Is Toe Fungus Contagious
Toe fungus is not contagious in the general sense of catching it from someone else. The fungus cannot grow unless it has a damp place to hide, usually a nail that is detached or lifted.
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Treatment For A Fungal Nail Infection From A Gp
A GP can prescribe antifungal tablets. But before they give you tablets they should take a sample of your nail and have it tested, to find out what type of infection you have.
You may need to take antifungal tablets for up to 6 months.
The tablets can have side effects, including:
- feeling sick and diarrhoea
You cannot take antifungal tablets if you’re pregnant or have certain conditions. They can damage your liver.
Badly infected nails sometimes need to be removed. It’s a small procedure done while the area is numbed .
How To Prevent Both Foot And Toenail Fungus
While toenail fungus and foot fungus arent the same condition, the following tips can help you prevent both, says Sundling:
- Practice good hygiene, such as keeping your feet clean.
- Alternate your shoes during the week. Your feet sweat all day long. Alternating your shoes allows them to dry out, so the fungus cant survive.
- Wear moisture-wicking socks that help dry out shoes and kill fungus. You can find these at running stores and athletic stores. If your socks are exceptionally sweaty, changing them more than once per day can help.
- Wear shoes in public places like locker rooms, pools, and gyms to limit exposure to fungus.
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Why Undergo Nail Surgery
Nail fungus is an infection that usually affects toenails, but it can also infect fingernails. If left untreated, nails can become thick, brittle, with unsightly discoloration which can lead to part of the nail breaking. In some cases, it may be painful. At this point, surgical treatment might be necessary.What happens during surgical nail fungus treatment?
During surgical nail removal, a doctor will inject pain reliever medication in the affected toe or finger. The skin surrounding the nail will be loosened, and a tool will be used to remove only the diseased part. If the extent of infection is great, then consideration will be made to remove the whole nail.
How Long Will It Take For The Toenail To Grow Back
Toenails grow slowly, taking 6 to 18 months to reach a normal length.
Right after the surgery, you may experience tenderness, redness, and swelling. Elevating the affected toe above heart level for about 48 hours after the procedure will help decrease pain and swelling.
Take acetaminophen for any pain or discomfort. Avoid aspirin or NSAIDS , as these may increase the risk of bleeding.
Your doctor will provide instructions on how to change bandages, wash, and care for your toe. If you receive a prescription for oral antibiotics, be sure to continue taking them until theyre all gone.
It can take a few days to several weeks for full recovery. Much depends on the reason for the damaged toenail, whether your toe was also injured, and whether there was infection.
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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.
Over The Counter Treatment Options
Toenail fungus is treated by slowing the funguss growth which in turn minimizes the damage to the toenail. Nail fungus will most likely be diagnosed by the appearance the nails surface. Its important to understand that your nails may become thick or discolored for reasons besides a fungal infection. Your foot doctor may order lab tests by taking a sample of the nail to certain of the right diagnosis has been reached. Toenail fungus often penetrates into the nails and skin, which can make it resistant to treatment.
Be Aware! Toenail fungus removal There are number of over-the-counter medications that can be purchased for relief. However, these medications have only limited success in treating the problem, as the fungus has a tendency to live deep beneath the nail.
For this reason, its wise to contact Dr. Jarman your local Podiatrist in Gilbert AZ to treat the issue as soon as you notice nail changes, discoloration, or thickening.
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Does A Fungal Infection Require Toenail Removal
If you want to get rid of fungal toenails, you might think that the only option you may really have is to remove the toenails entirely.
And its not difficult to see why some people may think that, especially if the fungus has been around for a long time and has an appearance that is thick, discolored, and crumbling. It may be hard to imagine anything remedying the situation.
Outright removing your toenails, however, is the absolute last resort option for treating toenail fungus, and only performed in very rare cases. We would much rather use non-surgical forms of treatment that clear out the fungus and allow fresh, clear nail tissue to naturally grow in and take the place of old, damaged nails.
