Safe Nail Fungal Infection Treatment for People with Liver Damage
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Nail Fungus and Liver Disease
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. Functionally, it is vital to our existence as it is responsible in fighting infections and illnesses, controlling cholesterol levels, digestion of food, storage of energy, and removal of toxic substances in the body. Presently, over 100 different types of liver disease are suffered by individuals. Listed below are the most common types of liver disease:
- Hepatitis – This is characterized by the inflammation of the liver caused by either chronic alcoholism or a viral infection.
- Cirrhosis – This is a late stage of scarring of the liver caused by many factors or combinations of other liver diseases.
- Liver cancer – When both the above-mentioned conditions become severe, they may develop to become liver cancer.
Hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, and liver cancer are among the most popular liver conditions. In the US alone, over 31,000 people are affected by chronic and irreversible liver diseases.
What is the association between nails and liver disease?
Although we usually do not give much of an importance to our nails, they may be the first ones to manifest any clinical signs or symptoms of diseases, especially in the liver. The nails and liver are very much connected, sharing an interdependent relationship. When the liver is not functioning to its fullest potential, this affects the appearance of your nails. An example is digital clubbing, where the nails’ shape become rounder and enlarged.
Are patients with liver disease at risk for nail fungal infections?
As of now, there is no real association for increased risk of fungal nail infections in patients with liver diseases. Liver diseases alone do not pose a threat in compromising the immune system. However, taking in medications that lower your immunity or undergoing liver transplant may increase your susceptibility to infections, such as onychomycosis.
Safe and Effective Treatment For Nail Fungal Infections
Although liver diseases are unrelated to increase risk for fungal nail infections, the side effects of medical treatments or therapies to cure onychomycosis may cause an alarming effect to the health of your liver. As with any treatment, weighing in the advantages and disadvantages is essential. Your physician may possibly recommend any or a combination of these treatments:
Topical Treatments
The most accessible and effective treatment available in pharmacies right now are topical anti-fungal treatments. With topical treatments, there are overall decreased side effects or contradictions with any other drugs. This form of treatment is popular and highly effective when applied to mild fungal infections. EmoniNail, a top-rated topical solution, contains undecylenic acid and tea tree oil, both of which possess powerful anti-fungal properties. This FDA-approved, safe, and effective topical solution supports nail health, promote healing of the fungal nail infection, and prevent further reinfections.
Considerations for Oral Medications
For anyone with liver disease, taking in oral anti-fungal prescriptions should be cautioned. The United States FDA has warned consumers on the popular anti-fungal medicines Lamisil and Sporanox, which were linked to serious side-effects to the liver, liver failure, needing transplantation, and eventually death.
Oral medications can be an effective anti-fungal treatments, but as mentioned, it comes with a lot of side-effects. It’s best that you take these medications under the supervision of a doctor, most especially if you suffer from other medical conditions like a liver disease. During treatment, doctors may also ask you to undergo routine blood test and check up to assess how you are doing with these types of drugs. Nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice are first signs of liver damage. Consult your physicians as soon as possible if these symptoms occur.
Surgeries and Laser Treatments
When nail fungus has badly infected your nails to the point of decaying, surgical removal may be an option. In some instances, the entire nail is removed to prevent it from spreading to other nails or avoiding another reinfection. This treatment is best recommended to people suffering painful onychomycosis that do not respond well to oral or topical treatments. Combination therapy of surgery and oral/topical treatments are often done in order to totally rid you from your nail fungus.
In modern medicine, laser treatments are being introduced to patients with moderate to severe nail fungal infections. Because of the aesthetic nature of this procedure, it usually is very expensive with the cost ranging from $200-$1000. Insurance companies do not cover this treatment. The effectivity of laser treatment is still in question because of the limited studies done to test it.
Conclusion
Our nails are reflective of our overall health. With the liver, it shares an interdependent relationship. An evident change in nail color or shape may be a clinical sign for liver disease. Nail fungal infections are usually not a harmful condition one should be worried about, but the side effects of a treatment may be relevant for those with chronic liver problems. Curing onychomycosis for these patients may be challenging, but fortunately, there are several kinds of treatments available to the public. With liver patients, the use of oral medications must be taken under close supervision of a physician or, at all cost, be avoided. The USFDA has released a warning for anti-fungal medications like Lamisil or Sporanox, which are the most popular ones, to cause serious liver problems.
The most recommended treatments for people with liver disease are those that are not orally taken, like topical solutions with powerful anti-fungal properties. As with any treatment, if you are suffering from any other medical condition, a consultation from your doctor should be in one’s interest so as to avoid side effects that may complicate your medical conditions.
