My Blog

Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Treating Toenail Fungus

By Clark Podiatry Center

September 25, 2019

Category: fungal toenails

Tags: diabetes Toenail Fungus surgery podiatrist

Of the many conditions a person can have regarding their feet, one often ignored is toenail fungus. Maybe because it is such a basic problem that it is often considered normal. But having toenail fungus is certainly not a normal, or at least, a healthy condition as it can easily lead to athlete’s foot. So, what is toenail fungus and what does it look like? Called onychomycosis, toenail fungus is a fungal infection of your toenails and nail bed. If it spreads to your toes, it becomes athlete’s foot or tinea pedis.

Symptoms of toenail fungus include:

Thickened nails – unusual thickness
Crumbly nails – toward the edges of the nails
Distorted shape – can grow to one side or the other
Bad smell – due to fungus
Dark color under the nail – from the buildup of the fungus

Causes of toenail fungus include:

Sweaty feet – moisture breeds fungus
Age – the older a person is, the more likely they are to have poor circulation and the buildup of fungus
Walking barefoot in public places – must wear sandals or flipflops to avoid infection
Sharing towels, socks and footwear – can spread disease
Diabetes – loss of sensation can help nurture fungus
Skin conditions like psoriasis – can contribute to fungus

If you have any of the above symptoms, you need to see your podiatrist who will test your feet for a fungus and treat appropriately. Some fungal infections are very stubborn and take time to be completely removed.

Treatments include:

Oral anti-fungal – such as Sporanox – can take 12 weeks to work
Anti-fungal nail polish or lacquer – applied to the nail. May have to be used for a year.
Anti-fungal nail cream – must be used on the nail and skin surrounding it
Oral anti-fungal – can be taken in pill form
Surgery – in the most severe cases, the entire nail may need to be removed and medication applied after

Need some more help and encouragement in caring for your feet or choosing the right shoes schedule an appointment with Clark Podiatry Center to see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon A. Macy. He can assess your feet to ensure that there are no issues making sure that you not only choose the right shoes, but also keep your feet healthy. Come see us at our Clark, New Jersey office today!

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:

Contact Us

Questions or Comments?
We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today 732-382-3470

1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066

Podiatrist - Clark, Dr. Brandon Macy, 1114 Raritan Road, Clark NJ, 07066 732-382-3470

Find Us