Toenail fungus is easy to catch, but it’s hard to remove. It grows fast, especially when your feet are always in socks and shoes. It can do many things to your nail, like turning it different colors or making it thicker. If left alone, the nail can start crumbling and even start to lift off the skin.
Some people say that you will never grow a new toenail after toenail fungus, but that’s not true. When you kill the fungus, a new healthy nail will start to grow in its place. Toenail regrowth after a fungal infection will take several months, but you will have a normal-looking and healthy nail again.
In this article, we will talk about how your nail begins to heal after the infection is gone. As everyone is different, we will talk about how long it will take for the new nail to grow in its place. We will also suggest things that you can use to help your nail grow faster and stronger.
It’s recommended that you explore some of the different ways to prevent toenail fungus from returning once it’s healed. Unfortunately, people who are affected by fungus are statistically more likely to become infected again.
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Healing Fungal Infections
The time it takes to kill toenail fungus completely varies from person to person, but it usually takes from 6 months to a year to completely kill it. As you are treating it, though, and it starts to heal, you will notice the changes much sooner.
For a healthy nail to grow back in place, you have to be consistent with the routine of treating the fungus. If you stop before it’s gone, or if you miss a treatment, the fungus will be right back where it started.
How Does a New Nail Grow?
As the fungus dies, you will start to see a healthy nail appear from the cuticle. This is where the bottom of the nail meets the toe itself. As you start to see this, keep paying special attention to the cuticle when you’re using a treatment, as this will keep the nail healthy.
There will be no discoloration or thickness of the new nail. As the nail grows in, keep the infected part trimmed as much as you can, and this will help to protect the new nail. Nails don’t grow very fast, but you will see when it starts to come out.
Don’t assume that the fungus is dead, because if you stop treating it now, the healthy nail may very well get infected also. Treat the nail as if it still has the infection, until the new nail grows. This may seem like a pain, but it is the only way to ensure a healthy nail.
Possible Problems or Complications
If you are otherwise healthy, there should be no further problems when the fungus is gone. Your new nail will grow back in healthily.
If you have a health condition where your immune system doesn’t work properly, such as diabetes, HIV aids, or a lack of circulation to your feet, then you really should see a podiatrist.
They will be best able to help you to rid your nail completely of any existing fungus, and they may be able to tell you other things that you can do to ensure that a healthy toenail will grow back in.
Faster Toenail Regrowth After a Fungal Infection
There are some things that you can do that will help the new nail grow faster. You can use tea tree oil, which is an essential oil packed with healing properties like anti-fungal and antibacterial. This will help to make sure that the fungus is completely killed, and stays away.
This oil has been used to heal infections and to treat other skin ailments. It is used in many products for treating toenail fungus, because of its benefits. It also has properties that will speed up the healing process, so you’ll see changes to your nail(s) faster.
You have to keep clipping your nail as far as you can so that you get rid of the remaining infected nail. It is tedious, but when you see the new nail growing in, you will realize that it is worth it.
Remember always to disinfect anything that comes into contact with your nail, such as nail clippers, files, towels, etc. And wash your hands when you are done. Doing these will also help in keeping the fungus from returning.
If you wear nail polish, don’t use the regular ones just to hide toenail fungus. You should use specialist antifungal nail polishes, such as Dr.’s Remedy and DaniPro. They will help to hide and treat the infection.
How Long Does It Take for the Nail to Grow?
Depending on the severity of the infection, you can start to see improvements in your nail in a few weeks. For complete regrowth, however, it could take anywhere from 6 months to a year.
This also depends on whether or not you are consistent with treating the fungus, and how well you keep the nail trimmed. No one can say for sure how long it will take a toenail to regrow, but for most people, this is the case.
Protecting the New Nail from Getting Infected
When you get a fungal nail infection, there is a good chance that you may get it again in the future. This doesn’t mean that you will get it, but there is a higher probability. There are ways to help to protect the nail from getting reinfected. Here are some tips:
- Make sure that you thoroughly sterilize your old shoes with StinkBOSS. The fungus is still living there, and it doesn’t die if you don’t do something to eliminate the problem.
- If you can’t afford new shoes, there are good antifungal sprays for keeping the fungus at bay. Spray the insides of your shoes after they’ve been worn.
- When you trim your nails, trim them straight across.
- Make sure that your feet are thoroughly dry before putting socks on.
When you have had a fungal infection that has caused serious damage to your toenail, it is possible for a healthy one to grow back in its place. It will take time, though. It may seem like forever, but it’s not. You will likely see signs of a healthy nail in as little as a month or two.
