Fungal Nail Treatment That Works

What You Need to Know

Understanding toenail fungus, its symptoms, and how we treat it.

Understanding Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is a common problem that causes your nail to become discolored and thickened. The nail may also grow brittle and crumble at the edges. Toenail fungus usually isn’t painful, but you may experience pain if the infection worsens. The changes in the nails are due to a local infection of both bacteria and fungus that cause discoloration, thickness, and debris to collect under the nails.

Toenail fungus often begins as a fungal infection in the skin, commonly known as athlete’s foot. The fungus often starts under the nail fold at the end of the nail. Over time, it grows underneath the nail and causes yellow or brownish discoloration. It may begin as a tiny white or yellow spot beneath the tip of your nail, and as the infection progresses, it can spread through the entire nail.

Because toenail fungus is not necessarily painful, it often goes undiagnosed. If you have any of these symptoms in one or more toenails, you should have an expert evaluation by your podiatrist: discoloration, brittleness, crumbling, thickening, or loosening. You may also notice dark debris building up beneath the nail.

Nail fungus affects as many as 10% of people worldwide and most often affects older adults, seniors, and those with chronic conditions like diabetes and poor circulation. After a thorough physical exam, your podiatrist will suggest a combination of treatments to ensure a complete cure and prevent recurrence.

Our Fungal Nail Treatment Options

Nevada Foot and Ankle provides a number of treatment options for patients experiencing fungal nail conditions. We realize that every patient is unique and that treatments can’t be one size fits all. Our physicians work hard to identify the best treatment plan to meet each patient’s individual needs, and soaks can be compounded based upon the type and severity of the infection.

Traditional treatment for nail fungus includes careful debridement (trimming) of the nails, thinning of the nail plate with a specialized sanding device, prescription topical antifungal medication, and in some cases, prescription oral medication. Topical medication is reportedly only 33% effective because getting the medication under the nail to the source of the infection is difficult. We take a conservative approach and put patient safety and comfort first.

One way to achieve success in treatment under the nail is with laser therapy. Laser devices use a beam that passes through the nail plate to eliminate the infection at its source, heating and killing the germs without harming healthy tissue. The treatment is virtually painless and can be done in the office without anesthesia.

For patients wanting an immediate cosmetic improvement, KeryFlex Nail Restoration is a painless, in-office application that restores the appearance of the natural nail. If you think you may have a fungal infection, schedule a visit with our team for expert diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to you.