| Fungus Toenails |
General Information |
Toenails that are discolored, thickened, brittle, and (sometimes)
malodorous may have fungus. A number of things can cause this type
of appearance: fungus, yeast, psoriasis, eczema, trauma to the nail,
and circulatory problems. |
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Who gets fungal nail infections? |
Anyone can get a fungal nail infection. These infections are more
common in adults. They are especially common in people with diabetes
or circulation problems. Children hardly ever get fungal nail infections.
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Why did I get a fungal nail infection? |
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It may be hard to know where or how you got a fungal nail infection.
A warm, wet place is a good environment for a fungus to grow. If you
often wear heavy work boots that make your feet warm and sweaty, a
fungus can grow around your toenails. If you often walk barefooted,
outside or in locker rooms, you can pick up a fungus from grass, dirt
or wet floors. |
Sometimes several people in a family will get fungal infections in
their nails at the same time. This can happen because their immune
systems don’t seem to care about fighting off the infection
or because the infection is being passed when they use the same nail
clippers or towels. |
How do I find out if I have a fungal nail infection? |
If you think you have a fungal infection in your fingernails or toenails,
see us for a diagnosis. To see which kind of infection you have, we
clip a little bit of the damaged nail and send it to a lab. It takes
a few weeks before we get the results of the lab test. The test can
tell if you have a fungal infection or another kind of infection.
With the correct identification of the fungus causing your problem,
we can best treat the problem so it doesn’t come back as easily.
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How is a fungal nail infection treated? |
Several medicines can treat a fungal nail infection. Topical solutions
can be used when the infection is very superficial. With deeper and
more difficult to treat fungal infections, pills are sometimes used
with very good success rates. We take great pride in making sure these
medicines do not cause any internal side effects by doing appropriate
blood testing before and during the use of these oral medications.
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What can I do to take care of my nails? |
Here are some things you can do to take care of your nails if you
have a fungal infection:
• Keep your nails cut short
and file down any thick areas.
• Don't use the same nail
trimmer or file on healthy nails and infected nails. If you have your
nails professionally manicured, you should bring your
own nail files and trimmers from home.
• Wear 100 percent
cotton socks. Change your socks when they are damp from sweat or if
your feet get wet. Put on clean, dry socks every day.
You can put over-the-counter antifungal foot powder inside
your socks to help keep your feet dry.
• Wear shoes with
good support and a wide toe area. Don't wear pointed shoes that press
your toes together.
• Avoid walking barefoot
in public areas, such as locker rooms.
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