Patel Podiatry
Treating Fungal Nails
Toenail fungus is a more common condition than many might initially believe. Approximately 30 million Americans have a fungal toenail infection!
Regardless of its frequency, toenail fungus still carries an unsightly and embarrassing stigma for many sufferers. Most people with fungal toenails would rather get rid of the condition, but home remedies tend not to have much of an effect.
And for many, toenail fungus is not something that will easily disappear. It can be a chronic disease that lasts a lifetime and requires a long-term plan to battle.
What Is Toenail Fungus? What Does It Look Like?
Toenail fungus is indeed a fungus. It belongs to a class called “dermatophytes” which is also where the fungus that causes athlete’s foot belongs.
This fungus thrives on a protein called keratin, which just happens to be abundant in your nail plate. They can sneak beneath the nail through tiny cuts or any other opening between the nail and skin.
While toenail fungus can wreak havoc on your nails’ appearance over time, an infection is not so obvious to start. You might first see a tiny whitish or yellowish blemish in the nail, and it’s easy to assume it’s from some little nick or bump you received. But if the blemish doesn’t disappear over time – and grows or changes shape instead – it’s a good call to come and see us. Identifying and treating fungus this early can make things much shorter and sweeter!
But everyone is more familiar with a fungal infection that has had more time to develop. Symptoms at this stage can include:
- Yellowish, whitish, or brownish discoloration
- Thickening of the nails
- Crumbling or brittleness
- Warped or distorted shape
- In some cases, a faint foul aroma
The fungus has had significant time to work its way into the nail and nail bed by this time. It is more of a challenge to root out than it is when caught earlier, but still very much possible with the right treatment.
Determining a Treatment Plan for Toenail Fungus
Before making any recommendations for treatment, we must first fully understand the condition. Not all fungal infections are the same, and adjusting our treatment options to your specific needs will help us optimize your results.
Treatment recommendations can differ depending on the type of fungus, nature of the fungus, how long you have had the condition, whether any other skin conditions are associated with the infection, and other factors.
Once we have a full grasp of the situation, we can recommend options that may be best for your treatment and management. Topical medications and oral antifungal medications are among some possible considerations. A new form of treatment that might also come highly recommended is the use of laser.
Preventing Toenail Fungus
Whether you have never had toenail fungus or have recovered from a previous infection, a new infection can still occur. Take the following steps to reduce your risk of fungal nail infection:
- Wash your feet with soap and water every day, then dry them thoroughly before putting on socks and shoes.
- Treat your shoes with an antifungal powder or spray overnight.
- Opt for breathable and moisture-wicking materials for your footwear.
- Change out of wet socks and shoes, even if that means wearing more than one pair each day.
- Rotate your footwear, giving it at least 24 hours to air dry before wearing again.
- Avoid going barefoot in warm, wet public places like locker rooms, pool decks, and shared showers.
- Never share your nail trimmers, socks, or shoes with anyone else.
Let’s Take Care of Your Toenail Fungus
Remember that the earlier toenail fungus is treated, the better. Even if your nails “don’t look that bad,” it’s still worth checking out if you suspect you might have an infection.
Schedule an appointment at our Milford or Hamden offices by giving us a call or filling out our online contact form.