Daily Health News Blog

Home remedies for toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, abound, but unfortunately none of them actually work. To really treat nail fungus, you have to take a trip to your doctor. Toenail fungus -- characterized by discolored, thick and brittle nails -- is a common condition caused by an infection in the nail bed. The most effective treatments for toenail fungus are oral antifungal medications like itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil), which are available by prescription and taken daily for three months. These medications work by killing the fungus at the nail root. People who have liver problems or congestive heart failure shouldn't take oral antifungal medications. In this case, your doctor may recommend ciclopirox (Penlac), a prescription anti-fungal topical lacquer that you use like nail polish. It's sometimes used for people whose toenail fungus is caught early and hasn't spread to the entire nail. However, topical therapy isn't as effective as or