Toenail Fungus Podiatrist Or Dermatologist
Toenail fungus is a common condition that can be caused by a number of different things. podiatrist or dermatologist are usually the best people to see for this condition.
In the majority of cases, toenail fungus causes foul smells and unsightly appearances around the nail plate. If you are experiencing symptoms of a fungal infection, you should consult a podiatrist for the proper treatment. Before starting treatment, a podiatrist carefully examines your nail to determine the cause of the infection. It is possible to treat toenail fungus with a laser with a wavelength of 1064nm. A nailbed can be heated to a temperature above 350 degrees Fahrenheit, killing any fungi and spores that may exist. Medications, such as topical creams and nail lacquer, as well as prescription pills, may be prescribed. Professional, modern treatments are more effective than in-house remedies for treating fungal infections.
If you have a fungal toenail infection, your podiatrist may prescribe antifungal medication to treat it. This medication will aid in the treatment of an infection and prevent it from returning. In addition, the proper trimming of your toenails can help to prevent fungi from spreading. If you have any questions about your toenails or want to make an appointment with a podiatrist, please do not hesitate to contact us at Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists. You can rely on us to ensure your feet and ankles are in good shape.
Experiencing Nail Fungus In Its Early Stages
Fungal nail infections are becoming a common nail problem, especially if you frequent public bathrooms, gym, saunas, or spas. People often dismiss nail fungus because it generally does not give any discomfort and the first signs are often hard to detect. Brown or black spots and white streaks may signify an infection in your nail. It may later on progress to more evident changes wherein the nail thickens or have a rougher surface. Although not bothersome, leaving a fungal nail infection untreated can make it harder and more frustrating to cure in the end.Total dystrophic onychomycosis, or severe nail fungal infections, is the end-stage of this nail disease. Fungus has started to infect larger portions of the nail causing it to become deformed, brittle, and weak. More often than not, it starts to become painful and even emit some type of foul odor. There is increased possibility for permanent damage to the nail. The infection may also spread to other parts of your body and create more serious illnesses.
Special Groups At Risk For Complications In Severe Onychomycosis
Delaying the treatment of a nail fungus until its late stages can be excruciatingly challenging. For some people with other diseases/conditions, avoiding the onset of severe onychomycosis is essential. The dangers that involve the end-stage nail disease can lead to an even more harmful situation for them.
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Nail Fungal Infection Treatment
Prescription medicines can treat a fungal nail infection. Oral antifungal medicines help a new nail grow. This will replace the infected nail. You may need to take antifungal medicine for 6 to 12 weeks. Some oral medicines are not safe for people who have liver problems. They are not safe for people who have a history of congestive heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have one of these conditions. Your doctor will decide which medicine is right for you.
Apply topical treatments to the top of your nail. Topical medicines usually do not cure fungal nail infections.
In severe cases, a doctor might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
Whos At Risk For Fungal Infections
There are many different causes of fungal nail infections. Each cause has a treatment of its own. Although many of the causes of a fungal nail infection are preventable, some risk factors increase the likelihood of developing one. Youre more likely to develop a fungal nail infection if you:
- wear closed-toe shoes, such as tennis shoes or boots
Nail infections occur more often in men than in women, and the infections are found in adults more often than in children. If you have family members who often get these types of fungal infections, youre more likely to get them as well.
Older adults have a high risk for getting fungal nail infections because they have poorer circulation. The nails also grow more slowly and thicken as we age.
A fungal infection of the nail may affect part of the nail, the entire nail, or several nails.
Common signs of a fungal nail infection include:
- a distorted nail that may lift off from the nail bed
- an odor coming from the infected nail
- a brittle or thickened nail
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Preparing For An Appointment
Youre likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. In some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to either a doctor who specializes in skin conditions or one who specializes in foot conditions .
Here are some steps you can take to prepare for your appointment:
- List your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to nail fungus.
- List key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- List all the medications, vitamins and supplements youre taking.
- List questions to ask your health care provider.
For nail fungus, your questions might include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What tests do I need?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach youre suggesting?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Is a generic alternative available for the medicine youre prescribing?
- Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? Do you recommend any websites on nail fungus?
More from the Mayo Library
*** Let This Doctor Help You ***
Hello all and welcome to my site! I am a podiatrist and also the owner and creator of FixUglyNails.com. You can read more about me, personally, by clicking HERE!
My goal with this site is to educate you on a wide array of conditions and ailments pertaining to the feet in the hopes that you will be able to make informed decisions regarding your health.
In addition, I will recommend products that actually work to combat a multitude of foot ailments through my Product Reviews in order to prevent you from throwing away your hard-earned money!
I sincerely appreciate your visit to my site and feel confident that whatever foot affliction that you or your loved one is suffering from I can help!
Enjoy my site, which is always a work-in-progress, and please comment if you have any questions or concerns regarding ANY information found in its contents. I am truly here to help!
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What Are The Symptoms
Symptoms often develop slowly over time. A nail with a fungal infection may:
- Turn yellow, white, or brown.
- Crumble or split and may separate from the skin.
A fungal nail infection usually isn’t painful. But over time, you may be uncomfortable or even have pain when you wear shoes, walk, or stand for a long time. The fungus could also spread to other nails or your skin.
Fungal Nail Infection Causes
Itâs a good idea to wash your hands and feet often. Use soap, and make sure you get between your fingers and toes.
Keep your fingernails and toenails short and trimmed straight across.
Wear socks that wick away moisture. If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks once or twice a day, or take off your shoes and let your feet cool when you have the chance.
