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Review
. 2019 Jun 25:8:F1000 Faculty Rev-968.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.18646.1. eCollection 2019.

Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management

Aditya K Gupta  1   2 , Nadia Stec  2
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management

Aditya K Gupta et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Onychomycosis is the most common affliction of the nail. It may be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds. Traditionally, oral antifungal treatments have been used to treat the fungus, although they can be accompanied by side effects and drug interactions. Topical treatments provide an alternative modality, bypassing the systemic effects of oral drugs; recent research has centered on topical drug improvement and development. Physical and laser treatments are being used in conjunction with topicals, which may help penetrate the thick nail plate. In this review, techniques from all categories are outlined: both novel experimental approaches and progress and effectiveness of recently developed treatments. More long-term studies are required to determine the efficacy of various treatments, but cure rates are improved when patients adhere to treatments and follow preventative measures to avoid disease recurrence.

Keywords: antifungal; dermatophyte; laser; onychomycosis; tinea pedis; toenail.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: AKG is a clinical trials investigator for Bausch Health Canada and Moberg Pharma. NS is an employee of Mediprobe Research Inc., where clinical trials are conducted under the supervision of AKGNo competing interests were disclosed.No competing interests were disclosed.

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