How To Tell If You Have A Toenail Fungus
Microscopic fungi are everywhere. Gyms, pools, locker rooms, hot tubs, and saunas provide excellent breeding grounds for fungal infections. If you walk barefoot in a locker room and then immediately put on socks, those fungi can reproduce exponentially on your feet and toes.
Your toes are responsible to help you balance as you stand, walk, and run so proper foot care is crucial as they bear the entire weight of your body every day. If toenails are showing a sudden change, its a good idea to seek a doctors opinion.
Toenail fungal infections are more common in older people. This is due to their reduced blood flow and the fact that their nails are growing more slowly, allowing more time for fungi to grow unhindered.
Facts You Should Know About Fungal Nails
Many changes in fingernails or toenails may cause people to think they have a fungal infection of the nails, medically known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium.
Fungal infection of the nails sometimes makes the condition sound contagious or related to poor hygiene. In fact, up to 10% of all adults in Western countries have fungal infection of the nails. This percentage increases to 20% of adults who are age 60 or older. Toenail fungus is much more common than fingernail fungus.
In reality, abnormal-looking nails may be caused by a number of conditions including, but not limited to, fungal infection. There are many other reasons why your nails may look different.
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Can It Spread To Other Areas Of The Body
It is possible but its usually contained to the toes or feet.
When it spreads, a fungal toenail infection usually spreads to other nails, the webbed area in between the toes, and sometimes the whole foot.
In some cases, a fungal toenail infection can spread to the groin or to the scalp, but this is not common.
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Get Rid Of Your Toenail Fungus Asap
Whether you are seeing early signs of a fungal toenail infection or your toes are already deep in the thick of it, there is no reason to wait any more to receive the treatment you need.
The longer an infection goes unaddressed, the firmer a hold it will have within the nail and the more challenging it will be to treat. We are still up to that challenge, of course, but we would rather save our patients as much time and effort as possible!
Our team at Family Foot Care & Surgery will carefully examine your case and provide our best recommendations for a course of action. The sooner the fungus is destroyed, the sooner your nails can heal, and the better you can avoid more substantial damage.
Call our offices in Milford, or Hamden, , to schedule an appointment with us, or fill out our online contact form if you prefer to reach us electronically instead.
Take Care Of Your Toes
Use soap and water to wash your feet, and dry well, including between toes. Trim your toenails — straight across — to keep them shorter than the end of your toe. Make sure the tools you use are clean, too. Wash clippers and files with soap and water, then wipe with rubbing alcohol. You might be tempted to cover up discolored nails with polish, but don’t. Your nail bed can’t “breathe,” which keeps fungus from going away.
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Symptoms Of A Fungal Nail Infection
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first.
As it progresses, the infection can cause:
- discolouration of the nail it may turn white, black, yellow or green
- thickening and distortion of the nail it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim
- pain or discomfort particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger
- brittle or crumbly nails pieces may break off and come away completely
Sometimes the skin nearby may also become infected. The skin can be itchy and cracked or red and swollen.
How To Know If Toenail Fungus Is Dying
You want to know how to tell if nail fungus is going away, but it might not always be initially apparent. These types of infections can be difficult to treat, and they can take a long time. Depending on how bad the infection is, it might take from three to 18 months to clear up.
Regardless of the type of treatment you choose, whether you are using home remedies, over-the-counter antifungals, or a prescription from a doctor, it will take some time. When you are undergoing your treatment, you will want to pay close attention to your nails, so you can see when it starts to work. you will look for a new, healthy nail that is growing from the nailbed.
Of course, you will want to keep in mind that it can take quite a while for a full toenail to grow back. On average, a nail is going to grow about 1.62 mm per month. This means that it is going to take a few months to start to see significant progress. It is important to remain steadfast with whatever treatments you use to get to that point. If your infection isnt entirely gone and you stop treatment, it will likely return.
The area of the nail that has been infected wont ever get rid of the infection no matter what sort of treatment you use. What you will need to do instead is continue to trim your nail as it grows until all of the nail that was infected is gone. Make sure you clean and disinfect your clippers when you use them, as well. Otherwise, you might spread the fungus.
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How Do Providers Treat Fungal Sinusitis
Fungal sinusitis treatments vary. People with healthy immune systems may not need treatment for some types of fungal sinus infections. Invasive fungal sinus infections require immediate treatment.
Treatments include:
- Antifungal medications: Some types of infection require medications to kill the fungus. Providers usually prescribe these drugs along with surgery.
