. It can be an embarrassing situation and make matters worse if you’re already vulnerable due to weakened immune systems.
When it comes to treating nail fungus, you have two primary options: these main options include prescription treatments and over the counter (OTC) treatments. This is generally the “first resort” for everyone. Ultimately your choice will depend on how bad you are infected, your health history and the outcome you are looking for. Here we will look into prescription vs over the counter (OTC) nail fungus treatments and how they work so you know which might be better for you
What Is Nail Fungus?
Before we even start comparing prescription and OTC treatment, it’s important to understand what nail fungus really is and how it grows. Fungal infections of your nails result in nail fungus. Usually, the infection begins as a small spot or discoloration of the nail that may eventually spread into the nail and damage the appearance of and the function of the nail.
The most common types of fungi causing these infections are yeast and molds and dermatophytes. These fungi grow on wet feet, sweat and shoes that are too tight — conditions that compromise toenails and make them more vulnerable than other parts of the body to this fungal infection, especially in those who wear tight shoes for a long time, or work long hours in a moist environment like a gym or pool.
Discolouration, thick and brittle nails that crumble and in some cases a foul smell are signs of nail fungus. Not getting the right treatment could make pain worse, cause complications and not treated can become painful. Therefore, it is important to select the right treatment
Prescription vs OTC Nail Fungus Treatments: What’s the Difference?
Prescription vs OTC nail fungus treatments differ in potency, application, and degree of involvement. OTC treatments tend to be used on less serious or minor infections, while prescription treatments can be more severe and used for complicated problems.
Prescription Nail Fungus Treatments: A Stronger Approach
Typically the prescription treatments are used for more severe cases of nail fungus. If OTC treatments didn’t work and infection has spread beyond one nail, a prescription is definitely your go-to pick.
Oral Antifungal Medications
The most common prescription for severe nail fungus is oral antifungal medications. Other more popular ones, terbinafine and itraconazole are known to treat nail fungus. In fact, these medications work their way inside out to kill the infection.
Terbinafine is often used first for treatment of Onychomycosis. The fungus growing partially inside the body is blocked by it, so its growth in the bloodstream is stopped. The treatment’s tenure is based on the severity of the infection; administration is common with terbinafine for 6–12 weeks.
The drug itraconazole, another oral medication that works similarly to terbinafine. This one is usually prescribed in case the person cannot take terbinafine because of possible side effects or medical history. This drug is also effective in the treatment of many other infections.
Topical treatments are often less effective than oral medications. Topical treatments only work by working their way on your skin surface and there’s no direct action on the deeper areas of the nail. However, oral medications may have side effects like stomach upset or liver problems and they might interact with other drugs. A doctor will monitor your health during treatment.
Topical Prescription Treatments for Bacterial Infection.
Topical treatments are creams and lacquers applied directly to the infected nail. If you’re looking for something more invasive than oral medications, topical prescriptions of ciclopirox and efinaconazole can be your ideal fit. This treatment or these treatments are aimed from the nail in order to fight fungal infection.
Ciclopirox is a nail lacquer that is applied once a day to the affected nail. However, it is used well for localised infections and used as a treatment when the infection has not spread.
Efinaconazole is another topical prescription treatment for onychomycosis. It is a more recent drug, has it on topically to the finger nails once a day. It’s much more effective on easier infections, as you guessed.
Topical prescriptions are very strong but they still have to be applied day in and day out for a long period 6 to 12 months to get the results. However, they have fewer systemic side effects compared with oral treatments.
Laser Therapy
Sometimes laser therapy is recommended instead of or together with regular treatments. When treatments do not work, or someone is unable to use oral medication, laser treatments come to the rescue. This treatment uses focused light to attack and kill off fungal cells under the nail without damaging surrounding tissue.
OTC Nail Fungus Treatments: Accessible and Easy-to-Use
For mild and moderate nail fungus, OTC treatments may be a good idea. They’re easily available in pharmacies because they don’t have to be prescribed by a doctor. They are more often cheaper and easier to apply at home. However, these aren’t as strong as prescription treatments
Topical Antifungal Creams and Lacquers.
