What Are The Risks Of Leaving Toenail Fungus Untreated
Some of the risk factors include:
- Thick, misshapen toenails that cause pain when walking or wearing shoes.
- Spread of the fungus, resulting in athletes foot, or to the genitals, resulting in jock itch.
- Widespread infection resulting in cellulitis, which is a risk especially for individuals with a compromised immune system.
- Avulsion or loss of nails if the infection isnt treated or doesnt get better.
What You Have Tried And Havent Tried
A lot of patients try over-the-counter anti-fungal medications, however, these are rarely effective enough to get rid of them. We have several options in our office that have been proven to work better than over-the-counter medications and that are better at penetrating through the thick nail plate. Also, oral medications when combined with topicals have better success in ridding the nail of fungus and may be an option for you. Our doctor will discuss with you the treatment options that will give the best results for your affected nails and also discuss the risks and benefits of each medication option. Since fungus is often difficult to get rid of, sometimes medications are done in combinations and may be beneficial for you.
Do You Need The Help Of An Experienced And Caring Podiatrist Contact Our El Paso Foot Doctor Today
If youâre experiencing any type of foot pain you should speak with an experienced podiatrist as soon as possible. Please contact us online to schedule your appoinment or call one of our convenient El Paso offices directly. To reach our Sierra Tower Building podiatrist office please call 915.533.5151. You can find driving directions here. To reach our George Dieter Drive podiatry office please call 915.856.3331. Driving directions are available here.
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How Can A Podiatrist Treat My Nail Fungus
posted: Aug. 25, 2020.
Is it time that you turned to a podiatrist to treat your nail fungus?
Has one of your toenails become brittle and yellow? Is the nail starting to thicken, making it uncomfortable to wear your everyday shoes? If so, then you could be dealing with a nail fungus. This is a common problem that occurs more often in older adults. While you may choose to try over-the-counter medications first, if you arent getting relief from your symptoms then you must turn to our Fort Walton Beach and Crestview FL podiatrists Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel.
When should I see a podiatrist about toenail fungus?
Some people can get the results they need from over-the-counter medication however, this isnt always the case. Antifungal creams are unable to penetrate through the nail, which means that the medication often doesnt get to the infection. Therefore, if youve been trying to treat this problem on your own and you dont notice any changes then this is a sign that its time to see a podiatrist.
How can a podiatrist treat my nail fungus?
One way your podiatrist may treat your nail fungus is with an oral antifungal medication, that works systemically rather than being applied locally to the infected area. This makes it far more effective than an over-the-counter cream designed to treat nail infections .
What should I expect from laser treatment?
What You Need To Know About Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is the scientific name for nail fungus. The condition can be caused by a number of things, such as an injury to the nail. A weakened immune system makes it difficult to fight off the fungi. Diabetes also increases the risk of fungal nail infections. These treatments are often painful and require several months of treatment. Usually, the best option for treating nail fungus is to consult a doctor and seek treatment.
One of the first things to do is visit your primary care physician, who can prescribe a prescription for an anti-fungal medication. The medication can be applied to the affected area and is designed to work on the infected area. However, it is recommended that people with a serious infection consult a medical practitioner before starting the treatment. Topical medications require daily application and can affect other medical conditions. The best treatment is a combination of oral and topical medications.
If you have a fungal infection, you must avoid wearing shoes or socks. While you should not walk while wearing shoes, you should avoid using artificial nails. If your toe is impacted, it is important to have your nail trimmed straight across. If possible, wear comfortable socks and change your shoes in public places. A doctor will often send the clippings to a lab for identification. Changing your socks and wearing sneakers is also recommended.
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Do Podiatrists Trim Toenails
Proper toenail care is important for healthy feet. You may or may not be able to care for your toenails at home. If you are unable to do so, a podiatrist will be able to trim your toenails properly.
- Although trimming toenails seem simple, you have no idea of how many do this the wrong way and end up damaging their toes.
- There are so many mistakes that people make while trimming their toenails. Some may cut and pick too much towards sides.
