Nail fungus can be easily explained but it presents differently on people who have it. If you have started to notice fungal growth on your nails, it is natural to be concerned. This growth can seem to come out of nowhere and can cause worrying aesthetic changes to the nail. Before you panic, you should receive an explanation of what toenail fungus is, how it forms, what it will do to your nail, and the best way to treat it. The goal of this article is to provide that explanation for you and help ease any worries you may have about the fungus.
Explaining Toenail Fungus
What is often the most confusing part of this condition for patients is understanding how the fungus develops. Developing a toenail fungus does not mean that your nail is dirty or that you don’t take care of it. Rather, getting a toenail fungus indicates that your foot was exposed to a pathogenic fungal spore. This can happen in a variety of ways, commonly in a public area like a locker room where bare feet are in heavy traffic. Because of this, you should be cautious to avoid being barefoot in public (to avoid contamination and contaminating others if you unknowingly have a fungus).
Fungus usually starts off as a white discoloration of the nail and then can develop into more obvious aesthetic changes. When fungus starts to become more severe, it can cause yellowing, browning, and blackening of the nail. Textural changes of the nail include it becoming more brittle, thickened, or even cracked. These changes in the nail indicate that the fungus is progressing. Nail fungus explanation is simple but it presents differently on people who have it.
Laser Treatment
Some treatment options include topical solutions that have a very low success rate. Another option is oral medication but that can lead to liver toxicity. If you have a toenail fungus, you should receive an FDA-approved treatment from a licensed podiatrist immediately to ensure that it is cured as soon as possible. The best treatment available is the PinPointe laser, which typically requires only one treatment to cure the fungus.
Our nail doctor in San Diego, CA recommends laser treatment. It has the hif=ghest cure rate on the market. Also, it has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, it is not painful. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist to get a diagnosis and thorough explanation of your condition, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.
