Dermatologist Shares Treatments for Nail Fungus & Prevention Tips | Dr. Sam Ellis
If you clicked on this video, then chances are you are (or someone you know is) dealing with fingernail or toenail fungus (onychomycosis). As a dermatologist, I get asked about fungal nail treatments, causes, and prevention all the time. Many of my patients ask about home remedies and whether oral medications for nail fungus can cause liver failure. So let's talk about it!
More Videos:
Footcare Tips: • Dermatologist Footcare...
How to Grow Healthy Nails: • Dermatologist Shares H...
SHOP:
Listerine*: go.shopmy.us/p-579372
Vick's VapoRub*: go.shopmy.us/p-579373
Lamisil Terbinafine Hydrochloride Cream 1%*: go.shopmy.us/p-579375
CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram: / drsamanthaellis
Website: www.mybeautymd.com/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:37 Onychomycosis
02:00 Mimickers
02:56 Classes of Fungal Organisms
03:33 Risk Factors
05:04 Dermatologist Evaluation
07:20 Treatments
09:30 Oral Medications
11:35 Side Effects
15:09 Topical Treatments
17:06 Home Remedies
18:56 In-Office Treatments
20:23 Prevention
23:39 Subscribe!
IMAGE CREDITS:
Johnson C, Sinkler MA, Schmieder GJ. Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Nails. [Updated 2022 Jun 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. [Figure, Gross anatomy of nail unit. Picture contributed by Cassandra Johnson.] Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...
Almawi. (2016, March 7). What are periungual warts?. Almawi Limited The Holistic Clinic. almawiclinic.com/2016/03/07/wh...
August;98(2):128-129, Cutis. 2016, & James D. Russell, M. K. N. (2019, January 10). Subungual exostosis. MDedge Dermatology. www.mdedge.com/dermatology/ar...
Marketing, adWhite A. &, & Advertising, adWhite. Revolutionary toenail fungus (onychomycosis) treatment - better than 95% effective - now provided by the leading podiatrist of the Woodlands, TX ... involving no oral medications and no anesthetic!. Sweeney. www.sweeneyfootankle.com/diso...
Melanoma of the nail unit. DermNet. dermnetnz.org/topics/melanoma...
Nail lichen planus images. DermNet. dermnetnz.org/images/nail-lic...
Perioperative nivolumab and chemotherapy in stage III non-small-cell ... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056...
What changes will I see if I have psoriasis in my nails?. Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA). www.papaa.org/learn-about-pso...
DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links (marked with *). Affiliate links help support my KZhead channel so I can continue to create fun, informational skincare videos for you. Also, some products may have been received as PR. Thanks for watching!
My mom has this (86/dementia) for years. Earlier this year the podiatrist that trimmed her nails said, vinegar. Plain, white vinegar soaks. My mom won't stand for soaks, so I put vinegar in a little spray bottle and spray at night. WOW! I can not believe how well it works - her nails actually started growing out too.
Did you dilute it at all? I imagine that might hurt skin after a while
Where I live the oldshool derms recommend putting iodine on the nail in patients like this, yeah it takes like a year or more but supposedly it works.
White vinegar?!?
That's shocking that vinegar worked, since I've been using it for 8 months with no changes.
I read soaking in baking soda
I used prescribed topical and oral med and it did little to alleviate the fungal infection. I have been using vapor rub at night and tea tree oil during the day. Now I am seeing improvement.
What a comprehensive and insightful discussion of this topic. Well done.
Thank you!
I applied one drop of iodine daily to my infected toenail, and had great success with that! Thanks for making this video!
but then why are you still here? Is it no longer working?
After having toenail fungus and general foot fungus for years and years, I finally went on terbinafine last October. The first thing I noticed was how quickly the foot fungus went away, no more scaly itchy feet! Now a year later, my big toe nail is almost completely grown back out and looks completely normal again! I never had any side effects from the medication and I wish I had gone on it years ago when the nail fungus started getting really bad.
Did the nail fungus come back in the months after you stopped treatment? Or did your nail stay fungus free?
love how you are no nonsense, professional and academically accomplished and studied ... nice to get the information without being turned into an audience for cutesy jokes and youtube speak ... I learn so much from your videos, thank you!
