When To See A Doctor
In most cases, toenail fungus is considered a cosmetic problem. Still, it may cause serious complications for some people.
If you have diabetes, toenail fungus may lead to foot ulcers or other foot problems. According to a 2012 study, chronic toenail fungus is a significant risk factor for bacterial cellulitis of the leg.
If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, you shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.
What Is The Treatment For Toenail Fungus
If home remedies dont do the trick, if the infection spreads, or if the nail becomes painful, brittle, or misshapen, you need to see the doctor. There are several treatment options available. More than likely, you will be prescribed an oral medication. Terbinafine and itraconazole are two of the more popular and evidence-based treatments. Terbinafine is especially common for dermatophyte-based toenail fungus. Serious but rare side effects include liver damage and allergic reactions. Your doctor may prescribe an alternative to terbinafine if liver damage is a concern. However, nearly all anti-fungal medications have some level of hepatotoxicity.
A podiatrist will be also able to trim and file the nail more completely than the average person. More serious cases of toenail fungus may involve temporary or permanent toenail removal. A podiatrist can cut out the hardened nail while leaving the cuticle and underlying nail matrix. This directly removes the infection in the nail itself, while also allowing for direct access to treat the underlying skin with anti-fungal treatments while the nail grows back. In rare cases, laser treatment may be an option, but this isnt covered by most insurance policies.
Medical Complications From Untreated Fungal Toenail Infection
Without proper treatment to stop your toenail fungal infection from getting worse, or spreading, complications will eventually develop. Fungal infections of your toenail can spread to the surrounding skin and when your skin becomes cracked, bacteria can enter and cause an abscess.
An abscess on the toe is a tender mass generally surrounded by a colored area from pink to deep red. They are often easy to feel by touching. Inside they are full of pus, bacteria and debris.
Untreated toenail fungal infections can lead to cellulitis and should be treated immediately with antibiotics. Untreated skin infections of the toe may lead to severe cellulitis and if the infection enters the bloodstream it can become septicemia, also known as bacteremia or blood poisoning. Once the infection enters the bloodstream the bacteria and their toxins are carried through the bloodstream to your entire body. If the bacteria levels become high enough, septicemia can quickly become life threatening.
A good reason to seek treatment if you suspect you have a toenail fungal infection is because of the similarity of symptoms for differing diagnosis of more serious toenail conditions. You may have a toenail fungus, but you could also be experiencing similar symptoms of a toenail viral infection , complications from toenail trauma, a pre-malignant lesion or, more seriously, melanoma of the nail bed.
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The Dangers Of Ignoring Toenail Fungal Infections
Even a minor discoloration can be a sign of toenail fungus and worthy of a doctor visit. Find out why and how to get help for symptoms of toenail fungus.
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With all the serious health dangers out there, like cancer and diabetes, having a yellowed nail from toenail fungus can seem pretty insignificant. Since toenail fungus usually isnt painful, many people put off seeking treatment, says Peter Joseph, DPM, a podiatrist with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. While many people are otherwise healthy and may just think of it as a cosmetic problem, ignoring a toenail infected with fungus could have health consequences beyond appearances. Potential complications of a toenail fungal infection:
Foot pain. Over time, a nail infected with fungus can become thick and misshapen, causing pain, Dr. Joseph says. It can even make it difficult to walk when wearing shoes, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Treating Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
If you suspect you have a toenail fungal infection, see a doctor, Joseph says. Your doctor may take a small sample from your toenail and have it analyzed to confirm the presence of a fungus. If the test comes back positive, an oral or topical antifungal medication may be prescribed to help treat the fungus. Most medications are well tolerated with few side effects, Joseph says.
Laser Treatment For Fixing Toenail Fungus
Now, you know that toenail fungus could be painful if you ignore it from the start. So, let me tell you that you need to treat and fix your toenail fungus as soon as possible when you notice it on your nails. And one of the fastest and most effective methods to do so is by using laser treatment for the fungus on your toenails.
You may think it could be a bit costly, but it is the most effective and the fastest method to treat toenail fungus. The success rate of laser treatment is also very good. You can also check the laser treatment for toenail fungus review on fixnailsfungus.com and information about laser treatment there.
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Treatment From Your Gp
Your GP can prescribe antifungal tablets. You’ll need to take these every day for up to 6 months.
Tablets can have side effects including:
You cannot take antifungal tablets if you’re pregnant or have certain conditions. They can damage your liver.
If your nail has a very bad infection, you may need to have it removed. This is a small procedure done under local anaesthetic.
Fungal Nail Infection Treatment
See your doctor if you think you have nail fungus. It can be tough to get rid of, and youâre more likely to have success with a prescription. Treatments include:
- Oral antifungals. The doctor may give you a pill to kill fungus in your whole body. This is usually the best way to get rid of a nail infection. Treatment may last 2 months for an infection in your fingernails, or 3 months if itâs in your toenails.
