Last weekend you had a manicure and pedicure done with the girls at the salon. You relaxed, chatted, and had gorgeous looking hands and feet right afterwards. Fast forward and it is a week later, your nail polish is chipping, and what do you see underneath? Your nail is turning green, which is far from the hot pink you choose to match your bathing suit. You thought that it was a clean salon and now you are stuck with a nail fungus. What do you do?
Toe nail fungus is considered an infection. Bacteria gets through the cracks in your nail or on tiny cuts in your skin and invades your body, causing the fungus to begin to grow. The nail can change from clear, to yellow to green. It can get thick and hard as the fungus grows and thrives on it.
Toes, in general, tend to feel warm and damp, both of which are ideal conditions for bacteria to grow and fester in. This is why fungus shows up on the nails. Toenails are typically in shoes all day, while nail polish, acrylics, and other nails are covered and trapped by their coating. If fungus is left untreated it can spread to other areas of the foot.
Symptoms
- Thickened nails
- Warped nails
- Nails break easily
- Discoloration
- White dot on nail that grows
- If fungus is under the nail, the nail can separate from the nail bed
Men are more likely than women to get nail fungus. People who are older are also more likely to get this condition. People with diabetes, athlete’s foot, those who smoke, have a weak immune system, or have a family history of nail fungus are all much more likely to develop it in their lifetime.
- Topical cream
- Topical nail liqueur
- Antifungal prescription pill
- Removal of damaged nail or skin
Have some stubborn fungus on your toenails? Have you tried all the over the counter options to get rid of it to no avail? Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, of Syracuse Podiatry in Fayetteville, New York can help you fight your fungus problem. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.