- Corticosteroid medications: Your provider may prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation and relieve sinus pressure.
- Nasal wash: To treat saprophytic fungal sinusitis, providers remove crusts of mucus and wash out the sinuses. They usually use a saline solution to cleanse the sinus cavities.
- Surgery: Depending on the type of infection, your provider may do traditional surgery or minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. They insert a long, flexible tube with a camera into your nose and use tiny tools to remove the fungus, fungal ball and any damaged tissue.
What Causes Scalp Infections / How Do Scalp Infections Happen
The main type of fungal infection on the scalp that can cause hair loss comes from a class of fungi called dermatophytesâwhich cause ringworm. Ringworm is an infection that can develop anywhere on the bodyâitâs also responsible for athleteâs foot and nail fungus. Also known as tinea capitis, ringworm normally starts out looking like a pimple on the scalp and then expands making the skin scaly and red. In fact, ringworm is often confused for dandruff, as the symptoms are similar.
Another form of fungal infection on the scalp is a scalp yeast infection. Yeast infections can form on or in any part of the bodyâ feet and fingernails are common victims. A scalp yeast infection, however, is caused by too much yeast on the scalp. A result of unbalanced conditions on the scalp, some common conditions that contribute to a scalp yeast infection are:
- Chemicals in hair products
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What Are The Sinuses
The sinuses are hollow, interconnected spaces inside your skull. They extend across your forehead, behind your nose, between your eyes and under your cheekbones. Sinus walls have a layer of mucus that traps bacteria and keeps the air inside moist.
Sinuses need to drain frequently. If theres a blockage or inflammation, the sinuses dont work like they should.
Top 5 Signs Your Toenail Fungus May Have Escalated To An Infection
A little case of toenail fungus is practically a rite of passage you quickly learn not to go barefoot in a locker room or shared shower area again and to always pack clean socks. But what happens when your toenail problem goes beyond a suspect smell and yellowed appearance?
At Rocky Mountain Foot and Ankle Center, with locations in Wheat Ridge, Granby, Evergreen, and Arvada, Colorado, our team of podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons provide care for fungal toenail infections and much more. They believe in educating patients about skin and nail care so you can help avoid common problems and keep your feet healthy and strong.
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How Long Does Toenail Fungus Treatment Take
This process may take up to a year for your nail to fully grow out the infected nail.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association says fingernails typically grow out in 4 – 6 months while toenails take can take 12 to 18 months.
However, the physical appearance might noticeably improve within a few months. Even if the physical appearance is better, donât stop treating the nail as reinfection is very possible.
What Is Fungal Infection
Fungal infections can affect anyone, and they can appear on several parts of the body. A jock with athletes foot, a baby with thrush, and a woman with a vaginal yeast infection are just a few examples.
Fungi are microorganisms characterized by a substance in their cell walls called chitin. Some fungi, like many types of mushrooms, are edible. Other types of fungi, like aspergillus, can be extremely dangerous and lead to life-threatening diseases.
Different types of fungi can cause fungal infections. In some cases, fungi that arent typically found on or inside your body can colonize it and cause an infection. In other cases, fungi that are normally present on or inside your body can multiply out of control and cause an infection.
Fungal infections can be contagious. They can spread from one person to another. In some cases, you can also catch disease-causing fungi from infected animals or contaminated soil or surfaces.
If you develop signs or symptoms of a fungal infection, make an appointment with your doctor.
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What Are The Signs The Treatment Is Working
In some cases, you might not really see sure signs that the fungi are âdyingâ per se. But you might begin to see some subtle changes in the appearance of your infected nail.
If you see these signs, itâs a good thing, but donât optimistically stop treatment. Even if you have great physical changes, it doesnât mean the fungus is gone — keep on treating it as long as your doctor recommends.
Here are some positive initial signs your treatment is working:
Changes in color
Toenail fungus can cause the nail to become white, yellow, black, or brown. As the fungus diminishes, the discoloration of the nail might slowly dissipate. Over time, youâll see areas of discoloration get smaller and smaller.
If your toenail infection has caused your nails to become thick and raised off your nailbed, a sign of effective treatment is a decrease in nail thickness. However, this might not totally resolve until your nail regrows.
New nail growth is healthy
Over time the new growth will begin to show at the base of your nail. If the treatment is working, the new growth should be healthy and will likely look a little different from the upper part of the nail.
