Doctor To See For Toenail Fungus

Symptoms Of Nail Disease

A nail fungus will cause your nails to distort or thicken. Infected nails may also hurt or separate from your nail bed. Skin infections by your nails will cause redness and swelling. Your nails can also reveal bigger health problems. Talk with your doctor if you notice curling or clubbing of your nails, discoloration of your nails or distinct sunken lines in your nails.

What Type Of Doctor Should I See About My Nail Health

A doctor who specializes in treating nail and skin disorders is called a dermatologist. You may see your regular doctor about your nail health concerns, and he or she may refer you to a dermatologist. You can also find a dermatologist online at www.aad.org or by calling 462-DERM.

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What Kind Of Doctor Should I See For Toe Nail Fungus

Maintaining your toenails devoid of fungus might not be high on your important agenda list, yet it must be. What Kind Of Doctor Should I See For Toe Nail Fungus

We live in an environment that is almost filled with fungis, as well as their preferred location to live is dark, wet, toasty, like inside our footwear.

Its therefore quite simple to obtain a nail fungal infection . If you lack these two nutrients, you are at risk of getting toe fungus.

Around 14 percent of the populace is influenced by toe nail fungal infections, which cause fifty percent of all nail conditions.

It is occasionally tough to deal with nail fungi. Its a risky infection to overlook, due to the fact that it can turn into a much more serious one otherwise taken care of.

If you have toe fungi, we will certainly be talking about how you can efficiently remove it as well as help prevent it from reoccurring ever once again.

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What Is The Outlook For Someone With Toenail Fungus

While toenail fungus is common, its usually not harmful. Symptoms mostly affect the look of your toenail.

Toenail fungus may spread to the skin between your toes or other areas of your body. When getting dressed, put your socks on first to reduce the chance of spread.

Treating toenail fungus takes a long time, and it doesnt always work. Even then, toenail fungus often returns. Discuss the pros and cons of treating toenail fungus with your provider to determine whats best for you.

Practicing good hygiene and foot care reduces the chance toenail fungus will come back. If you have diabetes, getting regular foot exams may help you address foot problems before they get serious.

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What Are The Symptoms

A nail with a fungal infection may:

• Turn yellow or white.
• Get thicker.
• Crumble and split, and it may separate from the skin.

When you have a fungal nail infection, it can be uncomfortable or even painful to wear shoes, walk, or stand for a long time. The fungus could also spread to other nails or your skin. Over time, the infection can cause permanent damage to your nail or nail bed.

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Concerns What Kind Of Doctor Should I See For Toe Nail Fungus

Nail fungi can trigger extreme soreness as well as can harm your nail completely.

Furthermore, those with a suppressed immune system, who take drug or experience diabetic issues or other medical issues, might create severe infections that spread beyond their feet.

The blood supply and circulation to your feet might be reduced if you have diabetes mellitus. As well as having a higher danger of bacterial infections , youre more likely to experience rashes.

You should avoid this spice if you are suffering from toe or skin fungus. As a result, any trivial injury to your feet, like an infection in your nails, can cause an even worse repercussion. Diabetic issues clients that create nail fungus must see their doctor.

Fungal infections can establish in nails because of athletes foot and can spread from one nail to another. Infections from other individuals are unusual, nevertheless.

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Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus

There are various symptoms to watch out for when you are trying to self-diagnose toenail fungus. These symptoms can include:

• The toenail becoming brittle and ragged with edges that seem to be crumbling.
• A thickening of the toenail that is more than normal.
• The toenail growing into a distorted shape and thickening as it grows.
• When the nail turns a darker shade because of trapped dirt.
• There is a foul smell coming from the nail itself.
• The toenail is turning a different colorlike a yellow-brown or a white-yellow.

If you are experiencing any or more of these symptoms, it might be time to try some home remedies or treatments. You can either deal with them at home, by using over-the-counter medications like nail creams or ointments. Or you can alter the nail yourself and then add the medication. Altering the nail may include thinning it down with a file or trimming it down with a clipper or nail scissors. Being able to get to the infected parts of the nail is important when applying medicine.

