What is toenail fungus?
Toenail fungus is a condition that affects your toenails, which in severe cases, can result in loss of the nail.
The fungus that causes this problem is called onychomycosis. It’s the same kind of fungus that causes athlete’s foot, a common problem that affects the skin between your toes. Instead of affecting the skin on your toes, toenail fungus gets under the nails, from where it slowly spreads.
Toenail fungus is like other types of fungus, in that it likes to live somewhere dark and damp. Feet make an ideal breeding ground for fungus because they’re usually inside socks and shoes, where it’s dark. Feet do sweat a lot, too, so they’re almost always damp and warm.
What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?
At first, toenail fungus appears as a white or yellow mark underneath the nail. You might not even notice it to start with, but over time the spot spreads, and unless you get treatment, the entire toenail could change color. As well as going yellow or white, toenail fungus can also turn your nails green or black.
Your toenails are also going to get increasingly weak and crumbly. They might come away from the nailbed or start looking misshapen. The nail thickens as well, making it hard to cut.
Toenail fungus doesn’t usually cause any pain to begin with. However, as the fungus takes hold, you might get some discomfort. If the infection is severe, it can make walking difficult. Toenail fungus is a particular problem for anyone who has diabetes.
A common complication of diabetes is diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This can cause a loss of feeling in your feet. The combination of this condition and poor circulation typical of diabetes makes you more vulnerable to infections, which can lead to ulcers and even amputation.
How is toenail fungus treated?
Dr. Battula creates a comprehensive, detailed treatment plan for tackling toenail fungus and restoring your toenails to their normal appearance.
Your treatment plan is designed around your specific needs but is likely to include one or more of the following:
- Ointment that you put on the affected nail to kill the fungus
- Oral antifungal medication
- Painless, noninvasive laser therapy to kill the fungus
If the toenail fungus is particularly severe, Dr. Battula might need to carry out minor surgery to remove the affected nail. She takes away all the infected tissue, but where possible, leaves the nail bed, so a healthy new toenail can grow.
If you have toenail fungus, don’t delay in getting treatment. Call Bay Area Foot and Ankle Center today or book an appointment online.
