Where does nail fungus live? Fungi are the reason for many individuals who suffer from fungal infections. Although we all think of fungi to be horrid creatures that invade our bodies and cause serious damage, they are not all that bad, in fact, some fungi have many benefits but some can be harmful.

Where fungi can be found

Fungi can be found on almost all surfaces and everywhere in the environment. We can find them on anything from foods, to forests, to pools and even gardens. More specifically we can find them in soil, in your homes, on plants, in our bodies, on animals, and in our water. In large part most fungi will decompose non-living things, however, some can damage crops as well as plants. There are a few that can also cause problems in humans.

Candida is one common fungus that affects people, which causes a yeast infection and can also result in a fungal infection as well such as nail fungus, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm. Others that are found in food are often in the form of yeasts such as bread, beer, etc., and also in molds such as old foods, and other plants.

So although we believe that fungi only exist on our bodies infecting them, they are actually present all around us and are not all harmful.

Treatments for Nail Fungus

Some treatment options include topical solutions and oral medication. Topical solutions have a very low success rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way under the nail bed. All the fungus must die in order to be cured. It can take months before you start to see any results.

Oral medication has a better success rate. Although, they can cause liver toxicity. You would need constant blood tests while taking the medication. This can be tedious. Our nail doctors do not recommend taking oral medication for this reason.

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

If you have caught nail fungus as well, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. 

Our toenail doctor in Phoenix, AZ 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.