Best most comprehensive information I’ve heard.Thanks
It's wonderful how very thorough you are!!! I'm a masseuse and I & my clients have had success with pure tea tree oil (essential melaleuca oil) - make sure it's not diluted with other oils. Like you said you must use it every day until it grows out. It definitely breaks through the biofilm - use it to wipe off water spots off of a chrome facet and you'll see why! I'm so glad you talked about getting rid of your shoes. Most people don't think that that's where the fungus can live and reinfect. Maybe wipe the inside of your shoes with tea tree if you can't part with your shoes. Love your well-researched and easy-to-understand videos - thank you!!
Thank you for this video. So informative. I didn’t know that if you have nail fungus that a dermatologist would treat it.
Dr. Ellis, Excellent presentation of a issue that has troubled me for 20 years. I am 79 years old. I am off to a dermatoligist now that I have seen your excellent presentation. Thank you very much.
I was on Terbinafine for two months and luckily my derm was doing blood test checks as I was getting sick v often and it showed both my red & white blood cell counts had dropped to the point where he took me off the drug. Just an FYI
❤️🔥Excellent!!❤️🔥 I learned SO much. As soon as a question popped into my mind - you addressed it thoroughly. This was a terrific presentation. Thanks!☮️💙💚💜
Great and very professional. Thank you Doctor.
Having an advanced Graduate Science Degree and science practice for over 35 years and listening at 3/4 of the recorded speed helped me to comprehend the valuable information. Good to learn of advances in evaluation, diagnosis and treatment since successfully defeating toenail fungal infection in several toenails over 20 years ago. Thanks.
Thank you for your detailed explanation, so far the best I heard about toenail fungus
What an awesome video, easy to understand. Just started my treatment, dealing with 3 out of 10 tie nails. We'll see how it goes. 🙏🏽❤
This is the ‘smartest’ and most informative discussion I have seen re any health topic. Fast paced and informative.
Total agree 👍👏
Thank you, Dr. Ellis.
I’ve been using Vicks on my toenail every single day without fail for 6 months, have seen a vast improvement, I know it’s at least another 6 months probably longer doing this now, but as I’ve seen it’s working I’m committed. great video, really like your content
This is the best comprehensive video on the topic of nail fungus. Truly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing.. Have a nice day..
After trying every single topical medication and not seeing results I started using home remedies 6 months ago and the results are pretty amazing. Most toe nails totally cleared in 1-2 months and the most compromised one is well on its way to recovery. The truth is I´m using it all (vinegar, tea trea oil, listerine and vicks vaporub) so I can´t say exactly what is working and what not but the mix is working.
Can you share more info please, what exactly do you do ? Thanks in advance
Hi Nora! I applied listerine with a cotton pad to the nails followed by tea tree oil in the mornings and white vinegar followed with vicks vaporub in the evenings. And filing heavily the surface of the nails every week. All nails have cleared now but I still apply listerine or vicks in the evenings, just in case @@noraarodriguez6543
Yes please and how bad was ur infection to start with.. is it just superficial or is it pretty bad?
@@noraarodriguez6543 Most I’ve heard that do this, use this protocol: - Soak feet in vinegar& water, plus add tea tree drops. - Once feet are completely dried….rub Vicks into toe nail & put in clean socks. Do this before bed…or if you have time in the morning. If you don’t have time to soak, put drops of tea tree on infected nail & then Vicks. 😊
After listening to another video, I stick a q-tip in bleach to clean fungus out. Then I apply swiftlalyn fungal nail treatment polish. You really need to file ( I used nail drill) the infected nail as thin as you can & cut nails down as much as you can….to remove the yellow fungus parts….before you do treatment. Good luck.
After nearly 10 years of mild fungal infection in my big toe I had laser on my big toe and it gave me a blood blister, so then I had the majority of my toenail was missing for months. It was also extremely painful! I regret spending all my money on it and not pushing my doctor for terbinafine tablets sooner (they are really pushy to use topical treatments in the UK with it spread across multiple toes). After that awful experience I went on terbinafine and the nail grew back. I only have it in the corner of my toe now but I can’t go back on terbinafine while on accutane as it would be too much on the liver. My toenail looks fine and doesn’t have really anything thickening and minimal discolouration compared to how it used to, it just crumbles underneath at the edge. I am now using a topical treatment but honestly not seeing any results.
White vinegar works really well. Also Vick's Vapour Rub.
