How to Keep Toenail Fungus from Spreading
Fungal nails are frustrating and embarrassing — don’t pass them on to your loved ones. Here are some tips from a podiatry expert to help you keep your toenail fungus to yourself.
Will Fungal Toenails Heal on Their Own?
Your toenails have turned yellow and started to crumble — you've contracted toenail fungus. Before you shrug your shoulders and throw on a pair of shoes to cover it up, consider that toenail fungus doesn't go away.
Worse, if you leave your toenails to fend for themselves, the results could be devastating. Untreated fungal toenails can become painful or permanently damaged. Some see their nails pull away from the nail bed entirely. In the most severe cases, the infection can spread to other areas of your body.
That's where Dr. Maurice Aiken and our team at Bay Breeze Foot & Ankle Specialists come in.
Toenail fungus must be treated, but the good news is that you have options, and treatment is incredibly effective, especially if you catch it early. This blog discusses the diagnosis and treatment process to help you better understand what fungal toenails need to heal.
Diagnosing fungal toenails
Spotting a fungal toenail is easy to do. Even in the earliest stages, the fungus causes your nails to thicken, turn color, change shape, and become brittle. Fungal nails occur when a fungus called onychomycosis infiltrates your toenails, but they can also stem from an underlying health issue, such as psoriasis or a bacterial infection.
There are also a few risk factors that put you at an increased risk of developing fungal nails, including:
- Being middle-aged or older
- Having chronically sweaty feet
- Having a history of athlete's foot
- Having diabetes or circulatory issues
- Sustaining a minor skin injury or scrape
- Walking around barefoot in public facilities
Dr. Aiken considers all factors of your health history before diagnosing toenail fungus. He may also clip a nail sample for further testing to understand what's behind your symptoms fully.
When fungal nails become a serious concern
Fortunately, most cases of fungal nails aren't a serious threat to your health, but that's not always the case. Seek immediate medical attention if you have the following:
- Bleeding around your nails
- Swelling or pain around your nails
- Difficulty walking
If you have diabetes, you should also make sure you get help for fungal nails as soon as possible. The impact diabetes has on your circulatory system can worsen toenail fungus and increase your risk for complications, so take even the most minor foot problems seriously.
Treating fungal toenails
Treatment for fungal toenails is not one-size-fits-all. We make our recommendation based on your specific situation and the severity of your symptoms. For most, topical treatments like prescription-strength nail creams that contain antifungal and antibacterial properties are enough to tame toenail fungus.
For others, more advanced treatment is necessary.
We're proud to offer HyperBlue® laser therapy, a revolutionary treatment that uses targeted light energy to destroy the fungus in your nails. A few treatments are all it takes to eliminate the infection and restore your nail.
Preventing fungal toenails
Once you've dealt with your fungal nails, it's normal never to want to deal with them again. Fortunately, it's easy to keep your toenails healthy and fungus-free. You can prevent nail fungus by adhering to the following habits:
- Keep nails clean and dry
- Wash your feet regularly
- Keep your nails trimmed (but not too short)
- Wear absorbent socks or change them throughout the day
- Choose shoes made of breathable material
- Discard and replace old shoes
- Disinfect your shoes
- Wear footwear in public areas
- Make sure your nail salons use sterilized tools
- Stop polishing your nails
- Treat athlete's foot promptly
Are you looking for more information about toenail fungus? Suspect you have fungal nails and need to get started with treatment? We'd love to talk with you. Call or click to schedule an appointment online or over the phone at our Dunedin, Florida, office today.
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