- Topical antifungals. You rub or brush these medicines onto your nails. They may work for a mild infection, but they canât get deep enough into the nail to cure a more serious one. You might use a topical treatment in combination with a pill.
- Surgery. If other treatments donât work, the doctor may need to remove your nail entirely and let a healthy one grow back in its place. The new nail could also get infected.
- Laser or photodynamic therapy. Doctors are studying newer treatments that use special light to try to kill the fungus.
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Complications Of Toenail Fungus
If your fungus advances to a severe phase, it may become painful and the damage to your toenail could be permanent. Its also possible that the fungal infection could spread to other parts of your body, particularly if youre taking medications or have medical conditions that suppress your immune system response.
Diabetics have an increased risk for serious complications from any condition affecting the feet, due to potential blood vessel and nerve damage. Minor foot injuries can be slow to heal while progressing unnoticed due to reduced sensations in your feet. Toenail fungus significantly increases the risk to your feet.
What Happens If You Leave A Fungal Nail Infection Untreated
It is uncommon for an infected nail to cause severe pain or permanent disfigurement, but this does occur in some cases. If left untreated, fungal nail infections can cause difficulties with walking, exercising or manual tasks such as typing. The main symptoms of onychomycosis include the nail becoming: Brittle.
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What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose Toenail Fungus
Your healthcare provider will probably take a small sample from underneath your nail to further analyze it. Viewing the cells under a microscope can confirm a toenail fungus diagnosis. If the initial test is negative, a scraping can be sent to see if the fungus grows out in a culture. This also helps your healthcare provider identify the type of fungus.
Top 7 Causes Of Toenail Fungus And How To Fix Them
Amanda Roberts is a professional blogger and a podiatry student. She is an enthusiast who loves to write on several niches, particularly in foot health, including plantar fasciitis, toenail fungus, foot massage and reflexology. Read more about her blog posts on foot health at Feet Remedies. You can follow her on .
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a very common condition that begins as a yellow or white patch under the affected toenail. Fungus can attack your nails through the opening between the nail and nail bed or minor cuts in the skin around the nail. This infection may not cause serious problems in healthy people but may hurt, look bad, or damage your nail completely. Nail infections are caused by the same fungi that cause ringworm, athletes foot, and jock itch. If you have come in contact with a person who has a fungal infection, it may spread easily to your body.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the signs and symptoms of toenail fungus include thickened, brittle, and crumbly toenail. You may also notice a dark color, caused by dirt or debris gathering up under the infected nail. Toenail fungus may lead to more serious problems if you have a weak immune system or diabetes. If you have one of these conditions, visit your doctor to determine the best way to get rid of the nail infection.
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Can Toenail Fungus Cause Pain And Swelling
As you know, toenail fungus is very difficult to recognize at first. You wont even know that fungi are multiplying in your toenails. When the discolouration becomes quite noticeable, it gives cosmetic concerns and thats when people consult their doctors. Usually, toenail fungus has no symptoms, theres just a sign that your nail starts to look ugly. After identifying your type of infection, the doctor might prescribe some antifungal medicines. However, most people complain that it takes a really long time to cure toenail fungus and the medicines have a lot of side-effects.
But what happens when a person leaves the toenail fungal infection untreated?
When left untreated, the fungi can keep multiplying themselves. They can start infection any area of your skin or any part of your body. In severe cases, the fungi can enter the bloodstream and become deadly. Even if you try to treat your toenail fungus, there are chances that it may never be fully treated. And if treated, the fungus can still come back. No matter what type of fungal infection you have, you may have noticed that are no specific symptoms. In severe cases, one may experience pain, redness of the skin, and swelling.
Yes, toenail fungus can cause extreme pain and swelling.
- Skin dimpling and so on.
Relieve yourself from pain and swelling:
What Causes The Toenail Pain
One of the underlying causes of toenail pain is toenail fungus, also known as onychonycosis. Toenail fungus is a common infection of the toenails. As well, onychonycosis can affect the fingernails. Other causes of toenail pain are ingrown toenails and sometimes even psoriasis.
Generally onychonycosis is caused by one of three different types of fungi yeasts, nondermatophyte molds and dermatophytes. Basically, fungi are eukaryotic or plant organisms that can live without sunlight. Truthfully, fungi thrive in dark and damp environments. This is why toenails are very susceptible to fungi.
The fungus can be found in public places like showers, swimming pools and lockers rooms. In addition, ailments like diabetes and immune deficiency disease are high risk factors. Plus, surplus perspiration and a history of athletes foot also make one more vulnerable.
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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.
