Risk Factors For Nail Fungal Infections
Toenail fungal infections are more common than fingernail fungal infections. And, while anyone is a potential candidate for toenail fungus, its most common in older adults. As we age, blood flow is reduced, which slows nail growth. This could result in dry and brittle nails that crack, creating an entry point for fungi.
You may also be more prone to onychomycosis if you:
- Have a history of athletes foot
- Sweat profusely, creating a breeding ground for fungus
- Walk barefoot in warm, damp areas that others use, such as gym showers and swimming pools where fungi can live
- Have nail or skin injuries or conditions that cause changes that allow the fungus to enter the nail bed
- Have diabetes or circulation problems that impact your immune response and nail health
When To See Your Doctor About Nail Infections
A mild case of onychomycosis may not be bothersome or require treatment. But as the condition worsens, you may experience:
- Thickened nails
- Discoloration, often yellow-brown or whitish coloring
- Change in nail texture, such as brittle or crumbling nails
- Change in the shape of your nailbed
- Odor ranging from mild to foul
If you notice any of these symptoms, you can try remedies such as:
- Over-the-counter products: Several antifungals are available without a prescription. File your nails then soak them in warm water. Dry the nail thoroughly before applying the medicated creams or ointments.
- Nail grooming: Keeping your nails trimmed can reduce pain and pressure from debris and nail buildup.
If the condition worsens, reach out to your primary care doctor or a dermatologist. To diagnose nail fungus, your doctor likely will take a sample of debris, nail or surrounding skin and send it to a laboratory.
What Symptoms Develop Due To Toenail Fungus
The first sign of a toenail fungus is a white or yellow spot that appears under the tip of your toenail. This discoloration marks the area where the fungus invaded.
As the infection spreads deeper into the toenail, the nails become thick and take on a yellow, green, or black color. Your toenail may become misshapen. Its also common for the nail to become fragile, making the edges crumble or crack.
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Types Of Common Fungal Nail Infections
In general, there are four types of fungal infections that affect the toes. These include:Distal subungual onychomycosis : This is the most commonly diagnosed and treated fungal infection. Also known as Athletes Foot, this infection spreads across the nail bed, which causes the nail to become discolored and weak.White superficial onychomycosis : Far less common than Athletes Foot, WSO causes white patches to appear across the entire nail.Candida onychomycosis: This chronic fungus is usually caused by trauma, and it causes the toenails to become bulbous or enlarged.Proximal subungual onychomycosis : This fungal infection causes yellow or white spots to appear near the base of the toenail.
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.
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Are Video Visits With A Toenail Fungus Doctor Online Covered By My Insurance
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Toenail Fungus doctors who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
People In Danger For Feet Fungus
You can establish nail fungi because of a variety of factors, such as:
- As we age, our blood flow slows down, we are more exposed to fungal infections, and also our nails grow much more gradually
- Sweating greatly
- Having actually had athletes foot in the past
- Walking with no feet cover in wet public areas, such as swimming pools, fitness centers as well as shower rooms
- Injuries to the skin or nails or skin problem, such as psoriasis, prevail
- A weak immune system, diabetes or blood circulation concerns
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How To Treat Severe Nail Fungal Infection
Some people opt not to do anything about their nail fungal infection because they are not bothered by it at all, or at least they have adapted to live with the condition. However, it is recommended that the infection is treated immediately because it might get worse.
For severe nail fungal infection cases, treatment is necessary. In such cases, the infection may even spread to other parts of the body and will compromise the overall health of the patient.
Doctors are likely to prescribe oral fungicidal medicines to treat severe nail fungal infections depending on the patients condition, medical history, other ailments, and restrictions. While oral treatments are generally considered effective, but they are slow in delivering results and they come with side effects. Therefore, doctors take into consideration their patients individual health records in prescribing oral fungicidal medications.
Its not the most common solution, but surgery is also sometimes recommended for extreme cases of onychomycosis. A part of the nail or the entire nail can be removed in the surgery, which can be done in a clinic or in the doctors office. By removing the nail, the fungi infection is also removed, allowing a new and healthy nail to grow back. It takes time for the new one to grow fully, though, and the fungi may even return during the recuperation period.
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Why Does This Condition Develop
The responsible microorganisms in this case are yeasts, molds, and fungi known as dermatophytes. They are typically found in environments that are warm and damp. Dermatophytes can thrive in the dark and do not require sunlight to survive.
If we take a moment to consider the ideal environment for funguswarm, damp, and darkit can almost perfectly describe a foot encased in a sock and shoe .
When the conditions are right, the offensive fungus will attach to unprotected feet. From there, it usually requires a cut or abrasion of some sort to nestle in and make itself at home. Given the microscopic nature of these fungal spores, the cut doesnt have to be particularly great in sizeeven tiny ones allow microorganisms to enter.
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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.
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Friendly and Courteous throughout my visit with a very easy to talk with Doctor who knows what he is doing! I was looking at a computer map when I saw the name of this office not far from where I live and called to make the appointment. Did not have to wait long and the service my feet got will remind me for all the months Iâll be waiting till the next visit:) My feet and I are very glad to have come!
â Carol S
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Dont Remove Your Toenails To Treat Fungus
Toenails should not be removed as a treatment for toenail fungus. The use of pills and medicine to treat nails can be more effective. If you have a serious infection or other treatments that do not work, you may need to remove the nails. The most effective, but least common, procedure to remove a nail and its root is to perform surgery.
