Do I have nail fungus or psoriasis? Did you know that nail fungus and Psoriasis of the nail are oftentimes confused with one another? Which makes for a most unfortunate mix since one treatment may not work for the other causing disappointment and frustration.

Why are nail fungus and psoriasis similar?

The main reason why most people tend to confuse the two is that both conditions turn the nail white. This leads to similar characteristics. This can cause people to rush to a conclusion or certain treatments resulting in failed results. You will be able to tell the two apart when patient. Since both come with clear distinctions and differences.

Nail fungus causes the nail to look damaged along with having the appearance of scaling. Although psoriasis can make the nail look damaged as well, it is usually paired with pitting and indentations. Both conditions can be found in both the fingernails and toenails. Nail fungus is more commonly found on the toenails. Since the fungus thrives in warm, damp, dark environments.

Is there treatment for psoriasis?

Psoriasis of the nail doesn’t currently have a set cure that will eliminate the problem forever, the current treatments out right now are to improve the overall look of the nail as well as the function of the nail. These include but are not limited to steroid injections, which are injected straight into the nail bed accompanied by creams and ointments applied directly to the skin and nail. The ointments themselves contain vitamins A and D which contribute to improving the overall health and appearance of the nails.

How to treat nail fungus

Nail fungus can be treated by several different medications and options. Pills which are taken orally are the most common but have nasty side effects which require constant blood work and can cause serious liver damage. There are also laser treatments for nail fungus but these treatments aren’t covered by insurance and can be quite costly. Lasers also have mixed reviews depending on the type of laser. Most patients think they will be cured from nail fungal infections for life and don’t even consider reinfection which can lead to disappointing results since reinfection can be inherent.

The most cost effective treatment for nail fungus is a mixture of topical ointments and creams, but sadly these have the lowest cure rates at only 5% – 15%. The reason for this is because the fungus is living sandwiched in between the skin of the toe and the nail. Topicals and ointments go around and over the nail which makes it difficult to penetrate deep down to the root of the problem. Soaks are the best but very time-consuming and must be done regularly to see any results.

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.

Our nail doctor in San Diego, CA recommends this treatment. 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, it is not painful.

If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 160 locations.