Onychomycosis describes a fungal infection of the toenails that causes them to appear thick, yellow and brittle which can lead to pain and infection. Over 6 million Americans suffer from toenail fungus and the incidence increases yearly. There seem to be a lot of misunderstandings about onychomycosis which I will try to clear up in this article.
Oral antifungals cause liver damage?
This can be true and false. Oral fungal medication does put your liver at an increased risk of damage, although when prescribed appropriately and carefully monitored, this is a rare occurrence and can be reversed by stopping the medication. For this reason, consuming alcohol is prohibited while taking the medication because it intensifies the risk of liver damage. To prevent any damage from occurring, doctors do blood work to determine the health of your liver before and during the course of your treatment.
You can NEVER have toenail fungus and athletes foot at the same time?
False. Toenail fungus and athlete's foot are caused by the same fungal organisms, thus it is very common to see both at the same time. Often, one will experience athlete's foot first and then the fungus migrates to the toenails. Therefore, when treating nail fungus, I commonly prescribe antifungal creams for the skin as well to make sure that all fungal organisms are eliminated. It is also recommended that all shoe gear be treated with antifungal spray as well to eliminate any fungal organisms that may be present there as well.
Sweaty feet can cause toenail fungus?
True! Fungus loves warm, dark, moist environments like your shoes. You're gym sneakers are a 5 star resort for the family fungi vacation. If you have sweaty feet, you are creating a haven in your shoes and socks for fungus to multiply. Podiatrists often prescribe treatments to reduce or eliminate excessive sweating of the feet to help eliminate fungal growth and odor. It is also recommended that people with sweaty feet use acrylic socks, not cotton, to absorb moisture and pass it on to the shoe. Cotton tends to absorb, but it stays on your foot like a wet towel, which encourages fungal growth. Allowing 24 hours between shoe use so that they can dry out also helps to reduce fungal growth.
Once I get rid of the fungus, it shouldn’t come back?
False. Fungus that grows under our toenails also grows in our shoes, showers, floors, soil, and almost everywhere we walk. Thus, reoccurrence after eliminating an infection can be very common. It is important to take preventative measures to keep fungus out of your toenails! There are a number of products that kill fungus in your shoes and on your feet. Using these products weekly after your toenail fungus is gone can help decrease the risk of seeing those ugly toenails.
Oral treatment is the only way to get rid of toenail fungus?
False. If the entire nail is infected, there are very few treatment options and oral medications tend to have the most documented success. However, there have been some recent developments which are gaining popularity quickly. There are several types of lasers that are proving to be quite effective in eliminating nail fungus. There is also a product called Keryflex that not only improves the appearance of the nails in as little as 15 minutes, but has also been shown to cure the nail as well. It is a topical resin that is applied by your podiatrist over your existing nail which essentially creates a new healthy looking nail. It requires 4-5 treatments every 6-8 weeks and is painless and about a tenth of the cost of most laser treatments.
Hopefully by now you realize that there are a lot of treatment options out there for nail fungus that are simple and effective. As with most medical issues, the earlier it is treated the easier and more effective the treatments. Run, don’t walk to your nearest podiatrist if you see any signs of nail fungus so that you can enjoy healthy, happy feet!!
Call our office at 281.313.0090 to make an appointment.
The laser procedure takes anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes.
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