Toenail Fungus Q & A
What causes toenail fungus?
When fungi, yeast, or mold enters the toenail through an exposed area, it can develop into toenail fungus. Athlete’s foot between the toes can make its way under the toenails. Low blood circulation and a weakened immune system create ideal conditions for fungus to spread.
How can I treat toenail fungus at home?
If you visit the drugstore, you can choose from a variety of over-the-counter antifungal medications. You may decide to use those or ask Podiatrists for his recommendations. Keep your nails clean and trimmed to help the medication penetrate.
Urea-containing creams may help you thin thickened nails so you can trim them.
When should I see a doctor?
If your toenail fungus doesn’t go away with over-the-counter treatments and at-home care don’t get rid of your toenail fungus, you can make an appointment with Podiatrists.
If you have diabetes, tell Podiatrists right away about any fungal infections you have because these can lead to complications.
Which medical treatments can help my toenail fungus?
Oral antifungal drugs help clear the infection from inside the body, allowing healthy nail growth to replace infected sections. You usually take the pills for six to 12 weeks and see the final result after four months or more.
Medicated nail polish is another option for toenail fungus. You paint layers of medication on your toe for a week and then clean the accumulated medication and start over. This treatment may take a year of daily application to see results.
Podiatrists can also prescribe a medicated cream that you apply to the nail after softening it with water, a file, or urea lotion. If your nails don’t respond to medication, Podiatrists can remove diseased portions of the nail and apply an antifungal medication directly to the infected area.
Since treatment correlates with the slow rate at which toenails grow, it’s important to be patient and consistent with your treatment. No matter how you treat your toenail fungus, reinfection is always a possibility. Check in with Podiatrists as soon as you can if you notice the fungus returning.
If your toenail fungus bothers you and hasn’t responded to at-home treatments, contact Podiatrists online or over the phone.