What is Toenail Fungus?

A fungus is a type of organism that prefers to live in warm, soggy environments. There are many different kinds of fungi. Some mainly affect the skin, and some also affect the nails. Nail fungus is very common, and is seen in all age groups, though is most common in older adults. Sometimes a person can have fungus in both the skin of the feet and the nails. This can cause an unpleasant odor, itching, and also nail changes. If you suspect you may be experiencing this issue, you need to visit Harlis Family Foot and Ankle in Port St. Lucie. Our doctors at Harlis Family Foot and Ankle in Port St. Lucie can treat the issue of nail fungus in a multitude of ways.

Many individuals experience issues with their toenails and need to work closely with a podiatrist to treat the matter. Luckily, at Harlis Family Foot and Ankle in Port St. Lucie, we are able to analyze the nail, and determine the exact reason for the toenail issues. If needed, we are able to prescribe medications for treatment.

Prevention:

Nail fungus is arguably easier to treat when detected earlier, but overall can be a difficult, and stubborn problem to fully resolve, which is why prevention is key. Some preventative measures that can be employed are: changing socks and wearing a fresh pair daily, wearing sandals in public showers, using your own instruments and checking the sanitization standards at nail salons, and seeing a doctor immediately at Harlis Family Foot and Ankle in Port St. Luciein the event you should sustain a nail injury.

Oral antifungal medications:

These medications are commonly prescribed, and a favorite of many doctors because of how quickly they work in comparison to topical treatments. Some popular medications are Lamisil and Sporonox.

You normally take this sort of medication for six to 12 weeks. However, you won't see the final product of treatment until the nail completely grows back. It might require at least 6 months to fully resolve. Treatment achievement rates with these medications have all the earmarks of being lower in adults over age 65.

There are some negative side effects with using oral antifungals however, which can be as simple as a skin rash, to as serious as liver damage. You might require infrequent blood tests to be aware of how you're doing with these kinds of medications. Specialists may not suggest them for individuals with liver illness or congestive cardiovascular breakdown or those taking specific prescription medication.

Topical antifungal medications:

There are a number of topical treatment options for nail fungus as well. Your podiatrist might recommend an antifungal medication called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it on your tainted nails and encompassing skin one time each day. Following seven days, you clean the layers off with acetone or alcohol, and start new applications. You might have to utilize this kind of nail clean day by day for nearly 12 months.

To thin nails, you apply a nonprescription cream containing urea. Or then again, your physician might thin the outer layer of the nail (debride) with a fungal nail clipper.

Your podiatrist may propose an even more aggressive nail debridement using fungal nail clippers and fungal nail cutters so the antifungal medication can better target the disease under the nail.

Our expert doctors at Harlis Family Foot and Ankle in Port St. Lucie, are available for your guidance and help.