What is the difference between toenail fungus vs. foot fungus? Fungal infections are highly contagious and common, especially in the foot and toe area. Fungus spores can infect both the skin of the foot and the area under the nail bed, leading to two different conditions. Infections of the skin of the foot are called athletes feet. When the fungal infection is under the toenail this condition is called onychomycosis, or toenail fungus. If foot fungus is left untreated it usually can cause toenail fungus. Both conditions are very common but have different symptoms and treatment options. 

eliminate nail fungus with doctor

Causes of fungal infections

Is the cause of toenail fungus vs. foot fungus different? The answer is that the causes of athletes’ foot and toenail fungus are very similar. Both conditions are contagious, so it is possible to catch them from somebody else when walking barefoot or sharing shoes. Fungus thrives in warm, damp environments. Fungus enjoys it when people do not change their socks and shoes. 

Toenail fungus easily spreads between people who spend a lot of time together because the fungus uses surfaces to contaminate other individuals. The fungus then has a new host that it can use to grow, reproduce, and continue to be contagious! Make sure that you do not share worn socks and shoes with anyone if you have fungal infections.

Signs of fungal infections

Toenail fungus usually shows itself in the form of discoloration, brittleness, thickening or cracking of the nail. Athlete’s foot usually shows itself as a scaly rash coupled with itching and burning of the foot. The fungus causing athlete’s foot can also spread to the nail bed and cause a fungal infection of the nails.

Treatment for athlete’s foot usually involves topical antifungal medications. Topical antifungals are less effective at treating toenail fungus because they have to penetrate the nail to kill fungus under the nail bed. For this reason, topical antifungals are usually too ineffective to kill nail fungus. Other treatments include oral medications, which can have very dangerous side effects. The best treatment for toenail fungus is the PinPointe laser, which typically requires only one treatment to kill the fungus with no side effects or downtime. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist for the PinPointe laser treatment, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.