Clear delineation between new nail growth and infected nail
With time, this new growth will become longer and longer, making its way to the top of your nail. As this happens you might see a clear line between healthy new growth and the older infected nail.
Living With A Nail Fungal Infection
If you have a nail fungal infection, some things can help:
- Keep your nails cut short and file down any thick areas.
- Dont use the same nail trimmer and file on healthy nails and infected nails. If you have your nails professionally manicured, bring your own nail file and trimmer from home.
- Wear waterproof gloves for wet work . Wear 100% cotton gloves for dry work.
- Wear socks made of wicking material . This pulls moisture away from the skin. Change your socks when they are damp from sweat or if your feet get wet. Put on clean, dry socks every day. Put over-the-counter antifungal foot powder inside your socks to keep your feet dry.
- Wear shoes with good support and a wide toe area. Dont wear pointed shoes that press your toes together.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms.
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What Are Different Types Of Skin Rashes
The medical name for a fungal skin infection is tinea. Types of fungal infections include:
- Athletes foot : The most common type of fungal infection, this condition often spreads when people walk barefoot in public bathrooms or locker rooms. The skin between your toes turns white and starts to peel. Athletes foot can also affect the soles of the feet.
- Nail fungus : This infection is a common foot problem. It usually affects the toenails, which become yellow and thick and break easily.
- Jock itch : A rash of the groin area, jock itch affects more men than women.
- Scalp ringworm : This rash occurs mostly in children. It causes hair loss, but with the right treatment, the hair usually grows back.
- Ringworm : This catch-all term is what healthcare providers call a rash that doesnt fit into any other category. The rash often forms a ring shape.
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Both Conditions Have Similar Symptoms But Are Treated Differently
To make this situation more complicated, patients with psoriasis are at a higher risk for nail funguses.2 Both nail fungus and nail psoriasis can have similar symptoms but are treated very differently.
This article will discuss some of the similarities, differences, risk factors and treatments of both nail fungus and nail psoriasis.
Can I Treat A Fungal Rash At Home
Its important for your healthcare provider to see the rash, especially if this is the first time the rash has appeared. Your provider can diagnose it and discuss the best course of action to treat it. Treating a fungal rash with an anti-itch cream that contains a steroid may make the infection worse and more difficult to treat.
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How Can I Prevent A Fungal Rash
In some people, fungal rashes tend to come back even after treatment. Recurring infections may be due to genetics you may be more prone to developing these infections. These steps can help prevent a rash from recurring or developing in the first place:
Good foot hygiene
- Change your socks and wash your feet regularly. Avoid shoes made of plastic, which doesnt breathe.
- Dont walk barefoot, especially in places that may be wet, such as gym showers and locker rooms.
- When cutting your toenails, cut straight across the nail. If you have an ingrown toenail, you may need to see a podiatrist to care for it. And if you have a fungal nail infection, dont use the same nail clippers on healthy nails and infected nails.
Proper medicine use
- If your healthcare provider prescribed a cream , use the medicine as long as directed. Even after you can no longer see the rash, the fungal infection may still be there, so keep applying the cream as long as your provider recommends.
- Your healthcare provider may recommend the same course of treatment for all the members of your family. Often, people living together can pass an infection back and forth. Treating everyone will help make sure the infection is truly gone.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should use an antifungal cream regularly on your feet and nails to help prevent infections.
- Using antifungal powder in your shoes every day may help prevent athletes foot.
How To Tell If Your Toenail Fungus Is Dying Off
If youâve found a good toenail fungus treatment and now are wondering about the signs your toenail fungus is finally dying off, youâve come to the right place.
In this short guide, we are going to walk you through what to expect when youâre treating toenail fungus.
This treatment can be a lengthy process, so itâs important to stick with it and see it all to the very end.
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Ugh How Did I Get Scalp Fungus
Sometimes a scalp infection forms on its own because of the conditions on your scalp. Medications, cleanliness, weather, and other elements can all play a role in scalp health. However, scalp fungus can also be spread through outside sources.
Ringworm, or scalp fungus, spread from person to person through touch or sharing towels. It can also spread via animals, as dogs and cats sometimes have fungal infections on their skin. It primarily affects children. The fungi spores can stay alive for a really long time and spread from hairbrushes and even furniture. It is even possible to get fungus because the spores were floating in the air and then landed on your head! Although it is really easy to catch a scalp fungus, it does not affect all people. Some are just carriers of the spores and pass them on to others.
