Fungal toenails are not always recognized in their earliest stages. They do not necessarily cause discomfort and therefore tend to be ignored. As time goes on, however, a fungal toenail infection can disfigure toenails and also spread to other nails or the skin of the foot or even other parts of the body. For those reasons, it’s best to contact Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC when you first see signs of a fungal nail infection.

What Does It Look Like?

At first, fungal infection may appear as just a white spot on the nail. As the infection progresses, the nail will turn yellow and become thick and crumbly at the edges. Fungal nail infection may exist in just one or multiple toenails at the same time.

There are also other foot conditions that exhibit similar symptoms and cause nail disfigurement. These include:

• Bone spurs
• Psoriasis
• Injury to the nail bed or root

One of our podiatrists, Dr. Scott E Hughes, Dr. Gregg P. Vogt, or Dr. Christine I.Tumele will examine your foot and toenails. They will also take a complete medical history and, if necessary, a scraping from the toenail will be cultured to make a definitive diagnosis.

How to Get Rid of Fungal Toenails

Fungal toenails are usually treated with a topical or oral anti-fungal medication. In extreme cases, the foot doctor may remove all or part of the nail. If athlete’s foot is present, it is necessary to treat it concurrently because the same fungus causes both disorders. It is also important to prevent future fungal nail infections by avoiding going barefoot in communal areas, especially those that are damp, such as locker rooms, gym showers and community pools. People whose feet sweat excessively should be sure to change their socks frequently.

If you notice any abnormalities in your toenails, make an appointment to come in to either our Monroe or Lambertville office to have them evaluated by the podiatrist.