There are many dangers of ignoring toenail fungus. A fungal infection can cause discoloration and deformation of the nails. It usually is not painful and may seem more like a cosmetic issue than a health problem.

Toenail Fungus

It can be easy to ignore and put off visiting the doctor to have it checked or treated. But when ignored, toenail fungus can get worse and potentially lead to a more complicated health issue. If not taken care of immediately, a nail fungus infection can cause foot pain, the spread of fungus beyond the nail, or even loss of the nail.

A toenail fungus infection initially infects a small part of a nail. It can start as a white or yellow spot on the nail that can easily be ignored. As time goes by, this spot can grow and spread to the whole nail. In severe cases, the nail can become thick and deformed. Although toenail fungus doesn’t really cause pain, the deformity of the nail can. It would also make it difficult to wear shoes and walk around.

How is it affected

The fungus that affects the nail is called dermatophytes, which is the same type of fungus that causes athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm. If toenail fungus is left untreated, the fungus can spread to other parts of the body. If you wear socks and closed shoes for long periods of time, the fungus can spread easily because they thrive in warm, dark, and moist environments. It can spread to the toes, causing the athlete’s foot.

The nail plate can also fall off due to a fungal nail infection. The fungus can grow between the nail and the nail bed, causing them to separate. Moreover, the nail can also become brittle and eventually fall off.

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

As you can see, tips for healthy feet without nail fungus can be easy to find. If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed.  This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication. 

Our nail doctor in Northridge, CA recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain.

If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 our Northridge, CA location, or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.