Removing A Dead Toenail
- Under : Helpful Tips
A dead toenail is a surprisingly common problem. Surgery and toenail removal may be necessary with an infection. If you have a difficult to treat fungal nail infection, or if you have a suppressed immune system or diabetes, your podiatrist may recommend removal of the affected toenail to prevent the infection from spreading to other toenails or beyond your feet.
This JAWS podiatry patient got stepped on while playing basketball. The nail had to come out. Toenail removal is a minor surgical procedure that removes either the entire toenail or a portion of the toenail that is diseased, damaged, or very painful.
JAWS podiatry: Your Hollywood, Florida Foot and Ankle Specialists
The exercises listed above are great ways to help keep your feet and ankles in shape. Another great way to do so is through partnering with the foot and ankle specialists at JAWS podiatry in Hollywood, Florida. We utilize the most advanced and non-invasive techniques to reduce pain and speed recovery for individuals suffering from foot and ankle problems. If youd like to learn more about the innovative and effective treatments we provide or how we can help you with your foot and ankle issues, please call us today at 922-7333 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Get in Touch
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How To Prevent Toenail Fungus
Here are some tips to help prevent infection or a recurrence of an infection:
- Wash your feet daily with soap.
- After showering, always carefully dry your feet, making sure to dry between your toes.
- Check your feet and toenails regularly. Look for signs of a toenail infection or any changes in your feet or nails.
- Keep your toenails trimmed. When cutting your nails, be sure to cut them straight across and short.
- Choose socks that can wick away moisture to keep your feet dry even if they sweat. Change out your socks if they become damp.
- Do not go barefoot in public. If you are in a wet public area such as a locker room, shower, or pool area, wear shower shoes or flip flops to protect your feet.
- Choose breathable styles of footwear that have mesh or ventilation and are made from a material such as canvas. Alternate footwear, so you are not wearing the same shoes every day. This gives the shoes time to breathe and dry out between wears.
- Do not share personal items with other people. Items such as socks, towels, nail clippers, or nail files should only be used by one individual.
- After using an item such as a nail clipper, disinfect it with rubbing alcohol.
- Use caution when getting a pedicure and choose a salon that disinfects the equipment used on your feet and has sanitary measures in place.
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Fast Fact: Damaged Not Dead
While a severely damaged toenail may look dead, its actually just damaged. All nails, including toenails, are made of a tough, non-living substance called keratin. So, technically, the nails on your toes are already dead, which is why it doesnt hurt when you trim your nails.
Toenails can become damaged for a variety of reasons, from trauma to fungal infection to complications from an ingrown toenail.
In many cases, these conditions can be treated without removing the nail. A doctor can determine the cause and full scope of the problem and help you understand all your options.
Lets go over the reasons you shouldnt remove a toenail on your own, as well as the method a doctor will use, and what to expect after the procedure.
There are several ways a damaged toenail can be partially or completely removed. A doctor can perform these office-based procedures rather quickly and much more safely than you can at home.
What To Do If Youre Losing A Toenail To Fungus
There are only a few reasons why your toenail might fall off: injury, medical removal, or toenail fungus.
If youâre dealing with thickened, yellowed toenails that are brittle and becoming misshapen — youâre certainly not alone. Toenail fungus is extremely common. Experts estimate that onychomycosis, the medical term for toenail fungus, affects 1 in 10 people.
If left untreated, severe toenail fungal infections can cause toenail detachment. In this article, we detail why this happens and what to do next.
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What If Nail Removal Is Considered
With laser therapy, topical medications, and oral antifungals in our arsenal, we almost never have to actually remove toenails to treat a fungal infection. It does still remain a rare possibility, however, if the case is extreme or continues to come back.
Why not consider nail removal earlier? Because when nails are fully removed, it doesnt necessarily guarantee that the new nail will grow in properly. The nail can grow back misshapened, thickened, or even with fungus re-infecting the toenail – leading you back to square one.