Dont get to this point if you can. There are a few preventative care measures you can take right now of your nail:

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How To Prepare To See Your Doctor

• List any symptoms, even ones that you feel are not likely related to your nail condition. This can affect your doctors treatment choices.
• List any medications that you are currently taking. Some nail fungus treatments may have interactions with other drugs. List any allergies or other personal information that may be relevant.
• Inform the doctor of any other health problems that you have. Conditions like cancer, diabetes and psoriasis can make you more vulnerable to infection or could make certain treatment options not good for you.

What Causes Infections In Ingrown Toenails

Fungi and bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Candida, Staphylococcus, Trichophyton, and Dermatophytes like breeding in moist and warm feet surroundings. In case an ingrown nail breaks the skin, these bacteria invade the area and cause an infection.An infected ingrown toenail is medically referred to as paronychia. Treating it is very important to have health feet and toenails. Moreover, if an infected ingrown toenail is ignored and not treated chronic pain, cellulitis, bone infection, and disfigurement will be the result.

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Topical Prescriptions What Kind Of Doctor Should I See For Toe Nail Fungus

A variety of effective items are readily available, such as efinaconazole , tavaborole , as well as ciclopirox .

You may need to apply everyday for a long time prior to you see recognizable results.

Because they zap fungi externally of the nail, these products may work for early, surface fungal infections. The surface of the nail may require to be submitted to enable them to get to much deeper in. A research study uncovered that they had a remedy rate of around 35%.

How Are Fungal Nail Infections Treated

Treatment isnt always necessarydepending on the severity of your conditionbut it is recommended simply because it might be contagious. Not only can you spread the condition to someone else, but depending on the type of fungus, can also spread to infect your other toes.

For mild cases of toenail fungus, your doctor will likely start with conservative treatments. These may include prescription anti-fungal oral medications or topical solutions. For patients who exhibit severe symptomsor for those who do not respond to medicationthe doctor may recommend nail avulsion surgery. During this procedure, the nail plate is removed and chemical treatments are introduced to treat the infection.Contact your podiatrist for more information or to schedule a consultation.

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The Initial Causes What Kind Of Doctor To See For Nail Fungus

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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What Does A Bacterial Nail Infection Look Like

Symptoms. Acute paronychia presents with localized pain and tenderness of the skin around the nail. The skin appears reddened and swollen, and the infection may discolor the nail or lead to distortion of its shape. In more severe cases, pus may collect and form an abscess at the base or sides of the nail.

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• Nails support and protect the sensitive tips of our fingers and toes.
• Common causes of nail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Some conditions need professional treatment from a doctor or a dermatologist.
• People with diabetes or compromised immune systems have a higher risk of fungal nail infections.
• Toenail problems tend to be more common among older people.

Take A Full Medical History

“The first step is to take a history of the problem,” says podiatrist , DPM, CEO of HappyFeet LLC. “In other words, I want to know how long have you had this and what previous treatment you’ve had.” A podiatrist needs to understand the extent of the problem and any other medical factors which may influence their choice of toenail fungus treatment. A full medical history is also important because the first line of defense is usually oral medication, but this treatment can have side effects for people with underlying health issues. Make sure you reveal everythinghere are 14 things to never lie to your doctor about.

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What Causes Toenail Fungus

It can happen to anyone at any age but is much more common in older adults. As a person ages, their nails become ever more brittle and dry, which leads to cracks in the nails that bacteria and detritus can enter through.

Toenail fungus is also caused by warm, wet environments. If you walk around with wet shoes or go without footwear when navigating public bathrooms or showers, this can lead to foot fungus issues.