The usually affected nail can be treated with antifungal creams, gels or nail lacquers directly on the nail. Most of these treatments contain the most common active ingredients: miconazole, terbinafine, clotrimazole.
Clotrimazole and miconazole are widely used for fungal infections — athlete’s foot and nail fungus. How do these antifungals work? OTC treatments generally need to be used for a long time, about 4 to 6 weeks or more on a daily basis.
Some OTC treatments are available in prescription strength like antifungal creams or sprays and sometimes will produce faster results than over the counter treatments, though Terbinafine can treat nail fungus as well.
Antifungal Nail Lacquers
Another very common OTC OIl is antifungal nail lacquers. The nail is brushed with these a couple of times per day, allowed to dry, beneath the fingernail, and removed. These work by breaking the cell wall of the fungi cells and killing the infection causing bacteria.
Powders and Sprays
Fungal infections of the toes can be treated with OTC antifungal powders and sprays. These are products which basically keep the area which is affected dry, that is the most important way of preventing spread of the fungus. If you tend to have sweaty feet or sweaty feet but especially in places where these fungi love to grow, gyms or swimming pools, they will be perfect for you.
Effectiveness and Results: Nail Fungus Treatment – Prescription vs OTC
Effectiveness is by far the most important issue, the largest concern when you’re deciding on prescription vs OTC nail fungus treatments. The prescription treatment is stronger for the severe cases. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use OTC treatment options as long as they still help with mild infection and it’s easier and cheaper
Remember that OTC treatment can take time to act and you have to wait several months or even longer, if it’s your case for the infection to clear up. Generally, oral medications seem to be more effective, and show the effects faster, than prescription medications because oral medications do not require us to visit a doctor, or health care provider.
Cost Comparison: Prescription vs OTC Treatments.
One of the greatest differences between prescription vs. OTC Nail Fungus treatments is cost. Prescription treatments can be more costly and sometimes require oral medication or laser treatment. In terms of cost, they aren’t as cheap, but they are more useful, and if they move the infection far more quickly than the others, then they’ll end up saving you more money over time as well.
When is it Time to Get Professional Help?
And if none of the OTC treatments work and, or your infection is getting worse it is time to see your healthcare provider. The doctor may prescribe stronger medications, laser therapy be suggested, and deeper health problems which might have also contributed to the fungal infection.
Patients with diabetes, a weakened immune system and lots of pain or discomfort from your fungal nail infection should also bring them for professional help. If you intervene at the right time, you’ll catch the infection early and prevent it from progressing through to more demanding sticks to deal with further down the line.
When To Use Prescribed Treatments Rather Than OTC Ones
While OTC treatments are effective for many, there are certain situations where prescription treatments are the better option:
1. Severe or Widespread Infection: It works better using prescription treatments once the fungus spreads to more than one nail—either using oral antifungals which treat the infection systemically, or with topical treatments.
2. Persistent Infection: If they haven’t worked after several weeks of consistent use of OTC treatments it may be time to consider prescription options a bit stronger.
3. Underlying Health Conditions: complications from nail fungus can occur with diabetic people, or those who lack immunity or have circulation issues. In such cases prescription interventions are a far more comprehensive and instantly applied solution to the complication as compared to the other courses available.
4. Fast Results Needed: In a hurry for relief? Usually, prescriptions are faster to work and clear the infection better than OTC treatments that take longer to work
What to Expect from Treatment: Patience Is Key
Whether you opt for prescription or OTC nail fungus treatments, one thing is for sure: patience is required. Nail fungus treatments usually take weeks or even months to improve, so if you fall off the treatment plan it’s likely that the nail fungus will come back.
For treatment of toenail fungus, you may see improvement in 4-8 weeks; however, full recovery can range from 3 to 6 months or more. Some oral medications will clear the infection in 6-12 weeks, and prescription treatments work faster. But prescription medications do not work immediately to restore full health to the nail because it takes several months.
What Lifestyle Tips Can Be Combined With Treatment Of Nail Fungus.
