What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

Fungal toenail infections can often be seen with the naked eye because they change the appearance of the toenail. If you have toenail fungus, the affected toenails may change in texture, becoming thickened, brittle, or crumbly. They can also become discolored, usually turning yellow, white, or brown. In more severe cases, the nail can become deformed, separate from the nail bed, and even emit a foul odor. In addition to being unsightly, toenail fungus can also cause pain, especially if infected nails rub against your shoes and socks.

Is toenail fungus contagious?

Toenail fungus is highly contagious. It can spread from one nail to the next, especially if left untreated. It can spread from an infected surface, like the floor of a public pool, to the nails. It can also spread from person to person through direct contact or sharing personal items like shoes, socks, or pedicure tools.

What are the treatments for toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus can be treated with topical or oral antifungal medications. Topical medications are applied directly to the nail. They usually come in the form of a cream or nail polish. Oral antifungal medications are taken by mouth. Laser treatments for fungal nail infections are becoming an increasingly common treatment option. Laser treatments use a concentrated beam of light to kill the fungus beneath the nail. Your podiatrist may recommend doing multiple forms of treatment simultaneously to get better or faster results.

How long does it take for toenail fungus to go away?

Unfortunately, curing toenail fungus is a lengthy process. Not only will you have to wait for the treatment to kill the fungal infection - you will also have to wait for new, healthy toenails to grow out. This can take several months.

Toenail Fungus Treatment | Podiatrist, Foot Doctor Dallas, TX and North Dallas Neighborhoods

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Toenail Fungus Treatment in Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Frisco & Coppell, TX

Toenail fungus is caused by an infection that thrives on nails. This fungus is the same as those found in athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm. The fungus gets inside toenails through nail cracks. In some cases, the fungus also uses skin lesions to get inside nails. Signs of toenail fungus include thickening of toenails, changing nail color, deformities and pain. Although toenail fungus may appear as a mild nail infection, you should still seek treatment since all infectious diseases get worse over time. Don’t think that toenail fungus is just a cosmetic problem that you can ignore. If left untreated, it can cause:

Fungus Replication

The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology confirmed that the fungus that causes toenail infection could affect other parts of the body. Toenail fungus may trigger athlete’s foot and genital infections. People who wear shoes all day are more prone to developing toenail fungus complications because fungi grow in a warm, dark and moist environments.

Persistent Foot Pain

Once toenail fungus penetrates the deep layers of your nails, you’ll experience recurring pain that will continue to worsen over time. Untreated toenail fungus can affect your ability to walk.

Compromised Immune System

Immunocompromised people must treat toenail fungus infections quickly because their bodies cannot fight the intrusion of toenail fungus. People who have other illnesses have weakened immune systems and can be easily targeted by toenail fungus with severe complications.

Destruction of Toenails

If you don’t treat toenail fungus it may completely destroy your nails and the fungus replicates and thrives on the nail bed. An overwhelming number of fungi will gradually tear the nail from its bed, a condition called onycholysis. You could completely lose your nails in a few days.

Best Treatments for Toenail Fungus

If you want the best treatments for toenail fungus, try laser toenail fungus treatment. Laser toenail fungus treatment is proven effective at killing fungi and cleaning your nails. It is also 100% safe and 80% more effective when compared to conventional medical procedures. The cost of laser surgery for toenail fungus may vary from one clinic to another. On average, a single FDA-approved laser toenail fungus treatment costs about $1,000, yet it’s 100% effective.

Aside from killing toenail fungus, laser treatments also promote cleaner, clearer nails. Laser toenail fungus treatment became more popular when the FDA approved it as a safe treatment for toenail fungus. Overall, laser treatment also continues to be the best treatment for toenail fungus. As long as the patient follows the instructions given by the doctor, three laser sessions are enough to kill toenail fungus completely.

In Dallas, you’ll find many clinics offering laser toenail fungus treatments. Unfortunately, not all of these clinics are capable of delivering effective, high-quality laser treatments. To find the best treatments for toenail fungus in Dallas, talk to people who have firsthand experiences with various services and read reviews online.

Graff Foot Ankle and Wound Care offers laser and conventional treatments for toenail fungus. We may also recommend oral and topical medications to alleviate your condition. The most common oral medication for toenail fungus is terbinafine. We often prescribe this medicine for patients with toenail fungus.

Unlike other clinics in Dallas, you will not experience recurring toenail fungus at Graff Foot, Ankle and Wound Care. We eliminate toenail fungus for good. Our professional podiatrists are always ready to address your foot problems.

Are you suffering toenail fungus? Schedule an appointment with Graff Foot Ankle and Wound Care. Call (972) 403-7733 today or use our convenient Request an Appointment form to schedule your visit.

Toenail Fungus