Nail fungi

Nail fungal diseases never heal up by themselves. Quite the contrary: If the nail fungi are not treated, they can spread further and also infect other nails and other parts of the skin. That is why nail fungal diseases should always be treated.

Various drugs (so-called anti-mycotics) are available for the treatment of nail fungi; these block the growth of the fungi or kill the fungi. These drugs can either be used externally (e.g. in the form of nail varnish) or internally in the form of tablets or capsules.

If only a small part of the nail is affected, external treatment is sometimes sufficient. Special nail varnishes or ointment sets are available with anti-mycotic ingredients that can penetrate into the nail. Depending on the drug, the nail surface needs to be roughened up with a file or removed with a scraper before each application so that the active ingredient can penetrate well into the nail. Stamina is required for such a treatment to be successful; the treatment lasts weeks to months.

If the fungi have affected larger parts of the nail or even several nails, external treatment is normally no longer sufficient.
If the fungi are already in the nail bed, the constantly regrowing nail will also be immediately infected. In cases like these, the fungi can only be treated internally. The active ingredient (e.g. terbinafine, fluconazol or itraconazol) is taken in the form of tablets or capsules. The active ingredient thus travels along the bloodstream to the place of infection where it kills the fungi. Only a doctor can decide whether a treatment with these drugs, that are only available on prescription, is necessary. Dermatologists have extensive experience.

To exclude other illnesses, such as e.g. a nail psoriasis, the doctor will use a sample of nail material taken before treatment to create a fungal culture. For this purpose, the fungal sample will be cultivated in a culture medium (culture). The fungi will multiply and will then be examined under a microscope. This will then also explain which fungus is responsible for the nail disease and thus enable the right treatment to be selected.