Fungi in the nail can be detected with a microscope; however, this does not identify exactly which type of fungi is causing the infection. Nail samples are either treated in the laboratory with a special solution to identify the fungus or crushed and put in a container to allow the fungi to grow. Both of these procedures will establish the form of fungi.

Toenail fungus treatment is long, up to as much as one year, expensive and some medications may have side effects. As well, there is no guarantee the treatment will be successful. There exists, unfortunately, the possibility of relapse after completion of treatment or a different form of fungi may invade to cause another infections.

Pharmacological medications offer two routes for treatment of toenail fungus: oral and topical.

There are two main oral anti-fungal medications currently available. These are itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil). In studies, terbinafine appears to have a higher success rate and is tolerated easier than itraconazole. Terbinafine has a 60 to 80 percent effectiveness estimate and a 15 percent recurrence rate. The major benefit to oral anti-fungal medications is they are able to penetrate the nail via the body.

Both medications can cause several side effects, including digestive upset, rash, headache and dizziness. Blood tests for liver function are usually given before prescribing either of these medications, as they are not safe for people with liver or heart disease

Fluconazole (Diflucan) is sometimes used as an alternative to itraconazole and terbinafine, but it is not approved by the Federal Drug and Administration for treatment of toenail fungus.

Topical medications are not as effective as oral anti-fungal medications. As a rule, they cannot cure toenail fungus, as they are not able to infiltrate the nail enough to eradicate the fungi. Topical medications available in the United States include Penlac (a nail polish), Nizoral Cream and Lamisil Cream. Side effects are minimal and rare.

Topical treatments are considered beneficial as part of a treatment regime that includes anti-fungal medications.

Natural remedies, which profess to cure toenail fungus, consist of Australian tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, bleach and Vic’s VapoRub. It should be noted there is currently no scientific proof for success of these remedies and the effectiveness rate is probably less than ten percent. You should always consult your doctor before trying home remedies.

It can take up to one year for an infected nail to grow back healthy after successful treatment.

Do you have reason to believe that you might have a toenail fungus? Here are the signs and symptoms to help you be able to determine the problem head on.

First Signs

The first sign of fungi growing in the toenail can be very subtle. So subtle that you may not even notice it or think nothing of it. It starts with a whitened area at the end of the nail. So to spot it you have to look at it closely and routinely. By doing this you will be able to catch the infection in the beginning. The sooner you catch it, the sooner it can be healed.

Discoloration

In the second stage toenail will began to darken. Yes, when the fungal infection is full blown your toe will take on a whole different color. The discoloration starts as a golden yellow or in some cases it can be a rich brownish color. It has even been known to turn the toe green with white specks. There can be a variation of colors. The discoloration first starts at the nail bed and then slickly works it way to the rest of the toe and creates a mixture of colors.

Shape

As you will notice the toe will also began to change shapes. The nail will become hard, brittle, jacked and it may even start to bend. Sometimes it even begins to curl at the ends. Your toes began to look dull.

Pain

Of course you will feel some discomfort and pain from the infected toe. Because the nail starts to change in shape or form it becomes very uncomfortable to wear shoes. That is why when suffering from toe fungus it’s important to wear comfortable shoes that aren’t too small and socks that will give you lots of room so there won’t be any excess moisture. It may also become difficult to walk.

Odor

An infected toe will also develop an unpleasant smell. So make sure you wash your feet regularly and thoroughly dry them.

These are the signs that will help you notice that, that pain in your toe just might be a toenail fungi. If so there are several types of home remedies you can try to get rid of the infection and get back to that same old you.