Onychomycosis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Antonella Tosti, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 27, 2012
 

Medical Care

Treatment of onychomycosis depends on the clinical type of the onychomycosis, the number of affected nails, and the severity of nail involvement. A systemic treatment is always required in proximal subungual onychomycosis and in distal lateral subungual onychomycosis involving the lunula region. White superficial onychomycosis and distal lateral subungual onychomycosis limited to the distal nail can be treated with a topical agent. A combination of systemic and topical treatment increases the cure rate. Because the rate of recurrence remains high, even with newer agents, the decision to treat should be made with a clear understanding of the cost and risks involved, as well as the risk of recurrence. Photodynamic therapy and lasers may represent future treatment options.[16, 17]

Topical antifungals

The use of topical agents should be limited to cases involving less than half of the distal nail plate or for patients unable to tolerate systemic treatment. Agents include amorolfine (approved in other countries), ciclopirox olamine 8% nail lacquer solution, and bifonazole/urea (available outside the United States).

Topical treatments alone are generally unable to cure onychomycosis because of insufficient nail plate penetration. Ciclopirox and amorolfine solutions have been reported to penetrate through all nail layers but have low efficacy when used as monotherapy.[18] They may be useful as adjunctive therapy in combination with oral therapy or as prophylaxis to prevent recurrence in patients cured with systemic agents.

Oral therapy

The newer generation of oral antifungal agents (itraconazole and terbinafine) has replaced older therapies in the treatment of onychomycosis.[19, 20, 21] They offer shorter treatment regimens, higher cure rates, and fewer adverse effects. Fluconazole and the new triazole posaconazole[22] (both not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for treatment of onychomycosis) offer an alternative to itraconazole and terbinafine. The efficacy of the newer antifungal agents lies in their ability to penetrate the nail plate within days of starting therapy. Evidence shows better efficacy with terbinafine than with other oral agents (see Prognosis).[23]

To decrease the adverse effects and duration of oral therapy, topical treatments and nail avulsion may be combined with oral antifungal management.[24]

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Surgical Care

Several laser devices have been used to treat onychomycosis, including Nd:YAG lasers and diode lasers. Evidence-based data on efficacy of the different lasers are still poor.

Photodynamic therapy has been reported as effective in noncontrolled studies.

Surgical approaches to onychomycosis treatment can also include mechanical, chemical, or surgical nail avulsion. Chemical removal by using a 40-50% urea compound is painless and useful in patients with very thick nails. Removal of the nail plate should be considered an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing oral therapy. A combination of oral, topical, and surgical therapy can increase efficacy and reduce cost.

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Activity

Activity does not need to be limited during treatment, but patients should be educated about avoiding direct contact with high-risk areas in public places.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Antonella Tosti, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School of Medicine

Antonella Tosti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Dermatology Association, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, International Society of Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard K Scher, MD  Adjunct Professor of Dermatology, University of North Carolina; Professor Emeritus of Dermatology, Columbia University

Richard K Scher, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Referencegratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Mark Blumberg, MD, MS, Gary R. Kantor, MD, and John Ratz, MD, MBA, to the development and writing of this article.

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Distal subungual onychomycosis. Onycholysis and yellow streak. Image courtesy of Dr Antonella Tosti.
Distal subungual onychomycosis. Subungual hyperkeratosis onycholysis and yellow streak. Image courtesy of Dr Antonella Tosti.
Proximal subungual onychomycosis. Proximal leukonychia. Image courtesy of Dr Antonella Tosti.
White superficial onychomycosis. Image courtesy of Dr Antonella Tosti.
Candidal onychomycosis in a patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Total onychomycosis and paronychia. Image courtesy of Dr Antonella Tosti.
Dermoscopy of distal subungual onychomycosis showing irregular margin of the onycholytic area with spikes projecting into the proximal nail plate, reported as the "aurora borealis" pattern. Handyscope at 20X.
 
 
 
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