How to prevent toenail fungus can be difficult. People are not worried about fungal nail infections until they get them. Prevention is more important than getting treatment. Fungi are present everywhere and they thrive in warm, dark, and moist environments. This type of environment is just like the inside of your shoe, which makes it very easy to get toenail fungus.
What causes it?
Fungal nail infections are caused by dermatophytes. They are microscopic organisms that feed on keratin found in nails and hair. Several factors increase your risk of getting a fungal infection. This includes having an athlete’s foot and wearing the wrong shoe size.
The nail can become thick, turn yellow or brown, and brittle. When the nails grow thick, it can be painful because of the pressure it applies to the nail bed. It can also be uncomfortable when walking if wearing a closed shoe.
These habits can prevent Toenail Fungus:
- Clipping toenails correctly – Trim your toenails using sanitized nail clippers or scissors. Cut the nail straight across instead of curving the edges. You may use a nail file instead to shape your toenails.
- Wear proper-fitting shoes – don’t wear shoes that are too tight or too big. Tight shoes put pressure on your nail, causing trauma. This weakens your nails, making them susceptible to a fungal infection. Shoes that are too big on the other hand jam your nail to the end of the shoe.
- Wear breathable footwear – if your nails have room to breathe, this allows air to circulate around your toes. This keeps your nail dry and less inviting to nail fungus.
- Switch shoes from time to time – You shouldn’t wear the same shoe 2 days in a row. This is because the she that you used yesterday may still be wet from sweat. Wearing damp shoes increases your risk of getting a toenail fungal infection.
- Avoid walking around barefoot in public areas
- Disinfect your feet regularly
- Use antifungal shoe spray
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
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 Baltimore, MD 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 (410) 449-2755 our Baltimore, MD location, or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