I'm a 79 yr. old male. I have nail fungus. I went to a foot doctor He prescribed that first oral medication that you mentioned in your video. I had to get a blood test to check the condition of my liver. After he received the results of my blood test . He told me to start taking the meds one tab every day at the same time every day. I took the meds for 90 days. After 6 months of completing the meds my toenail on my big toe on my right foot fell off. A new nail grew in. S month after the nail grew in completely it started turning color again as did the big toe on my left foot which never turned color before. That Podiatrist that I had seen that prescribed the meds has retired so now I have to search for another in another town.
I'm from Canada and I used Jublia. It worked and was covered by my insurance. Also, there are socks made with silver fibres that fight bacteria and it really helped eliminate odors in my shoes.
could you please provide a link to the Socks with the silver fibres that worked for you?
Link please for the socks, thanks
I had laser treatment for toenail fungus. It was very expensive (1200 total for 2 treatments of all 10 nails). It was painful. And the fungus came right back. I don't think it was any better than Ciclopirox lacquer.
Please could you also educate us on melanonychia? 🙏🙏🙏 I've had it for years and nothing has helped so far😢
Did lazer for 2 years... it never went away. I paid just over $1,000 and that with insurance
Applying decolorized iodine every day is very effective
I've had success with epson salt foot baths. 30 days straight of warm water with epson salt and I can confirm the nail is coming back clear. You have to file down the shiny layer of the nail first to ensure penetration then use the salt bath for 30 days. I do a monthly salt bath for maintenance. I found the treatment from another youtube channel from podiatrists in Michigan.
Thank you for spelling that first one 😅
Thanks I learned a lot very informative I love Drs like you take the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us God bless
What are your thoughts on Tolcylen I had some told me her Podiatrist recommended it.
I used nail mycosis on my great toe and it healed it but took a year to grow out
Vicks rub also helps nail fungus. My husband uses that too,after soaking
I am using vicks vapor rub now. I have a severe case of this foot fungus. Haven't seen any changes yet.
I had laser treatment for my toenail fungus…did absolutely nothing 😢
My toenail fungus is very mild. I left nail polish on for 3 months, and when I removed it, the nails underneath were beginning to yellow. I have had a problem with fungus in the past ever since I received an injury that got infected and the podiatrist removed my toenail. So I have started some home treatments. I have 2 questions. 1-Does keeping polish on the nail increase the risk? 2-Does iodine tincture (decolored) help?
Wow, maybe I need to find a new podiatrist you are the second person that take clippings to send off. In my opinion how will they know how to treat it if they do not know what it is. Sending Love from Chicago Smooches 😘 01/29/24I just started using tea tree oil 2 weeks ago.
Wow, very impressed with your thorough and articulate presentation. I especially respect your care in avoiding pointed or inflammatory views designed for commercial gain. The few products and suggestions are neutral bias, and I will Follow you for future discussions and education. Thank you. 👌🏼👌🏼😊😊
I was diagnosed with to fungus due to trauma on my two big toes from hiking which resulted in fungus. The podiatrist sold an ointment called Formula 7 that I applied to the cuticle twice a day. The new growth has no fungus but it does take a LONG time to grow out your toenail. I would recommend this formula but you can only get it from a doctor.
Name of the doctor?
I had a recurrence years later after an injury to my feet then wearing tighter shoes, had to have one nail pulled, not fun, but the other big toenail on other foot was starting to have problems, after using all the OTC creams, and couple of expensive topicals with failed results, I went to a simple and cost effective store brand antifungal powder product, squeezed some in a footy sock, and low and behold , success!! I saved money, and another painful Podiatry visit, it worked for me hope it works for others!
Hi Beverly, please can you give us more details like the name of this over the counter powder product. Where did you purchase it? And what did you mix it with since you said you squeezed it on? Thanks
Oh and also talk about the footy sock please
Great and very thorough and informative presentation. Thank You.
Where is the link to the socks?
I used Castor Oil with good results. 1 toe nail fungus was gone just over a year!
My husband has had troubles for a number of years; has been using Vick’s Vapo Rub and is seeing/feeling improvement. Tossing out his footwear would be a stretch as he is a construction worker and needs specific (re: expensive) boots…..he has several pairs and switches them out, because he also has sweaty feet. Yikes!
Try spraying Lysol inside the shoes every night.
Toenail issues are so embarrassing
@drsamellis if you use nail polish on infected names will the polosh become contaminated and possibly cause reinfection?
