Are your toenails ragged? Brittle and discolored? You may be dealing with a case of nail fungus. Most cases of nail fungus are mild and easily remedied, but if left untreated, the infection could worsen and lead to permanent damage. To prevent and treat nail fungus to the best of your abilities, here’s all you need to know about the condition.
Symptoms
Nail fungus is easy to spot during your daily foot care routine. Here’s what it looks like:
- White or yellow-brown spots underneath your nail
- Thickened nails
- Brittle and crumbly nails
- Nails that are starting to separate from the nail bed
- Smelly feet
- If left untreated and the condition worsens, you may experience pain and discomfort
Treatment
Nail fungus cases are usually mild but may be tricky to treat. Fungus is persistent and often comes back after some treatments. At-home tricks don’t provide great results, so visiting your local podiatrist for treatment is important. With consistent efforts, you can fully treat your nail fungus.
Treatment often includes:
- Laser therapy
- Oral antifungal medications
- Medicated nail cream
- Medicated nail polish
- In serious cases, removal of the nail
Prevention
With some simple steps, you can actively avoid nail fungus. We recommend the following tips:
- Wearing shoes in public pool areas, locker rooms, and public showers
- Frequently washing and changing socks, especially if they’re sweaty
- Daily wear of close-toed shoes
- Ensuring your nail salon is clean and sanitary
- Regularly washing your feet with soap and water
- Avoid wearing sweaty shoes for extended periods
- Letting your shoes air out and dry between wears
- Taking extra precautions if you spend a lot of time in the water
- Not share nail clippers or towels with other people
- Checking your feet and nails daily for any early signs of fungus
If you suspect you may have nail fungus, contact your local podiatrist to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Laser therapy is proving to be the most efficient way to treat toenail fungus. Our office offers safe and painless, 10-minute laser therapy treatments.
At Atlantic Foot and Ankle Specialists, we are committed to providing specialized, compassionate services for our patients. Melissa Robitaille, DPM, and Todd Newsom, DPM offer treatments for various foot and ankle disorders with leading-edge technology. Contact our office in Chatham County at (912) 988-3323 to make an appointment today.