Answer: Fungal infection (onychomycosis) on toenails is difficult to eradicate. Two laser treatments (they may not be covered by insurance) given three months apart plus a topical medication, such as Formula 3, produce the best results for my patients.
I also recommend the SteriShoe, a product that uses ultraviolet light to eliminate fungi and germs from shoes ($150 at SteriShoe.com)…or antimicrobial shoe sprays such as Clean Sweep or Gehwol Foot & Shoe Deodorant (about $30 each).
You’ll also want to take steps to protect yourself and other family members. While toenail fungus is not highly contagious, it still can be passed on to others because the spores can live in warm, moist areas such as shower stalls.
Help protect your family by spraying this area with a cleaning product that contains bleach every day. Also, your wife should wear flip-flops around public pools or showers. She can wear socks to bed to help protect you, and the family should not share towels, nail clippers or other such items with her.