How long can one take oral medication for mild nail fungun
What about if the nails are Brown?
For all ppl i had this for years and years athele foot to the max. I quited sugar (also fruit)and low carb atlethe foot was dying within days!
What are your thoughts on ciclopirox olamine 0.77% cream? I was prescribed this 2 months ago. I’m using it twice a day.
watch the video, she talks about it
My big toe nail just came off completely one day, it didn't hurt or bleed. Will it ever grow back?
How I get it
What about removing the nail, using a topical and letting the nail grow out again?
Don’t do that! It’s too painful and doesn’t help anything I did it in the past, maybe 15 yrs ago and didn’t work 😢
I'm with Nora! That method is very painful for weeks! The Dr dont tell U till the end of procedure U have to soak that toe in salt water. Thats the painful part! At least for me! It didn't help me as the fungus returned!
I had mine removed twice very painful and it did not work. Fungus returned both times.
Where can one find you,, is your office in Vancouver BC.?
Thank you for making this video! Could topical medications be used together with home remedies or it's best not to mix? Also, do you or people in the comments have advice on maintaining hygiene when it comes to socks and shoes? It's best to throw them away once cured, but the treatment is a rather long process, so do you do any upkeep in the meantime? Thank you for any tips in advance!
Something I was advised is not to sleep with socks and, if the weather allows it, don't wear socks and wear open toe shoes.
@@veronicaivanova Thank you! Yes, I have heard the same but was also told that transfer is difficult/rare, whereas this video (the household bit) left me under the impression that transfer could happen within a household (and I would imagine that not wearing socks could facilitate this). I also think socks should be (1) made of cotton or another natural/breathable material; and (2) washed separately and with an anti-bacterial solution (for washing clothes) added to the detergent (preferrably at 60 degrees also).
@@FancyDress21, you are welcome. You should wear flip flops when walking around. Not wearing socks helps your infection to resolve faster. Fungus loves dark places. Yes, transfer is easy. My husband got his little toenail infected and I suspect it's due to my infection. I agree that socks should be made of cotton. I didn't wash them separately.
@@veronicaivanova Thank you for the tips! Did you protect your hands when washing your feet?
@@FancyDress21, no problem. I didn't do anything special for my hands, apart from washing them if I had touched my feet.
I have read that the laser treartmewnts can be high as 80%, instead of the very low success rate that you mention.
I'm always surprised how much you push for oral medication for fungal infection. In the UK this is prescribed as a last resort, if the topical treatment isn't working, exactly due to the possible liver damage. I had toenail fungal infection a couple of years ago and had to use the topical treatment for a year or so. It's a long process, but, based on the comments here, people who have used the oral medicine also have to wait a year to recover sometimes.
Topicals are part if the guidelines everywhere but their use depends on how many fingers have been affected and what percentage of the nail is affected. If a 100% of all your nails is affected - it's just not useful.
They don’t “push.” The doctors here DO make you try topical first. My new doc said “they don’t work very well.” Mine didn’t. Such a waste of my time and $ only to be put on the pills anyway. Wish I had started the meds sooner. My scalp and toes weren’t getting better. They were worse on topicals
The Lamisil description on the Target website had one question on it. Does the cream treat Toenail Fungus? The answer was no, the cream is not labeled for toenail fungus, but foot fungus.
Jublia works great but for my patients it is cost prohibitive most of the time. 😢
Hi dr sam ellis l always love your vlogs have a great weekend 😊 xx
I was prescribed terbinafine for 84 days I haven't started it yet because im scared of liver damage. Is ot ok to use? And if i dont treat it and ignore it is there any risk of it killing me?
I was scared too. It actually has made me feel good and a little more energetic (I had scalp fungus as well). I think my entire body was being affected. Anyway, my blood work keeps coming back fine. Just don’t take Tylenol or drink alcohol. I’m 1.5 months in if the three month course. No regrets. My toenail stopped thickening, my scaling and blistering scalp is 90% better.
@@Godblessed2 thanks for the input and advice. I still haven't taken them yet. I've started using vapor rub on it about a week ago and that's working better then I thought it would although I think it might be affecting other parts of my body as well so I think I'm going to start them on Monday. Hopefully I don't wake up one morning yellow lol
How long should can i keep a pair of shoes before its time to throw them out?
