Most of us might have experienced different fungal infections at some point of our lives. In that case, we might already know how difficult it is to get rid of this infection completely. Patience, as well as consistency are very important if you want to get rid of this infection successfully. A lot of people often wonder how to know if toenail fungus is dying.
Some people might leave a particular treatment regimen midway, thinking that it is not working. However, such attitudes might make the infection even more difficult to get rid of. So, you must make sure that you are completing the entire course of your treatment as directed by your physician. It might take some time, but in the end you will be able to eradicate the infection totally.
When it comes to fungal infections of the nails, these infections are extremely difficult to treat. They are very stubborn, and hence, are very difficult to get rid off successfully. During the treatment period, a lot of patients might become extremely curious to find out if the infection is going away or not.
During such instances, they might look for signs of improvement or healing. In this discussion, we will be going through these signs for the convenience of the patient’s suffering from toenail fungus infection.
See how to know if toenail fungus is dying...
When it comes to any kind of treatments, signs of improvement or healing are regarded as very positive for both the patients, as well as the healthcare providers. Here, we will be going through some of the positive signs which indicate that the toenail fungus is dying.
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Decreased thickness of the toenail
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As we all know, if you are suffering from toenail infection, then it might cause your toenail to become considerably thick. In addition to that, the toenail might also seem raised off the nail bed.
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If your treatment is working, then you will be observing a notable reduction in the thickness of the toenail. Such reduction in the thickness is indeed a positive indication which denotes that the toenail fungus is dying.
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However, keep in mind that if you want to resolve the issue completely, and get back the normal appearance of your toenail, then you must wait till the nail regrows.
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Color changes
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Patients who are suffering from toenail fungus might see that the infection changes the normal color of their nails to brown, black, white, or yellow.
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As the fungus starts dying, this discoloration of the nails will gradually go away. This will take some time, and you have to wait patiently for the discoloration to disappear completely.
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Visible delineation between the new nail growth & infected nail
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As the treatment proceeds, the infection will tend to disappear slowly, and new, non-infected nail growth will begin. This nail will become longer and longer, and will eventually grow from the bottom to the top of the nail.
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With this new nail growth, you will be able to observe a clear line that separates the healthy new nail and the infected nail.
Toenail fungus treatment process
If you are curious to find out how to know if toenail fungus is dying, then you might also want to know about the toenail fungus treatment process.
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As we have already stated, fungal infections, in general, are very much difficult to get rid off. And, the nail infection can be considered as the most stubborn form of fungal infection. Fungal infections of the skin are comparatively manageable when compared to the infections of the nail.
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To treat and manage the toenail fungus infection, the patients need to use effective antifungal medications. It is recommended that you get in touch with a good healthcare provider and take the medications as directed by him or her.
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Thereafter, you should wait patiently for the nail to grow out fully. When you are using an antifungal medication, it will allow the nail to grow out properly without being affected by the fungus.
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As soon as the new healthy nail replaces the old toenail that has been infected by the fungus, you will be able to get rid of the fungus completely.
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It must be kept in mind that the process of nail growth is a bit slow, and hence, the whole process will take some time. So, you should remain patient, and carry out the treatment regimen as directed.
Duration of treatment
Now that we know how to know if toenail fungus is dying, and how to treat it, let’s take a look at the treatment duration briefly.
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As per reports, the entire treatment process might take almost a year to get completed. That is, by this time, your nail will fully grow out of the infected nail.
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According to the data provided by the American Academy of Dermatology Association, it can be ascertained that the fingernails take a very short time to grow out when compared to the toenails.
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In the case of finger nails, new nails will grow out in about 4 – 6 months. On the other hand, when it comes to the toenails, it might take 12 to 18 months for these nails to grow out fully.
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As the treatment proceeds, the physical appearance of the infected toenail will improve significantly. Infact, you will be able to see positive changes within a few months of treatment.
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Improvement in physical appearance should not stop you from continuing the treatment. Stopping the treatment midway will lead to reinfection, which might worsen the condition of the infected nail.
Conclusion
We have discussed how to know if toenail fungus is dying. As we can see, there are a number of positive signs which indicate that the toenail fungus is dying and that the infection is disappearing. But, complete healing is a long process which can take almost a year or more. In the meantime, if you notice that something is wrong with your toenail, then you shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch with your doctor. If the prescribed medications are not improving the condition, then you might need some additional medications to manage the infection.
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