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Which Nail Fungus Treatment Is Best
Dr. Tseng evaluates your nails and talks with you about your health history in an effort to find the best nail fungus treatment for your needs. Depending on the severity of your fungal nail infection, Dr. Tseng may recommend:
- Prescription topical nail polish or gel
- Nail debridement
- Medical laser treatments
If you have a severe or more stubborn case of nail fungus, Dr. Tseng may need to prescribe medications. Nail fungus drugs need to be taken for up to four months. Dr. Tseng runs blood tests to monitor your liver enzymes both before and after taking the medication. Throughout your treatment process, Dr. Tseng works diligently to restore your healthy, more clear nails.
Get started on your nail fungus treatment at the office of Dr. Henry Tseng right away. Book your nail fungus exam through the online scheduler or call either office directly.
Beware Of Common Scams
1. The one year satisfaction / money back guarantee.
- Truth: nail fungus often takes less than 3 months to see results. Offering this is like selling electronic product insurance. The seller knows that the likelihood of refunding is small. So please get your money back if you are not cured / satisfied. Then see us.
2. Laser limits.
- Truth: Laser should be offered as a cost effective ongoing treatment option because nail fungus can return at anytime. See our value based fungal laser treatment video and learn what real value we bring to the table with unlimited laser treatments as low as $50.00.
3. Non comprehensive offers.
- Truth: education and your participation are necessary to effectively treat your nail fungus. Take responsibility and work with us to control your long term outcome and ultimate satisfaction.
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Who Gets Toenail Fungus
Anyone can get toenail fungus, but this condition is more common in older adults. Nails become drier and more brittle with age, resulting in cracks that may allow fungi to enter.
Nail fungus thrives in damp, warm conditions. This means that athletes, especially those who spend a lot of time in water, may be more susceptible to getting nail fungus.
Other risk factors for nail fungus include:
- History of athletes foot
- Having diabetes
- Having a weakened immune system
Walking barefoot in communal areas that foster fungi, such as public pools, showers, and locker rooms, may also increase your risk of getting toenail fungus.
What Happens If You Dont See A Doctor For Toenail Fungus
Severe toenail fungus can lead to some serious issues, especially if you already have the pre-existing conditions listed above.
Toenail fungus, if left untreated, can lead to permanent disfiguration of the nail and infections that spread to other areas of the body, such as foot ulcers or even bacterial cellulitis of the leg.
Bacterial cellulitis is a skin infection, characterized by a red, swollen area that is hot to the touch. This can quickly spread to other tissues below the affected area and into the bloodstream. If left untreated, it can become life-threatening.
Your feet carry you throughout your life. Why not take good care of them?
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How Do You Know When To See A Toenail Fungus Doctor
For the reasons listed above, it is highly recommended to visit a doctor as soon as you start to feel any discomfort.
Dont try to stick it out! Its always better to be safe than sorry. Staying healthy is very important, especially for the body parts that carry you around!
Do you have any tips on seeing your doctor for toenail fungus?
How Does A Nail Fungus Start
Nail fungus infection is a common dermatological disorder that begins either under the nail or in the nail itself. It is mostly caused by a dermatophyte fungus, though there are cases that it is caused by Candida yeast as well. Also called onychomycosis, the condition affects both fingernails and toenails, though it is more prevalent in toenails. Fungi thrive in warm and moist environments, which perhaps describe a lot of footwear. Nail fungus infection can also start with the same dermatophyte fungus that causes athletes foot, the Trichophyton. So when a person has athletes foot, its also likely that the fungal infection would spread to the nails.
Fungal infection gives nails an abnormal appearance. The first sign of it may be a discolored dot on the nail or the skin under the nail. There may be white or yellow streaks on the nail, a crumbling corner or tip of the nail, flaking on the nails surface, yellow spots at the bottom of the nail, and scaling under the nail. The infected nail may also be thickened or brittle, and it may detach from the nail bed. In some cases, there may also be odor coming from the infected nail.
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What Is A Fungal Nail Infection
The most common infection of the nails is caused by an organism called fungus. Fungal nail infections, or onychomycosis, are more common on the toenails than the fingernails. It occurs in approximately 25% of people age 40, and 40% of older people. Nail fungus is characterized by thickened, discoloured and often deformed nails. It is essentially a cosmetic nuisance with no real risk to your health.
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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What Is The Outcome For Someone Who Has Nail Fungus
With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months.
To clear the fungus, its important to:
-
Use the treatment exactly as prescribed
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Apply the medicine for as long as prescribed
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Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist
Nail fungus can be stubborn. If you had a severe infection, its possible to clear the infection. A healthy looking nail, however, may be unrealistic, but you can expect the nail to look better and feel more comfortable.
Even with clearing, nail fungus can return. Youll find steps to reduce your risk in Tips: 12 ways to prevent another nail infection.
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Can A Dermatologist Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
A dermatologist can usually get rid of toenail fungus with a prescription medication. The most common medication is called terbinafine, which is an oral antifungal medication.
Foot and toe fungus can affect up to 15% of the population. The fungus can live on the surface of your skin. If they want to grow and spread, they must be kept in a warm, moist environment. Foot fungus is common and can cause infection in your toes, particularly between your toes. It may not appear that a lot of people are aware of foot fungus or toenail fungus at first, because symptoms can be mild at first. Foot fungus can be spread via direct contact with the skin or by coming into contact with infected flakes of the skin. Wearing shoes that tighten your toes while walking barefoot is a risk factor for athletes feet, as is walking in damp areas.
Nail fungus is a common skin condition that can affect the nails as well. Hairy nail fungus is caused by the fungus Trichophyton rubrum. The fungus will thickens the nail surface and make it painful to wear. If you suspect you have nail fungus, your doctor may advise you to have your toenails removed and examined. In some cases, nail fungus may necessitate the use of a fungal medication. If you have nail fungus, you should clean and dry your nails and avoid wearing tight shoes.
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