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Patient counselling

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • patients taking oral antifungals should be reassured that their nail infection may continue to respond even after the course of treatment is completed - this is because itraconazole and terbinafine persist in nail keratin for up to nine months after end of treatment

  • the damaged nail may take much longer than three months to grow out. This is despite the fungi being dead after the antifungal treatment

  • patients should be reminded of good nail hygiene:
    • nails kept short
    • hypertrophic nails should be filed down
    • avoid contact with irritants and trauma
    • avoid the use of the same instruments on both infected and uninfected nails
    • wear shoes with good support, a wide toebox and avoid narrow toe and high heeled shoes
    • feet should be kept cool and dry

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