Senior citizens and nail fungus go hand in hand. Anyone of any age can become infected with nail fungus. If you are a senior, you will have a much greater chance of becoming infected. Younger individuals often have stronger immune systems so they are sometimes able to fight off the nail fungus infection. However, as people get older their immune systems weaken so nail fungus is often more prevalent.

Why are senior citizens more prone to nail fungus?

If you are a senior that doesn’t have nail fungus but lives with people who do, you should make sure you do everything you can to prevent yourself from getting a nail fungus infection. If possible, you should avoid using the same shower that the person with toenail fungus uses. In addition, you should always wear shoes around the house, preferably footwear such as sandals or flip-flops. Walking barefoot and stepping in the same places that the person with toenail fungus already stepped in is a common way for people to become infected with toenail fungus.

While it is certainly easier for senior citizens to become infected with nail fungus, it is also possible for them to get rid of it. There are lots of nail fungus treatment options on the market, but some of the oral medications may not be safe for senior citizens to use because of the possible side effects involved. This is one of the many reasons why laser nail fungus treatment is likely the perfect solution.

Unlike nail fungus medications, nail fungus laser treatment does not have any side effects, meaning that seniors do not have to worry about risking their health. If you are concerned about the laser for any reason, you should talk to a foot doctor about it. A podiatrist will be able to help ease your concerns.

Black Nails caused by trauma or fungus?

What are common symptoms of nail fungus for senior citizens?

One reason that some people live with painful nail fungus for so long is that they can’t afford to get it treated. This is because insurance companies usually consider nail fungus to be cosmetic. While it is true that many of the common symptoms of nail fungus are cosmetic, more than a few people really do experience pain. Insurance companies, of course, don’t care. Since lots of people don’t experience pain insurance companies can get away with classifying all nail fungus cases as cosmetic.

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. Oral medication is not recommended by our nail doctors. 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 Miami, FL 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 150 locations.