Use antifungal powder or spray on your feet as well as in your shoes. Throw away old pairs of closed-toe shoes since fungi might be living in them.
If you get manicures at nail salons, visit only the ones that disinfect tools after each client. You can also bring your own file and clippers from home. Ask that your cuticles not be cut, since this can cause tiny breaks in the skin that let germs in.
Donât share towels if someone else in your family has nail fungus. This will pass around the infection.
See your doctor if you think you have nail fungus. You may need a prescription to treat it, whether that means taking a medicine by mouth or using a special cream. In severe cases, your nail may need to be removed so a healthy new one can grow in its place. Doctors can also use lasers to treat nail fungus.
You get an infection when a crack in your nail or the skin around it allows fungus to get inside and grow.
Youâre more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you:
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Dont Remove Your Toenails To Treat Fungus
Toenails should not be removed as a treatment for toenail fungus. The use of pills and medicine to treat nails can be more effective. If you have a serious infection or other treatments that do not work, you may need to remove the nails. The most effective, but least common, procedure to remove a nail and its root is to perform surgery.
Can Toenail Fungus Spread To The Bone
It is possible to get fungal infections that do spread to the bone, which is a very serious condition. Ultimately, when it comes to toenail fungus, since it can be spread to other parts of the body, and can spread internally, it is worth dealing with it as soon as you notice it. Ultimately many people think that toenail fungus might go away on its own in time, but this is not the case. Toenail fungus will typically need to be treated with antifungal medication. Some of these topical treatments are available over-the-counter and can come as antifungal creams or as a nail polish. Learn about our Clear + Restore product that can rejuvenate and improve the appearance of your toenails.
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What Are The Causes Of Toenail Fungus
Essentially, there are three types of fungus that can cause toenails to become infected: yeast, mold, and dermatophyte. A yeast toenail infection is usually white, a mold infection is generally a dull brown, and a dermatophyte infection is generally yellow. These various causes have different treatment options, so its important to find out exactly what kind of toenail fungus you have before taking any severe measures to treat it.
Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus
The main symptoms of toenail fungal infection are a change in the appearance and in feel of the toenails.
Specifically, symptoms can include:
- Tight shoes that dont allow air to reach your feet
- Certain skin conditions, including psoriasis
Additionally, moist working conditions can put some people at a higher risk of fungal nail infections in general.
For example, professional cleaners and dishwashers are more likely to get fungal nail infections on their fingernails.
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Avoid The Complications Of Toenail Fungus Treat Early
I recommend that if you have a co-existing conditions and believe that you have a toenail fungus to see your doctor for a personalized treatment plan due to the fact that even a nail fungus, which is a relatively minor injury/condition, can quickly advance to more serious complications.
There are so many treatment options available that it is silly to allow this simple disease to progress to the level where complications can occur.
As a podiatrist, I can help direct you to the treatments that really work and even show you how to prevent this condition from recurring once you have successfully treated it
But you MUST treat it! Dont let your toenail fungus get to the point where complications begin to occur!
There are currently THREE amazing products that I routinely recommend to my patients to treat this unsightly disorder! All three of these products REALLY work you just have to decide the method of treatment that you prefer and DO IT!
Toe Fungus: Dont Ignore It
If you have toe fungus, you should consult a podiatrist. If this is the case, the fungus can spread to other toes if not treated promptly. Board-certified dermatologists are skilled in diagnosing and treating skin, hair, and nails. If you have a fungal nail infection that you are concerned about, it is best to consult with a physician.
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What Is The Main Cause Of Toenail Fungus
What causes nail fungus and how can it be treated? The cause of a fungal nail infection is caused by the tiny, microscopic organisms known as fungi . A person who comes into contact with fungi on their hands or on their feet is more likely to pick them up than someone who has a fungal infection such as athletes foot.
The Initial Causes Can Having Nail Fungus On Your Toes Cause Other Health Issues
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
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How Is It Diagnosed
To diagnose a fungal nail infection, your doctor will:
- Look at the skin and nails on your hands and feet.
- Ask about your medical history. This includes any previous symptoms of nail damage or fungal nail infections.
The doctor may take a sample of skin and nail fragments from under the infected nail or a sample of the nail itself. Tests to examine the samples include:
- KOH preparation, to find out if the problem is caused by a fungus.
- Other lab tests, such as a fungal culture, may be done to find which type of fungus you have.
If the tests don’t show fungi but your doctor still thinks that you have a fungal infection, a nail biopsy may be needed.
What Is Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a common fungal nail infection that can cause nails to become brittle or change color.
Its estimated that somewhere between 3-12% of the general population is affected with nail fungus.
A fungal nail infection can occur on the toenails or fingernails, but most fungal nail infections affect the toenails.
The toenails on the big toes are most often affected by toenail fungus.
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The Initial Causes Can Toenail Fungus Cause Other Health Problems
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
> > > This Unusual Morning Habit Helps Me Keep My Fungus In Check .
How Can You Avoid Fungal Nail Infections
There are things you can do to avoid getting a fungal nail infection or having it come back.
- Before bed, wash and dry your feet carefully.
Applying a topical antifungal medicine may help prevent repeat infections.
- Keep your feet and hands dry.
Dry skin and nails are less likely to get infected. Put powder on your dry feet or hands after you take a shower or bath.
- Wear sandals or roomy shoes made of materials that allow moisture to escape.
Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
- Wear socks.
Change them if your feet get damp or sweaty.
- Wear shower sandals in wet public areas, such as locker rooms or showers.
Let them dry between uses.
- Do not share nail files or clippers, socks, towels, or other personal items.
- Avoid injuring your nail.
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