If the new nail comes back in an unpleasant manner or the fungus just continues coming back no matter what, we can treat the underlying nail matrix to prevent new nail from ever growing again . This does not place your nails at any real disadvantage, but its still nice to be able to keep your toenails if you can!
How Can I Prevent Toenail Fungus
Theres no way to guarantee you wont get toenail fungus. But you can take several steps to help prevent it:
- Avoid going barefoot in communal areas such as public showers, locker rooms and swimming pools. Most people pick up fungus in these situations. It helps to wear flip flops in these public areas.
- If you have a family member with foot fungus or nail fungus, try to use a different shower or wear flip flops in the shower to avoid coming in contact with it.
- Trauma due to accidental or aggressive clipping of the nails can turn into portals of entry for the fungus.
- Clean your nail trimmer before using it.
- Dont tear or rip your toenails on purpose.
- If you have diabetes, follow all foot care recommendations from your healthcare provider.
- Keep your feet dry. Make sure to fully dry your feet after a shower.
- Soak toenails in warm water before cutting them. Or you can cut your nails after a shower or bath.
- Trim toenails straight across .
- Wear shoes that fit correctly. They shouldnt be too loose or tight around the toes.
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Why You Should Not Remove A Damaged Toenail At Home
Theres no shortage of advice out there on how to remove your own toenail, but its a risky undertaking. Crucially, there could be more damage to your toe than is visible to the naked eye.
Any misstep and you may end up adding to your problems, and needing more intervention than if a doctor performed the procedure in the first place.
Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus
If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.
Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
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Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women’s Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
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Verywell Health / Peter Ardito
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. If left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.
Why Does Toenail Fungus Cause Nails To Fall Off
Toenail fungus is a pesky thing, and it likes to grow in the space between your toe, your toenail, as well as inside the nail itself. If this fungus is left unchecked and is allowed to run rampant, it can eventually cause the nail to slowly separate from the nail bed.
This can eventually cause a total detachment of the nail.
In addition, toenail fungus can cause the nail to become very brittle and easily broken. Accidental injury can be another reason for losing a toenail to nail fungus.
And I know what youâre thinking. âIf it falls off — great! Now Iâm rid of it.â
But itâs not that simple.
If your toenail falls off without fungal treatment, as it grows back in it will likely become reinfected.
If your infected toenail falls off, start using topical antifungal treatments so as your nail grows back it wonât be infected with the same lingering fungus.
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If I Have My Fungal Toenail Removed Will The Fungal Nail Grow Back
Toenail removal may be recommended if your toenail is thickened and painful. Sometimes, the doctor may recommend this as part of a complete fungal treatment plan. Toenail fungus actually lives not only on the nail but also on the nailbed itself. If the toenail is removed, this exposes the nailbed so that topical medications can penetrate the nail bed as the nail is growing back, which may result in a better efficacy of topical nail medications. Our practice recommends Tocylen. However, the toenail may grow back thickened, and if this is the case, there are other options that our doctors will be able to discuss with you. In rare cases, permanent nail removal can be an option depending on your circumstances. Your best bet is to make an appointment with one of our doctors for a full evaluation. You may not need to have that fungal toenail removed!
What Happens During The Surgery
Nail surgery can be done in your doctorâs office. Before it starts, your doctor numbs the area around your nail. If youâve ever had your gums numbed at the dentistâs, itâs very similar. Youâll be awake for the surgery, but you wonât feel any pain.
Once the area around the nail is numb, your doctor uses special tools to remove the entire nail or just the infected piece.
In severe cases, they may have to destroy the nail matrix, which is what makes your nail grow back.
After the surgery, your doctor usually applies antibiotic cream and a bandage around your nailbed, which is the area under where your nail used to be. The antibiotic helps make sure you donât get a bacterial infection.
The surgery usually takes less than an hour.
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