I have had fungal nails for ten years. All kinds of expensive remedies, ointment, vinegar, etc. have not helped. I now have to cut my nails to avoid pain in my shoes. Do you know if there is any remedy to cure or relieve it?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
Fungal nails are caused by a fungal infection. Ointments and creams do not help. It only works with terbinafine and itraconazole: tablets that you have to use for a long time. The effect is based on the fact that the agent precipitates in the skin and in the nails, so that the fungus no longer has a hold on it. The nail must grow out completely before the infection is cured. In young people this takes about six weeks. The older you are, the longer it takes. GPs usually prescribe the drug for six weeks, but sometimes that is not long enough. Anti-fungal tablets can make you nauseous, get muscle pain, you can get jaundice and become hypersensitive to sunlight. So it is quite a treatment, but you may not notice it either. And unfortunately, you can get another fungal infection in no time. But then it takes a long time again before you have serious fungal nails.
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