Fungal Nail Treatment That Works

What You Need to Know

Understanding fungal nail infections and how our team diagnoses and treats them.

Understanding Fungal Nail Infections

Fungal nail infections are a fairly common condition that starts affecting the tips of your toenails and, as it goes deeper, causes discoloration and thickening as the nail becomes more brittle around the edges. The changes are actually due to a local infection of both bacteria and fungus that cause the discoloration, thickness, and debris to collect under the nails.

A number of different fungi can cause an infection. While the most common strain is called dermatophyte, yeast and molds can also cause problems. Fungi love warm, damp environments, and the human foot has about 250,000 sweat glands. Shoes trap much of that moisture against your skin, creating the perfect environment for fungi to thrive.

Symptoms are generally unmistakable and usually include thick, discolored nails that are fragile or brittle. Toenail fungus can also cause nails to lift from the nail bed or develop an unpleasant smell. Most people don’t experience any pain unless the infection becomes severe.

Risk factors include an injury to your toenail, a weakened immune system, diabetes, a history of athlete’s foot, walking barefoot in communal areas, sweating heavily in improper footwear, and circulation problems.

Advanced Foot and Ankle Center is equipped with an in-house lab that enables our team to identify the exact type of fungus you have and recommend the best method of treatment. If you notice these symptoms, we encourage you to schedule a visit so we can start targeted care.

Treatment Options and Prevention

We provide a number of treatment options for patients experiencing fungal nail conditions. We realize that every patient is unique and that treatments can’t be one size fits all. Our physicians work hard to identify the best approach for each patient, from custom fungal nail soaks compounded based on the type and severity of the infection to prescription oral antifungals and medicated nail polish or nail cream.

A significant problem in treating fungus nails is delivering medication under the nail. Topical medication does not penetrate the nail plate and is reportedly only 33% effective. Laser treatment offers another option by using a laser beam to reach the infection at its source without harming healthy tissue. It is virtually painless and can be done in the office without anesthesia. In some cases, a simple surgery to remove the nail may be recommended so that topical antifungal treatment can be applied directly to the problem area.

Once a nail fungus infection sets in, it takes time to resolve, so prevention matters. Trim your nails straight across, disinfect your nail clippers and don’t share them, wear shoes that let your toes breathe, wash your hands and feet regularly, and avoid walking barefoot in public locker rooms and showers.

If you have diabetes, please speak to us right away about any signs of toenail fungus so we can provide a proper diagnosis and start an effective treatment plan.