How is gray nail treated?
Disease description:
Recently, I noticed that my nails have turned black. After an examination, the doctor diagnosed it as gray nail (onychomycosis). How should gray nail be treated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Treatment methods for gray nail (onychomycosis):
1. Medication: Suitable for patients with limited affected areas. Commonly used medications include antifungal creams or solutions such as terbinafine and ciclopirox, which are applied directly to the affected area. Treatment duration may be long, requiring consistent use for several months to over six months.
2. Surgical treatment: For severe cases of gray nail, especially when the nail thickness exceeds 2mm or is accompanied by ingrown nails, surgical removal of the nail or debridement of the diseased nail is recommended, combined with topical and oral medications to enhance treatment effectiveness.
3. Additionally, physical therapies such as laser treatment and ultraviolet irradiation can be used as adjunctive methods to help improve therapeutic outcomes.
4. Precautions: During treatment, patients should maintain clean and dry feet, avoid wearing non-breathable shoes and socks to reduce fungal growth. Patients should also complete the full course of treatment and avoid discontinuing medication on their own to prevent recurrence.
If discomfort occurs, prompt medical consultation is advised.