What Are The Risks For Developing Fungal Arthritis
Fungal arthritis in people with normal immune systems is rare. One risk for developing fungal arthritis in such people is the accidental injection of medications that are contaminated with fungus microbes in the vials used. This, in fact, was the situation when contaminated vials of medications produced by a compounding pharmacy caused a multistate outbreak of rare fungal meningitis and fungal arthritis in September 2012.
People with abnormally suppressed immune systems are at risk for fungal infections, including fungal arthritis. This includes people with severely low white blood counts , HIV infection, injection drug abusers, and those taking chronic cortisone medication.
Fungal arthritis is considered when a patient whose immune system is compromised develops inflammation of a joint. Blood tests can include testing the blood for the white blood count, inflammation markers , and cultures of the blood. Plain X-ray images, CAT scanning, and/or MRI scanning can be used to determine the character and extent of joint damage. Ultimately, joint fluid is aspirated from the joint with a needle and syringe and this fluid is analyzed in the laboratory to culture the precise fungal organism and establish the diagnosis.
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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.
Top 3 Reasons To Treat Nail Fungus
Cosmetic Concerns
One of the most common reasons patients want to treat their nail fungus is to improve the appearance of their nails.
This is especially true of fingernails, but even toenails can be a concern during the summer when they are more visible. Nail fungus can cause embarrassment and some sufferers stop activities, such as yoga or swimming, so that others will not see their toenails.
Pain and Mobility
If left untreated, fungal nail infections can cause pain and mobility problems. These can occur as the nails thicken when the infection progresses. It may become uncomfortable to wear closed shoes and to walk, exercise or stand. For this reason, early treatment is recommended before the infection becomes more severe or has spread to other toenails.
Recurrence and Transmission
Although nail fungus rarely causes serious health risks, the nail can become a fungal reservoir leading to recurrent fungal infections of the skin. These can cause fissures or cracks, leaving the feet more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections. People with a weakened immune system, such as diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, may be more susceptible to both fungal infections and other secondary infections, resulting from it such as cellulitis.
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Types Of Fingernail Fungus
Microscopic organisms known as fungi lead to nail fungal infections. This does not require sunlight to survive and thrive. The group of fungi like dermatophytes like Candida can work for dealing with nail fungal infections. Some yeasts and molds also lead to infections.
These include:
Trichophyton rubrum or the most common and well-known dermatophyte that causes nail fungal infections. Other dermatophytes include trichophyton interdigital, epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum gypsum, and trichophyton soudanense. Common mold causes include Aspergillus, Scopulariopsis, Neoscytalidium among others.
Tight footwear can also be a problem with the crowding of toes. Exercise that leads to repeated minor trauma to the point where the fingertip attaches to the nail is important. The elderly can also suffer this condition as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are an important and critical part of the natural aging process.
Nails infected with fungus are thick, brittle, crumbly, distorted, ragged, dull and dark or yellowish in color. There is also scaling under the nail or hyperkeratosis, lateral onychomycosis or yellow and white streaking, proximal onychomycosis refers to the yellow spots at the bottom of the nail, and theres also onycholysis or infected nails separating from the nail bed. Nail fungal infections can result in toe or fingertip pain, and even emit a foul odor.
How Can I Treat It
There are a variety of options available.
Your podiatrist can thin down thickened toenails and make them easier to treat with anti-fungal nail paints. This is a long-term option and has limited success. It takes a lot of perseverance.
Anti-fungal creams can be used to treat fungus around the nails. This is usually a more effective treatment in the early stage, when the fungus first starts to affect the toenails.
Anti-fungal tablets are prescribed by a doctor. They are generally very effective. Once the course of treatment has been completed, the toenail may take several months to improve in appearance, as it takes about 12 months for a toenail to grow completely from base to tip. During the period when the nail is regrowing, use an anti-fungal cream to prevent further infection.
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Types Of Fungal Nail Infections
There are four main kinds of fungal nail infection. Each looks slightly different:
- Distal or lateral subungual onychomycosis. This is the most common kind. It results from a fungus called a dermatophyte. You can get it in your fingernails or toenails. It starts in the nail bed, underneath the nail. Youâll see a yellowish colored area that spreads from the edges of the nail to the center, and places where it comes apart from the nail bed.
- White superficial onychomycosis. This is less common and only affects the nail surface, mainly on your toenails. It starts as white spots, which become powdery and cause the nail to crumble.
- Proximal subungual onychomycosis. This appears first as white spots in the center of the nail bed at the cuticle. They move outward as the finger or toenail grows. Itâs rare and usually affects people who have immune system problems, like HIV infection.
- Candidal onychomycosis. Yeast causes this infection that usually affects your fingernails. The area around the nails is often swollen and inflamed, and the nails may come off entirely. It tends to happen to nails that have been damaged by an injury or another infection.
