Smelly toenail fungus is a frustrating, disheartening condition to manage for most people who deal with it. Because of the stigma around cleanliness, living with a toenail fungus can include living with shame, embarrassment, and even social isolation. Many people who have the aesthetic signs of toenail fungus aren’t comfortable with showing anyone.
People with toenail fungus may avoid going to places like the beach or pool. These places they may typically enjoy going to. The fear of judgment from showing toes in public may be even worse when toenail fungus also causes an odor. Bad odors coming from the nails are usually easier for others to notice than aesthetic concerns. This is because they don’t necessarily have to be looking at your nails to recognize it. People are also more likely to comment on a bad odor. This happens more often since odors are more noticeable.
What should you do first if you have a smelly toenail?
The first thing to do when you have a smelly toenail problem is to identify the cause of the issue. If you can’t wait to get an appointment with a doctor there are some signs you can look for. If the smell is coming directly from the toenails this is one indication that the root cause is fungal. Fungal spores infect the nail bed, which is the area under the toenail. Since these fungal spores are associated with the bad smell that comes from toenail fungus.
It makes sense that the associated smell would come directly from the toenails as well. Fungal growth is not dependant on cleanliness and actually develops when a fungal spore from the outside environment attaches to the nail bed. While the initial attachment of the fungus to the nails can happen to anyone, certain behaviors and pre-existing conditions make the development of a more serious infection more probable. People who exercise a lot are especially prone to fungal infections since their feet tend to be sweaty and moist. Sweaty and moist environments are the perfect places for fungal spores to grow.
What happens if you don’t receive treatment right away for your smelly toenail?
If left untreated, a smelly toenail fungus infection will only continue to worsen over time. You need to receive a proper medical diagnosis from a licensed podiatrist if you want any results to show. One of the most important things from the treatment you receive is that it needs to be FDA-approved. This qualification ensures that the treatment you receive has been researched and proven to have some efficacy in dealing with the fungus.
DIY, at-home treatments for fungus are some of the treatments that aren’t FDA-approved; these treatments are always very ineffective and unlikely to have many positive effects on your condition. Some at-home treatments can actually cause serious harm to the nail and skin around it, for example, the dangerous recommendation from online sources to put bleach on your toenail fungus. Seeking a licensed medical professional, in particular a podiatrist, to give you an effective treatment is a much better option. A medical professional can both diagnose your condition as well as work with you to develop a treatment plan that will actually help.
Other treatment options
Not all smelly toenail medical treatments and prescriptions will be effective or safe to eliminate fungal infection, however. Even prescription topical medications are very ineffective and aren’t likely to give you the results you desire. Topical medications like these aren’t effective at getting into the nail bed where the fungus lives. These are also made with low active ingredient concentration so that the chemicals in them don’t cause damage to your skin. Oral antifungal medications are one other option, but these pills come with risky side effects. One of the most common of these side effects is liver toxicity, so they are unsafe for many patients (especially those with pre-existing conditions).
There are other options to treat a smelly toenail problem that aren’t topical or oral antifungal medications. In fact, some of the best options for treating a fungal infection don’t include chemicals at all! The safest treatment for toenail fungus is the PinPointe laser, which has no side effects at all. Additionally, this laser is the most effective laser on the market to treat toenail fungus. The treatment only requires one session to completely eliminate the fungus, so most patients don’t need to come in for multiple treatments. This laser treatment also has great reviews, and patients are generally very satisfied with their results. To read more about the experiences patients have had with the PinPointe Laser treatment, visit our website here.
