Today due to advancement in science toenail fungus is treated with the help of prescription medicines. This is one such infection which spreads to the other healthy nails and if they are left untreated then they not only spread to the other nails but then they also attack the nail bed giving it a greenish color.

What are the symptoms of toenail infection?

Firstly, you get to know that you have been attacked by the fungi is only when you see the discoloration of your nail as there are yellow, white or sometimes even brown spots that may develop at the onset of the attack and yet another way to know that you have been infected by this fungus is when your toenail becomes thicker and brittle than your normal nails. The fungus attacks and settles itself at the base of the nail plates and the base of the nail.

Your getting infected by this fungus can be due to your personal hygiene especially when you wear dirty shoes or move about in dirty surroundings with dirty shoes or even barefooted. Heat and even sweat are other reasons for the attack of this fungus as this becomes a perfect breeding ground for the funguses.

The reason for the nail to get discolored may be due to trauma due to rigorous exercising and sometimes even due to psoriasis as you will not know the exact reason for the discoloration of the nail until and unless you get a fungal culture done to get a proper diagnosis.

Before you consult your podiatrist you need to find the reason for the yellowish color of your toenail to ascertain that it is a fungal attack or not. Sometimes getting the yellow color on your toe or finger nail could be due to an attack of jaundice as this is the most common symptom for many liver related ailments which also includes Hepatitis A as well as B.

Use of topical drugs

If you have been attacked by fungal infection then doctor’s prescribe Penlac, zetaclear or Ciclopirox medication, the manufacturers of this medication are Dermik Laboratories. This is a topical medication which should be applied regularly on the affected area and to destroy them completely it takes several months.

What are the side effects of this medication?

Penlac is known to cause skin irritation, the area where the medication is applied turn reddish, there is itching ness also.

What is the effect of oral drugs?

Oral drugs like Lamisil or terbinafine are more popularly prescribed. Sporanox or Itraconazole is also an antifungal drug which is prescribed by the doctor’s. These drugs are supposed to be taken for at least twelve weeks and it takes around nine months for the nails to get back to its healthy self.

Side effects of these medications are that you may have sever stomach pains, headaches and if you have a persistent feeling of dizziness or nauseating, vomiting, pain in the abdominal area especially around the liver area, yellow coloring of your skin or eyes or for that matter there is a change in the color of your urine i.e. from the normal color to that of a dark yellow you need to report about the symptoms to the FDA department. The FDA department does not encourage people who have had liver or heart disorders to use these medications.