When nail fungus is ignored, it can get worse. Nail fungus affects about 10% of the U.S. adult population. Also, 20-50% of seniors, but much of that number let the condition go untreated. The reason people leave their nail fungus untreated is that they think that the condition affects only the nails. It is purely aesthetic and cannot cause any damage to their health or lifestyle. This of course is a misconception. Like any other health condition, nail fungus if left ignored can cause serious problems. 

How does nail fungus start?

Nail fungus can start off simple. Many people have had it for years without causing any inconvenience beyond an aesthetic change to the nails. This is why people tend not to take it seriously. However, in many cases, nail fungus can progress to become severe. Also, it can spread to other parts of the body and affect your life in many ways. 

First and foremost, nail fungus is an aesthetic condition since it brings visible changes to your nail including thickening, ridges, and a change in color to become yellow, or even brown or black. While this may seem trivial now, people find as time goes on that their nails become a source of embarrassment to them, that affects their confidence and self-esteem, and even lifestyle since they no longer want to expose their nails, even in sandals or by the pool. 

Nail fungus is caused by fungal spores that are extremely infectious, and that means that if you leave your nail fungus untreated, you run the risk of infecting others around you. Furthermore, the fungi that cause nail fungus are not restricted exclusively to the nails and can infect the skin as well. This means that as the nail fungus progresses, it can spread to the skin in other parts of your body to cause fungal infections there, including the athlete’s foot and jock itch. 

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

The most effective treatment for toenail fungus is the PinPointe laser, which is FDA approved and typically works in just one treatment. Treatment with the PinPointe laser will kill all of the fungus under your nails so that you don’t have to worry about giving the fungus to the people around you.

Our nail doctor in Chicago, IL 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 nail fungus, the most important step is to get the right treatment. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation for the PinPointe laser treatment with one of our doctors at one of our over 160 locations.