To enhance the effectiveness of your prescription vs OTC nail fungus treatments, consider incorporating these lifestyle tips;
Keep Nails Clean and Dry: be sure to keep your feet and nails dry, especially after being showered or swimming.
Avoid Walking Barefoot in Public Areas: Fungal infections are often spread at public pools, gym showers and locker rooms. To protect yourself from infection in these areas you are less likely to wear flip flops or waterproof shoes.
Trim Nails Regularly: Trimming nails short and filing them is a good way to discourage fungus. Growing up, you may have been told not to share nail clippers.
Use Antifungal Powder: To keep fungus away, you can use an antifungal powder to put on your feet, like between your toes, to help absorb moisture.
Don’t Share Personal Items: Lifting your feet and replacing your nail clippers along with shoes and towels are never to be shared because you can easily spread it.
Consulting a Professional
Prescription treatments are definitely a strong option for really severe cases, but remember it’s important to let a healthcare provider or dermatologist walk you through the treatments that are available for you. This also makes it possible to rule out other possible causes of nail problems such as psoriasis or eczema, which require another treatment.
Second, they will monitor your progress to make adjustments to the treatment plan if necessary, and to try to prevent complications from happening. You could save time, money and agitation if you consulted early.
How Long Does The Treatment Generally Take
Before diving into nail fungus treatment time specifics, it is necessary to know what exactly nail fungus is. The group of fungi causing nail fungus is also called dermatophytes and yeast or molds that infect the nails; most of the time the infection occurs around the toes. The feet are especially vulnerable to this infection, for two reasons: you’re likely to be keeping them in a warm, moist environment.
Stages of the Nail Fungus Infection
Nail fungus has stages, like any other infection. Understanding the different stages helps you pick the right treatment. Reducing the possibility of infection spreading or becoming worse all depend on why it was caught early. Here are the stages of nail fungus:
1. Initial Infection
Discoloration, or slight changes in the nail’s appearance, is the beginning of the infection. Under the nail, you might see a tiny, white or yellow speck that could be a superficial blemish. The infection is only in a small area of the nail at this point.
2. Progression
The fungus may spread and cause the nail to thicken, become brittle or distorted. Sometimes it turns yellow to brown or even black color and the nail becomes more difficult to trim. This stage of the infection is also when it can cause slightly uncomfortable feelings.
3. Severe Infection
In advanced stages, the fungus can actually get so bad the nail is completely affected. The nail may fall off, becoming fragile and crumbling, which can be painful and maybe smelling unpleasant. Seeking treatment may be more difficult once the infection spreads to other nails.
The length of treatment for nail fungus directly depends on the severity of the infection, so early treatment is important. The sooner you start, the less the amount of time it will take for results to appear.
Conclusion: Choosing Treatment that’s Right for You
When you’re battling nail fungus, you have to consider the good and bad of prescription over the counter nail fungus treatments. If the infection is moderate or you would like something that is not too strong: OTC treatments are a good place for you to begin. However, prescription treatments may be needed for severely persistent, or widespread infections in order to produce the best results.
Don’t forget that we live in an environment where consistency and patience are the most important tools to stop nail fungus! Your treatment plan will need to be followed as prescribed, good foot hygiene practices will also help prevent reinfection.
If you’re looking for something more effective, Revitalize London has treatments for all levels of nail fungus. We’ve got our team of experienced specialists standing by to help you select the most effective treatment plan with prescription, over the counter or even a little forward thinking in our laser therapy.
What Makes Revitalize London the Best Choice for Fungal Nail Treatment?
We at Revitalize London can understand your frustration and discomfort when having nail fungus. Customized treatments for nail fungus are available from our clinic by prescription or advanced laser therapy. Our goal is to offer you quality, safe, and personalized care to aid you in getting healthy, fungus free nails.
Our experts are experienced and will evaluate how serious your infection is, discuss the different treatment options available to you, and then support you throughout the recovery. Our commitment is to help you achieve the best possible care for your nail health.
Nail fungus that is left untreated can spread to other nails, worsening in appearance and even causing permanent damage to the nails. If you can catch nail fungus early, it can shorten the best time to treat nail fungus. Starting treatment early will bring better results.