Toenail Fungus
Imagine it’s the first warm spring day. After you’ve broken out your sandals, you look down, and the nails on your big toes are an unsightly yellow color. You are either frantically painting them to cover them up or searching on your phone for “foot fungus clinics near me.”
While you can experience discomfort from the infection, foot fungus is more embarrassing than painful. It affects more people than you think, but nobody talks about it. If you have an invasive infection, visit a podiatrist for toenail fungus treatments.
Dr. Cameron, founder of Foot and Ankle Center, is a leading podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon in Utah and Nevada. He has experience treating all foot and ankle concerns and can provide specialized podiatric toenail fungus treatments. Because of Foot and Ankle Center’s multiple clinic locations, if you search for “foot fungus clinics near me,” Dr. Cameron will be your prime choice.
What Causes Foot Fungus?
Also called onychomycosis, toenail fungus is caused by dermatophytes. Commonly associated with hair, skin, and nail infections, dermatophytes break down the protein keratin in these structures to invade and colonize the infected tissue site. This group of fungi is responsible for athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, cradle cap, and fungal nail infections.
Like most fungi, these thrive in warm, moist environments. You will likely find them in locker rooms, saunas, hot tubs, pools, and communal showers. Fungi spread through direct contact with the infection or through contaminated surfaces. You can pick up the fungus by not wearing protective shoes in shared spaces and sharing footwear or hygiene items like nail clippers or scissors.
Nail Fungus Risk Factors
Unfortunately, our nails become more brittle and dry as we age, making them more susceptible to infections. Other factors that increase the risk of developing fungal infections include the following:
Poor Hygiene
If you don’t trim your nails or wash and dry your feet regularly, you increase your risk of all infections.
Poor Circulation
If you have a weakened immune system or poor circulation, you can be more prone to infections; diabetes encompasses both, so you must follow preventative measures and visit your diabetic podiatrist regularly.
Trauma
Your risk is two-fold if you wear tight-fitting shoes or play sports. You are in closed-toe shoes for extended periods, so you can’t let your feet breathe. Additionally, you are more likely to cause trauma to your toenails, creating an entry point for infections.
Other Fungal Infections
Athlete’s foot is one infection that the same fungi group causes. If left untreated, this infection affects the skin between your toes but can spread to your toenails. Be sure you know the signs and symptoms of nail infections to treat them promptly.
What Are the Toenail Fungus Symptoms?
If you suspect you have an infection, review these common symptoms before seeking toenail fungus treatment:
- Brittleness: Fungus can cause your nails to become crumbly and brittle. You may notice this if they start breaking easily.
- Thickening: The most common symptom is that your nail may become hard to trim and look thicker than usual.
- Discoloration: Your nail can turn yellow, white, or brown from the fungal infection.
- Odorous: A less frequent symptom, your affected nails can start putting off a foul odor.
- Painful: If the nail becomes thick and pushes against the inside of your shoe, it can become excruciating.
If you notice any of these signs and have an underlying health condition, see a podiatrist for toenail fungus treatment as soon as possible. If you don’t have any other concerns or the infection isn’t causing pain, you can treat the condition with over-the-counter medication to see if it clears with gentle treatments and preventive measures.
Prevention and Home Toenail Fungus Treatment
Toenail fungus can be stubborn and difficult to treat, so prevention is the best way to avoid unsightly, deformed nails and extra doctor visits and medications. Even if you already have a foot fungal infection, you should follow these prevention tips to avoid infecting other nails, anyone else, and subsequent infections:
Choose Breathable Footwear
Wear breathable and moisture-wicking socks, like 100% cotton, or ones with antifungal properties like bamboo. Socks and shoes made from synthetic materials don’t allow your feet to breathe. Select breathable shoes made from canvas or mesh, especially if you plan to wear them for hours. Natural leather can work well if the shoes fit well enough to allow breathing room. Properly fitting shoes will prevent nail injuries that would be the perfect entry point for a fungal infection.
