Summer is here and people are getting outside to enjoy all the outdoor activities this season has to offer. One big problem every year is toenail fungus. That’s because during the summer people tend to walk around barefoot on damp grounds like the pool, locker room, or beach. Some simply have sweaty feet. Check out these tips to avoid fungal problems this summer.

Fungus symptoms

How do you know if your toenails have a fungal infection? The most common symptoms are yellowed, thick, and /or deformed toenails. The fungus that infects the nail, most commonly, is the same fungus that causes athletes foot. It tends to be slowly progressive, damaging the nail to a greater and greater degree over time. The infection usually starts at the tip of the nail and works its way back. It usually is not painful and often not noticed until it has gotten well established.

How toenail and foot fungus develops

The fungus prefers an environment that is moist, dark, and warm, which is why it affects the toenails much more often than fingernails. It does not spread through the bloodstream. The infection limits itself to the nails and skin. It is often found in association with areas of dry scaly skin on the bottom of the foot or between the toes. The dry scaling skin is frequently found to be chronic athletes foot.

What you can do about fungus

Don’t panic! Keep common showering areas clean and avoid sharing. The best thing is to see one of our experienced podiatrists right away. They can prescribe creams, medicines, and treatments to help deal with toenail fungus.

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors to provide care for your feet using a full range of both conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serve patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies including onsite digital x-ray, ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics.

For any questions or to make an appointment, please contact us at one of our Southeast Michigan facilities in Monroe at 734-241-0200, and Lambertville at 734-856-8900, in Bedford and Monroe counties. Don’t forget we make house calls.