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toenail fungus

Problems That Toenail Fungus Can Cause

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Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, can cause a variety of problems, including:

1. **Discoloration**: The toenail may become yellow, brown, or white, losing its natural transparency and healthy color.

2. **Thickening**: Infected toenails often thicken, making them difficult to trim and maintain.

3. **Distortion**: The nail can become misshapen and distorted, which may cause discomfort when wearing shoes.

4. **Brittleness and Crumbling**: The nail may become brittle, causing it to crumble or break easily.

5. **Separation from the Nail Bed**: The infected nail can lift away from the nail bed (onycholysis), creating a space where debris and fungus can collect.

6. **Pain and Discomfort**: As the infection progresses, it can cause pain and discomfort, especially when walking or standing for long periods.

7. **Odor**: In some cases, the infection can lead to a foul odor emanating from the toenail.

8. **Secondary Infections**: The damaged nail can create an entry point for bacteria, leading to secondary bacterial infections.

9. **Spread of Infection**: The fungus can spread to other toenails, fingernails, or even skin (causing conditions like athlete’s foot).

10. **Impact on Daily Activities**: The discomfort and pain can interfere with daily activities, reducing the quality of life.

11. **Psychological and Social Effects**: The unsightly appearance of infected nails can lead to embarrassment, anxiety, and social withdrawal.

12. **Complications for People with Diabetes or Weakened Immune Systems**: These individuals are at higher risk of more severe complications, such as cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection) or other serious infections.

Treating toenail fungus promptly can help prevent these problems and restore the health of the toenails. Treatment options include antifungal medications (topical or oral), laser therapy, and in some cases, surgical removal of the infected nail.

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Causes and Symptoms of Toenail Fungus

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Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common condition caused by an overgrowth of fungi in, on, or under the nail. Here are the causes and symptoms:

Causes:

  1. Fungal Infection: Fungi like dermatophytes or yeasts can enter the nail bed through tiny cuts or separations between the nail and skin.
  2. Moisture and Warmth: Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, making places like sweaty shoes or damp socks a breeding ground.
  3. Poor Hygiene: Not keeping feet dry and clean can contribute to the growth of fungus.
  4. Injuries or Trauma: Nail injuries can make it easier for fungi to invade and infect the nail.

Symptoms:

  1. Thickened Nails: The affected nails become thicker than usual, making them difficult to trim.
  2. Discoloration: Nails may turn yellow, brown, or white. In some cases, they might darken or develop white spots.
  3. Brittle or Crumbly Nails: Infected nails can become brittle, crumbly, and prone to crumbling or breaking.
  4. Distorted Shape: Nails may change shape, becoming oddly shaped or warped.
  5. Foul Odor: In advanced cases, the infected nail might emit a foul odor.
  6. Pain or Discomfort: In some instances, toenail fungus can cause pain or discomfort, especially when wearing shoes or walking.

Prevention and Treatment:

  • Good Hygiene: Keep your feet clean and dry, especially after being in damp or sweaty conditions.
  • Proper Footwear: Wear breathable shoes and moisture-wicking socks.
  • Avoid Walking Barefoot: Particularly in public places like pools or gym showers.
  • Prompt Treatment: If you suspect a fungal infection, seek treatment early to prevent it from spreading.
  • Topical Treatments: Over-the-counter antifungal nail creams or ointments may help treat mild cases.
  • Oral Medications: In severe cases, oral antifungal medications prescribed by a doctor might be necessary.
  • Surgical Options: In some cases, surgical removal of the nail might be considered if the infection is severe or recurrent.

Always consult a podiatrist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan, as severe cases might require medical intervention.

Call and schedule an appointment with our Chicago podiatrists at 773-769-3310. Our podiatrists can provide a proper diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and potentially recommend imaging studies or other diagnostic tests to identify the underlying cause and determine the appropriate treatment.

toenail fungus

Get Rid of Ingrown Toenail

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Ingrown toenails can be quite uncomfortable! Here are some tips to help alleviate the discomfort and prevent further issues:

  1. Soak your feet: Soaking your feet in warm water can soften the skin around the nail and reduce swelling. Add Epsom salts for added relief.
  2. Proper cutting technique: Trim your nails straight across to prevent them from growing into the skin. Avoid cutting them too short or rounding the edges, as this can encourage ingrowth.
  3. Wear comfortable shoes: Tight shoes can put pressure on your toes, exacerbating ingrown toenails. Opt for comfortable, well-fitting shoes that give your toes enough space.
  4. Keep your feet clean and dry: Cleanliness is important to prevent infections. Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing and wear breathable socks made of natural fibers to keep moisture away.
  5. Use a toe protector or cotton: Placing a small piece of cotton under the ingrown edge of the nail can help lift it away from the skin and relieve pressure. Toe protectors available at pharmacies can also help in a similar way.
  6. Over-the-counter remedies: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help with the pain and swelling associated with ingrown toenails.
  7. See a professional: If the ingrown toenail is causing severe pain, redness, or signs of infection (like pus or increased swelling), it’s advisable to see a podiatrist or a foot specialist. They can provide professional care, including lifting the nail edge, removing the ingrown portion, or prescribing antibiotics if an infection is present.