- Some might cut them too short, which will make your toenail grow into the skin.
- Too much cutting and rounding toenails can lead to ingrowing toenails, which can be excruciatingly painful. Kin.
- Some may use scissors instead of using a nail clipper. If the tools you use to cut toenails are not clean and sterile, they can introduce germs to your skin.
Adult And Pediatric Podiatrists/foot And Ankle Surgery Located In Wayne Nj
Toenail fungus affects 20% of all Americans, and by age 60, 75% of adults experience this frustrating problem. If your nail looks white, yellow, ragged, or thicker than usual, its time to see skilled podiatrists Heidi Godoy, DPM, and Johanna Godoy, DPM, at Alps Road Family Foot & Ankle. The experienced doctors can administer fungal nail care right away to help you clear your infected nail quickly. Call the Wayne, New Jersey, office or book your visit online today.
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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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If you suspect your nails are infected with fungus, it is important to see a doctor. You should consult a doctor for treatment. A nail fungus can be treated with home remedies. Baking soda and vinegar can also help to eliminate the fungus. In some cases, you can even apply a diluted solution of one of these solutions. You should avoid touching the affected area as it may cause further complications.
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Causes Of Toenail Fungus
Our feet come into contact with so many microorganisms, including fungi. Your toenails are especially susceptible around damp areas where youre likely to be barefoot, including pools, showers, lakes, rivers, and locker rooms. Fungus working its way under the nailbed in these conditions is a common cause of toenail fungus issues.
Injured toenails are another cause of toenail fungus. If your nail bed is injured, whether you stub your toe or have too much pressure against the nails from shoes, it can lead to an infection.
Finally, those who suffer from chronic diseases are more susceptible to toenail fungus. This includes diabetics, immunocompromised individuals, and those with poor circulation. All of these illnesses make the feet more prone to fungal infections.
What Toenail Fungus Treatment Is Available
So youre wondering how to treat toenail fungus. Until relatively recently, toenail fungus treatment has been limited to topical anti-fungal creams/nail lacquer and oral medication. Theyve had some success but come with many downsides.
The antifungal cream/lacquer has the lowest success rate. Unless you have mild toenail fungus, it will likely not be able to reach the infection in or under the nail. Prescribed oral medications work better but have medical risks and react with other prescription drugs.
Side effects may include elevated liver enzymes that can lead to liver failure, headaches, stomach discomfort, loss of taste, and lupus-like symptoms.
Both topicals and oral meds require long-term applications and topicals can get quite expensive. Topical antifungals can take up to a year to show results. With oral medication, you may need to take up to a four-month course.
Another treatment option is to have your entire nail surgically removed. This, however, hasnt proven to be successful.
Since these treatments are lacking, people began looking for toenail fungus alternative treatments. Enter laser therapy. Studies show its success in clearing fungal infection and so it was FDA cleared and began to be a top-pick in treating toenail fungus.
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How Is A Toenail Fungus Diagnosed
A podiatrist can generally identify the presence of a fungal infection through a physical examination of the toenails. In some cases, they may take clippings of the affected nail for further examination in order to determine the precise type of infection in order to help decide the best course of treatment.
Ive Tried Everything And Still Am Not Getting Anywhere
One of the newer concepts to fighting nail fungus is laser therapy that is cleared by the FDA for treating nail fungus. Our doctor does laser therapy for fungal nails in our office. Laser therapy is painless and fast with no recovery time needed. It is also very safe and does not use any chemicals on the nails. Laser therapy is performed in the office setting during your office visit. The laser penetrates through the nail into the nail bed region where the fungus is causing the infection and kills the fungal organisms so your nail can grow normally again. Sometimes, laser therapy is treated in combination with other treatments. The longer you have had fungus of the nails, usually, the longer it is to get rid of the fungus. Laser therapy is performed by our doctor and staff in the office who is certified in laser therapies and treatments. This is a great option for fungal nails that dont respond to other treatments.