My podiatrist recommended that I spray Lysol inside the shoes every night. So, hopefully you won’t have to replace the shoes too often.
Pardon my French, but toenail fungus is a BITCH. I've fought it for 30 years. And it's not only the embarrassment; it also ends up hurting because the nail is compromised. Lamisil helped me but I've had to use it several times. I have one toe that keeps getting infected again, so I treat it with a topical solution every day for maintenance. I've also changed my shoe habits. I throw out shoes that are more than a year old without exception and I wear them as little as possible (always off in the house). That's one thing no one tells you: if you clear your fungus and keep wearing the same shoes you had while you were infected, you are much more likely to get it again. You almost have to burn your footwear to the ground and start again.
C'est donc infernal avoir ce truc... Je crois que cela s'attrape aussi n'est-ce pas?
How do fix subungual exostosis?
Foot powder after shower every day
So basically if you have this you're doomed. 😢
It's bad, but you're definitely doomed if you're a diabetic. From what i understand, it feeds off dead material so if you're not getting proper circulation your foot will decay and the fungus would spread more easily to skin and even bones. Just try managing it and avoid sugar as it feeds off that too
At least women can paint their nails and go the the beach.. i haven't gone to the beach in years 😢
Nope !! I am embarrassed also
Clorox bleach applied to infected toes with an eye dropper every night. Let air dry. I had fungus for five years. Only this is working. Nails have grown back smooth, white, and healthy. What a relief! 😅
Does it cause any hyperpigmentation on dark skin?
Spent 800 on laser and it didn’t work 😭
Did they test your nails first to make sure it was actually fungus? I am having my first treatment this week 🤞🏻
I want to send this to someone but I don’t think I will. It might make them feel bad.
Hi, is it true that bleach works for toenail fungus.?
I am getting results, my nail is growing in clean so far.
What about Vicks Vapour Rub,, I have started using that but they say it takes a long time. Were you not worried about bleach doing damage to your skin..? @@ellenmorse8559
@@ellenmorse8559which bleach did you use please?
@@nanablessbless9169 Clorox bleach that you would use to wash clothes. I apply several drops and let it dry. Once a week, a twenty minute soak in very hot water with a cup of sea salt and lots of sodium bicarbonate. The nails on my big toes are halfway out, healthy, white and smooth. The fungus has stopped. I suspect that I will need to do this forever.
Dear Dr., you explain it in a very nice and knowledgeable way. I wish you had explained it a little slower. I am not as smart as you. If I were as smart as you, I would be a Dr. myself. I have difficulty understanding the information you have given in my brain. I am sure that if you explain it more slowly, we will be able to understand you much better. , I apologize.
@RalphUsaTr Some times it’s hard to grasp new information if someone has a fast speech but you can use computer functions to your advantage On any video you are listening on U-tube to you can slow it down …so you can have time to absorb what person is saying 🔴If you press on symbol with wheel you will have option * playback speed * Press on it and change it from normal to 0.75 or 0.50 … it will run that video slowly for you… 🔹technology now days in your advantage … hopefully this info will help you ☑️
I used Jublia for the two big toes for a year and it worked. I was fungus free for about a year. Now it's back but only on one toe Because I spotted it early, I have been soaking in Epsom salt followed by tea tree oil. It seems to have stopped it. I will keep at it until the nail (i cut it back) grows out. I also file the top of the nail regularly and squirt some rubbing alcohol on it everytime I go to the washroom. If I'm going to squirt ...😂
Are they supposed to throw out their socks too?
I skipped the vid cause it's so long. LOL. Thanks for the effort.
That's a very disturbing photo😢
Are your shoes infected even if you always wear socks in them?
Fuspiltz.
The fungus needs sugar to survive. Get off carbs and processed sugars in your diet. Done.
Lamisil specifically says DO NOT GET ON NAIL, just an FYI. I hope people don't take this advice w out researching or reading directions 🙄
can't you put shoes in the sun?
It's laughable to tell us to consult our doctor. If we trusted the doctors, we wouldn't be listening to you.
that's right so many people have lost faith in doctors, especially after this recent intervention. we all know the more you see your doctor the sicker you get! all they want to do is treat symptoms, repeat customer!! (drugs) ££££££££ if they treat the cause and heal you, end of visits!!
NO it's called proper hygiene wash your feet!!!
Just another finger youtuber