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Fungal Toenail


 

Proper Fungal Toenail Treatment. Fungus toenails are a form of infection that's caused by fungi growing under the toenails. It is also known as onychomycosis. When the toenails become infected it takes on a darker color and will often have a foul smell. It does not stop because the infection can spread to the other toenails, the skin, and even the fingernails. Another effect of this kind of infection is that the nails could thicken to the point that it would be harder to trim it and could make the wearing of footwear more difficult than usual.

The fungal infection can also be accompanied with infection by other microorganisms. In very severe cases onychomycosis can even impair a person's ability to walk.

 

Causes and Symptoms of Fungal Toenail

 

The most common cause of fungal toenail infection is when a person walks with bare feet on surfaces that are prone to fungal growth. Surfaces like pools, locker rooms and showers are common areas where toenails can get infected. When the nail bed gets injured then it becomes even more susceptible to infection.

There are also some diseases that can make a person more prone to this kind of health problem. These diseases include diabetes, circulatory problems and deficiency of the immune system. Excessive perspiration can also be contributing factor that could cause this sort of infection.

See also: Practical Foot Health Steps for people with Diabetes

Onychomycosis is sometimes ignored because it could not present any symptom and may not cause pain for years. In most cases, the only time that a patient pays attention to it is because the change in color of the nails and the smell can becomes embarrassing.

How We Can Help

When you notice some change in the color of your toenails and that it is starting to have a bad smell then you could have onychomycosis. You shouldn't wait or try to treat it on your own. You should seek the help of a podiatrist right away. The earlier that you seek the help of a professional, the more chance that this problem can be taken care of more quickly.

Treatment for Fungal Nail Infections

The first thing that we would do when we treat a fungal toenail infection is to assess and determine its cause and level. We can culture the nail and based on our findings we will develop a suitable treatment for it. Some of the common treatments for this kind of infection include:

 

  • Topical medication
  • Oral medication
  • Removal of portions of infected nail
  • Permanent removal of infected nail

The removal of the whole nail is only recommended in very severe cases of infection. Fungal Toenails treatment in Jackson, TN at Podiatry Clinic of Jackson is done fast. You should seek our help as early as possible to make sure that the infection can be removed faster. Trying to resolve on your own could only lead to more problems. Call us for more information or fill out this patient form.