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Know It Need Not Be Your Only Option
As already mentioned, nail removal is usually a last resort, after other methods have failed to be effective. As such, your doctor is not likely to recommend or even mention nail removal before trying oral and topical medications, ointments, and various other treatments.
Depending on the precise issue, many people have found great success and healing using all kinds of other treatments. Because nail fungus is a very common reason for toenail removal, look at thesedifferentoptions for how to safely and effectively treat toenail fungus.
However, the more severe the case and the longer it has gone without treatment, the more likely your doctor will insist on nail removal as the only possible option.
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Verywell / Sabrina Jiang
Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails. When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. But if left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.
The fungus often begins in the form of athleteâs foot between the toes or on the soles of the feet. At this stage, the fungal infection is easier to treat with over-the-counter medication. But Shari Lipner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, told Verywell Health toenail fungus can be difficult to treat because of how slow the nails grow. The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies, she says.
Diagnosing the fungal infection early is key to make treatments effective. Dr. Lipner recommends visiting a board-certified dermatologist to properly treat the infection if it grows to be too severe.
Here are a few of the best over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments on the market.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Toenail Fungus
While toenail fungus can affect people at any age, it is most likely in older adults. You are more likely to get a fungal infection if you have reduced circulation due to diabetes or an autoimmune condition. Your risk is also heightened if your feet sweat a lot, or if you often get athletes foot. Sores or wounds on the feet may make you more prone to developing a severe fungal infection
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What Are The Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus typically starts as a small white or yellow spot that eventually causes discoloration to your entire nail. Although toenail fungus may appear on one of your toes, it easily spreads, ultimately affecting multiple toes.
In addition to discoloration, symptoms of toenail fungus include:
- Thickened or hardened nails
- Brittle or crumbly nails
Toenail fungus can also cause your nails to distort and develop an abnormal shape. In some cases, severe toenail fungus is painful and can lead to other problems like infection.
Do Podiatrists Treat Toenail Fungus
Any people dealing with the self-consciousness caused by the problem of unsightly toenails probably ask themselves whether or not podiatrists do, in fact, treat toenail fungus. Because this is an issue which many people avoid talking about, for whatever reason, they often do not know which course of action to take with regards to treatment.
This particular type of foot problem is not detrimental to ones health but it can have a debilitating effect on a persons sense of self-worth and confidence. Many of us take for granted the fact that we can walk barefoot or wear open-toed shoes without a second thought. There are those who do not have the same luxury and if you are one of those people you may wish to continue reading on.
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Q: Does Medicare Pay For Diabetic Shoes And Custom Orthotics
A: Medicare will cover diabetic shoes and inserts with some patients.
- Patients must meet and have specific qualifying conditions that must be verified by the Physician managing their diabetes.
- If you have diabetes, you should have an annual foot evaluation performed by a foot doctor or podiatrist to determine if you are eligible for this benefit through Medicare and other insurance carriers.
Do Over The Counter Topical Ointments Work
While a search for toenail fungus treatment is likely to recommend the use of topical ointments you can buy from any pharmacy, according to Dr. Wagenseller, Toenail fungus rarely responds to treatment with these topical creams. In order to experience any improvement at all, patients may need to use the over the counter topical creams for years, and once they discontinue use, patients will likely develop toenail fungus again.
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What Happens If I Dont Treat Toenail Fungus
According to Dr. Wagenseller, In many cases, it is not necessary to treat toenail fungus, and the condition is more often a cosmetic concern. If the appearance of your toenails is your biggest concern, you may want to forego medications that can have serious side effects. If the fungal infection is more serious and you notice a foul-smelling discharge or other signs of infection, treatment is necessary to ensure your whole body health and safety. Otherwise, determining whether or not to treat toenail fungus is really a matter of personal preference.
Choose The Best Shoes
As long as your feet as well as socks stay enclosed in difficult, hot footwear, fungi prospers.
If you use them, ensure theyre not also constricted and that you have adequate area for your feet. Leather is a good material for shoes.
To maintain your feet completely dry and also comfy, select socks made from synthetic fibers rather than cotton or woollen. There is a process called wicking.
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