Practice Good Foot Hygiene
Fungi prefer warm and damp environments, so keeping your feet clean and dry will prevent a fungus from taking hold. Keep your nails trimmed and filed to avoid ingrown toenails, which often lead to infections. Routinely clean and sanitize your nail care instruments. Even if you clean them after use, avoid sharing personal items like your footwear, nail clippers, files, and polish; you can easily contract or transmit foot infections by sharing supplies.
Avoid Walking Barefoot In Public Spaces
If you don’t wear shower or deck shoes when using public locker rooms, showers, pools, and spas, you can easily contract a fungal infection or another virus that causes foot warts. Protect yourself, especially if others aren’t concerned and are going without footwear.
Use Antifungal Spray or Powder
Even as a preventative measure, you can use over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal treatments on your feet or in your shoes, as they help keep your feet dry and reduce the risk of infection.
If you are concerned you already have an infection, you can try some OTC topical treatments first. But if things don’t clear up, you should see a podiatrist for toenail fungus to prevent the infection from spreading to other toenails, your skin, or other people.
Seeing A Podiatrist For Toenail Fungus
While general practitioners can prescribe medications to treat fungal infections, seeing a podiatrist for toenail fungus is your best option because they only treat foot and ankle conditions, providing more specialized treatments than other doctors.
A podiatrist will examine your feet to diagnose the severity and extent of the infection. Depending on those factors, they will offer a few options or a treatment plan that may include the following elements:
Prescription Medication
For mild to moderate cases, podiatrists’ first-line treatment is a prescription topical antifungal medication, much stronger than OTC options. You apply it directly to the affected nails to clear up the infection.
For more severe cases, podiatrists can recommend an oral antifungal medication. However, these have more side effects and are typically used for specific immunocompromised patients who aren’t candidates for more invasive treatments. They need supervision, so you should regularly follow up with a dermatologist or general practitioner while taking oral antifungal drugs.
Laser Therapy
Podiatrists can treat toenail fungus with laser treatments. The high-powered laser emits light that penetrates your toenail to destroy the fungus, leaving the surrounding tissues healthy and unharmed. You may feel a slight burning sensation or mild discomfort during the few minutes the laser treats your nail, but not enough to need any anesthetic beforehand.
Because it’s a newer treatment option, insurance companies often don’t approve the treatment. It’s a pricey option if your insurance won’t foot the bill, but it’s a highly effective option if it will.
Surgical Removal
In the most severe cases or because of chronic infections, a podiatrist may recommend surgery for your toenail fungus treatment. A podiatrist can easily do it in the clinic, but it’s typically a last resort if you don’t respond to other treatment options. The removal allows the new, healthy nail to grow.
They will numb the area with a local anesthetic, remove some or all of the nail, and clean and treat your nail bed. They will apply antifungal or antibiotic ointment to promote healing and prevent further infection. Afterward, you will have a sterile dressing and must wear a special shoe or boot to protect the surgical site. Your podiatrist will monitor the healing process to ensure they’ve completely eradicated the infection. In rare cases, you may need additional treatments.
Why Visit Foot and Ankle Center for Toenail Fungus Treatment
With years of experience, Dr. Cameron is well-versed in the classic treatment options and prefers conservative, safe, and less invasive treatment options when possible. However, he is not afraid to innovate. Laser treatment for fungus is relatively new for podiatrists. Still, Dr. Cameron recognizes the benefits: it has high success rates, is non-invasive with minimal side effects, and is quick and convenient for busy patients. Unlike other treatments, you don’t need any recovery time and can resume your normal activities afterward. The main downside is that it can require multiple sessions to work. These treatments will be spread out over weeks to months to achieve the desired results.
The good news is that Foot and Ankle Center has multiple locations in Utah to provide accessible podiatrist treatments for toenail fungus to everyone in the region. If you’re looking for an experienced doctor to give promising new approaches and tried-and-true toenail fungus treatments, look no further than Dr. Cameron.