Fungal Toenails

Fungal Nail Infections: their Causes and Treatment

Whether it is from visiting public pools or beach changing rooms in summer, or from gym showers and saunas in winter, your feet can be exposed to microorganisms called dermatophytes—a type of fungus that is found all over in our environment. Fungi prefer warm moist surroundings and can cause lots of trouble, including onychomycosis—a fungal infection in your toes. Fungal toenails and athlete’s foot happen because your feet are the most likely part of your body to contact the microorganisms, and because they spend long hours in the dark, damp environment of your sweaty shoes. Fortunately, we offer highly effective protocols for treating fungal nails.

The Insidious Invaders

The fungi can sneak into the smallest opening in your skin or nails. Once inside, they begins to feed on the tissue, causing changes in your nail. You may first notice just a small spot, but gradually as more and more keratin and soft tissue are degraded, your toenail starts to turn yellow, dull, and thick. It can also become brittle and crumbly, and in severe cases, the nail may even loosen and fall off.

The infection is contagious, too. You could have an athlete’s foot rash before or after the nails are affected, and it can spread from nail to nail, as well. You can spread it through contact with your fingers, towels, bed linens, tubs and showers, even the floor surfaces in your house. That’s why treating toenail fungus is important—you don’t want to give it to your nearest and dearest.

The Most Common Victims

For some reason, men seem to get fungal toenails more often than women, especially if there is a family history of it. Older people are more at risk, too, because of longer exposure to fungi in the environment, but also because circulation decreases as you age and your extremities may not be able to fight off infection as well.

If you have athlete’s foot or other skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema—or a disease like diabetes or peripheral artery disease that affects your circulation—you are more vulnerable to the infection. You can also get it from a family member or roommate, and—as mentioned above—from public areas where people go barefoot. Not trimming your nails properly, keeping your feet in socks and shoes that don’t breathe, or sweating profusely all contribute to the problem, too. As you can see, there are many ways you could come down with this fungal infection.

Speaking from Experience