If You Observe Certain Nail Changes

For prompt, effective treatment of your toe nail condition , you should see a podiatrist as soon as possible, especially if you notice certain changes to your nails. These abnormalities may include toenail deformities, discoloration, or thickening. By seeing a podiatrist as soon as possible, you can reduce the risk that youll suffer permanent damage to your toenails.

If you are in need of a foot doctor in Sugar Land, TX , visit Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists or call 281-242-3338.

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Discoloration Of The Nail Plates

Discoloration of the nail plates is usually the least worrisome of toenail problems.

Your nails are susceptible to discoloration from substances you come into contact with. Nail polish, dye from your shoes, and other products containing dye can stain your nails.

Drugs, including some cancer drugs, antibiotics, and those used to treat autoimmune disorders, can also cause discoloration of your nail plates.

Discoloration is usually not painful and will improve when your nail grows out or when you stop taking the medication or using the product that caused the discoloration.

There is a rare medical condition that can cause your nail plates to turn white.

Symptoms

Other than the discoloration, there arent usually any other symptoms associated with discolored nail beds.

Treating A Fungal Infection At Home

Sometimes, its possible to treat a fungal infection at home, although it can take a very long while and isnt always effective. If you wish to try, you will need to follow a cleansing routine daily for many months in order to suppress the infection. Some cosmetic issues related to toenail fungus can be resolved through filing off white markings and applying an over-the-counter antifungal medicine.

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Do I Need To See A Toenail Fungus Doctor

However, if youve tried these home remedies and youre noticing a marked increase or a lack of improvement in your symptoms, it is recommended you visit a doctor. Especially if the nail becomes painful.

If you are a person suffering from low circulation, a weakened immune system, and/or diabetes, it is also highly recommended that you skip the at-home treatments and go straight to seeing a foot fungus doctor, as you are at a higher risk of severe complications.

Essential Oils And Ozonized Oils

Several essential oils have been shown to be an effective toenail fungus treatment. “Research by our group and others has shown that essential oils may be cheap, efficient alternatives that have minimal side effects,”Professor Lígia Salgueiro and Professor Eugénia Pinto say in a news release. Lavender oil “shows wide-spectrum anti-fungal activity and is highly potent.” Tea tree oil also has anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cites some small-scale clinical studies suggesting that tea tree oil might be an effective home remedy. Plus, these are the best essential odors for combating foot odor. Oils such as olive oil and sunflower oil contain ozone gas. A 2011 study published in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology showed that small doses of this kind of ozone, applied over a short period, can eliminate fungus. A different study, conducted at the National Center for Scientific Research, Cuba, found that sunflower oil was more effective than the prescription drug Xolegel .

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Nail Changes A Dermatologist Should Examine

Have you noticed a change to any of your nails lately? A change in color, texture, or shape can be harmless, but it can also be a sign of disease. If you notice any of the following changes to a fingernail or toenail, its time to see a board-certified dermatologist.

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Treatment Options For Nail Diseases

There are a variety of treatment plans available, depending on the cause of your nail trouble. Nail fungus may be treated with an oral antifungal medication, but creams typically dont work against fungus. If you have a simple infection, it may go away on its own. You should talk with your doctor if you develop an abscess. If an underlying medical problem is causing your nail disease, you may also need to see a specialist. For example, psoriatic arthritis a nail disease linked to the skin condition psoriasis is treated by a rheumatologist as well as a dermatologist.

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Toenail Fungus Treatment In Houston Tx

The area of the toes is generally warm and damp, unfortunately making it a great area for fungus to grow. If left untreated, the fungal infection can spread, which is why its so important to get professional help early on and look into your treatment options.

Fungal infections occur due to fungus getting through the cracks of the toes or cuts in your skin. Common signs that you may have a fungal infection include thicker than normal toenails, oddly shaped toenails, discoloration, a yellowish hue to the nail, and separation of the nail and nail bed. Fungal infections can affect anyone but are most common among men, those with diabetes or athletes foot, and smokers. The risk of having toenail fungus also increases as you age, if another family member has it, and if you have a weaker immune system.