Remember, taking good care of your feet and nails is crucial in preventing ingrown toenails. If you’re prone to them, being proactive with proper nail trimming and foot care can make a significant difference in reducing their occurrence.

Call and schedule an appointment with our Chicago podiatrists at 773-769-3310. Our podiatrists can provide a proper diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and potentially recommend imaging studies or other diagnostic tests to identify the underlying cause and determine the appropriate treatment.

Toenail Fungus

How Can I Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?

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How Can I Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?

Are you embarrassed about your unsightly toenails?

If your toenails look discolored, thickened, or are becoming more brittle or painful, you may have toenail fungus under your nails.

Podiatrists at European Foot and Ankle Clinic can help you take care of not only your feet and ankles, but also your toenails.

Toenail fungus starts when dermatophytes (a type of fungus) enter the bed of your toenails through small cracks, blisters, or scrapes. You can pick up this type of fungus if you go barefoot in warm and damp environments like public showers and pools.

Once inside your nails, the fungus grows and turns them yellow. This discoloration is typically the first sign of a fungal infection. If you don’t treat it right away, your nails may become brittle, and feel painful to the touch over time.

In the worst-case scenario, untreated toenail fungus can take root deep in the tissue layers of your nail and become much more difficult to eliminate.

Symptoms

  • Warped or oddly shaped nails
  • Yellowish nails
  • Loose/separated nail
  • Buildup of bits and pieces of nail fragments under the nail
  • Brittle, broken, thickened nail

Laser for fungal toenail is a pain free and fast procedure, to treat any type of fungus infection in your nail. This technique uses laser light to penetrate and vaporize nail bed and special frequency kills only infected cells, with this method there’s no down time and it does not affect your everyday life.

Ways to prevent toenail fungus:

  1. Wash your feet with soap and water daily, and dry them with a clean towel.
  2. Clip your toenails straight across with a clean clippers.
  3. Wear clean socks daily.
  4. Change your gym shoes after a workout. In fact, alternate pairs if possible, letting your footwear dry out between wearings.
  5. Wear flip-flops or shower sandals in the locker room and poolside, too.
  6. Keep your toenails short

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toenail fungus

Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment

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Toenail Fungus. Laser Treatment

Toenail fungus laser treatment is a medical procedure that uses a laser to target and eliminate fungal infections in the toenails. The laser heats up the infected area, which destroys the fungus and promotes healthy nail growth.

The procedure usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour and is performed by a podiatrist or dermatologist. It is typically painless, but some patients may experience a warming or tingling sensation during the treatment.

Toenail fungus laser treatment is considered a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatments such as topical antifungal medications or oral medications that can have side effects. However, it can be more expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

It’s important to note that toenail fungus laser treatment may not work for everyone, and it may take several treatments to fully eliminate the infection. In addition, good nail hygiene practices such as keeping feet clean and dry, avoiding tight-fitting shoes, and regularly trimming nails can help prevent future infections.

Schedule your appointment by calling:  773-205-0106

toenail fungus

How to Treat Toenail Fungus

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Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus infections often start as athlete’s foot, a skin infection, before spreading to the toenails, although they can also occur on just the nails. Symptoms of toenail fungus include changes in the texture, color, and shape of the nail. The nail may become crumbly, brittle, or thickened and develop yellow, white, or brown spots. In more severe cases, the nail can change shape, separate from the nail bed, emit a foul odor, and make wearing shoes uncomfortable.

Have you noticed a yellow discoloration in one or more of your toenails? Is the toenail thicker and harder to trim than usual?  Is the nail starting to thicken, making it uncomfortable to wear your everyday shoes? If so, then you could be dealing with a nail fungus. Toenail fungus develops when the toenails have been in moist or wet environments and did not receive proper care afterward. For instance, areas such as communal showers can often be a breeding ground for fungus. Because of this, athletes can be more prone to developing fungal toenails. This is a common problem that occurs more often in older adults. Nail fungus isn’t just a cosmetic problem and can result in lasting issues for the affected toenails without the right treatment.

How to Treat Toenail Fungus

Laser treatments have shown to be more successful than topical ointments and can clear the infection without damaging the healing tissue. For minor cases, creams and topical medications are used to treat fungal nails. However, when the condition is a bit more serious, oral medications are used because they have proven to be very effective.

Laser for fungal toenail is a pain free and fast procedure, to treat any type of fungus infection in your nail. This technique uses laser light to penetrate and vaporize nail bed and special frequency kills only infected cells, with this method there’s no down time and it does not affect your everyday life. Unfortunately all Illinois insurance providers seeing Nail Fungus Laser treatment as a cosmetic procedure , this service can only be provided for private payers.

It can take six months or longer to start seeing clear nail growth after proper treatment.

Call to make an appointment: 773-205-0106

Read more: https://europeanfootandankleclinic.com/service/nail-fungus