Treatment Overview
Nonsurgical (chemical) nail removal is a painless procedure for a fungal nail infection. This technique removes only the diseased and damaged nail, not the healthy part of the nail. It is done in a clinic or your health professional's office. Either the entire nail (avulsion) or part of the nail (debridement) can be removed. This procedure is almost always painless.
Your health professional will first place cloth adhesive tape on the normal skin around the infected nail. A urea ointment (Ureacin) is then put directly on the nail surface and covered with plastic and tape. The ointment softens the nail over the next 7 to 10 days. You must keep the nail and dressing dry during this time.
After the nail softens, your health professional removes the treated nail by lifting the nail away from the nail bed or by cutting out the diseased portion of the nail.
What To Expect After Treatment
The area exposed by the nail removal should be kept dry. It should heal within 2 weeks. Fingernails may take 6 months to grow back, and toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back.
Why It Is Done
Nonsurgical nail removal can be used for severe antifungal infections and on nails that have increased in size due to abnormal growth (hypertrophic). It is rarely necessary.
How Well It Works
After the diseased and dead tissue has been removed, the infection can be further treated by applying an antifungal cream to the remaining infected area or by taking oral antifungal medication.
Risks
After nail removal, the wound can become infected. You can reduce the risk of infection by keeping the area clean and dry, and regularly applying antibiotic ointment.
The fungal infection may not be killed and may infect the new nail that grows.
What To Think About
Nail removal makes it possible to apply an antifungal cream directly to the infected area, increasing the likelihood that the infection can be cured.
This procedure offers a good chance of cure for severe nail infections.
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Credits
| Author | Sabra L. Katz-Wise |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology |
| Last Updated | August 23, 2006 |
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