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Howell, Edison and Monroe, NJ Podiatrist - Fungal Toenails
Dr. Hal Ornstein discusses the causes, symptoms and treatments for fungal toenails.
Various types of fungi are present everywhere in the environment. The dark, moist surroundings created by shoes and stockings make the feet especially susceptible to fungal infection.
Most fungi are harmless until they penetrate the skin. A fungus can invade through minor cuts, or after injury or repeated irritation to the toes have caused the nail to separate from the bed. Fungal infections of the nail plate and nail matrix are quite common.
Symptoms
•Fungus may cause the nail to thicken and become yellow or brownish.
•As the fungus grows, foul-smelling, moist debris can be seen.
•Pressure from a thickened nail or the build-up of debris may make the toe painful.
Treatments
Treatment is best begun at the early stages of infection. The accumulation of debris under the nail plate can lead to an ingrown nail, or to a more serious bacterial infection that can spread beyond the foot.
To reduce pain associated with a thickened, infected nail, your doctor may reduce its thickness by filing the nail plate down with a burr. Filing will not, however, prevent the infection from spreading.
Oral and/or topical medications may be prescribed when:
•Only a small portion of one nail is infected
•Several nails are affected
•Keeping the nail is desired
Medication may or may not completely eliminate the fungus. Often, after medication is discontinued, the fungus recurs. Your podiatric surgeon will monitor the results of oral prescriptions carefully, and will explain any possible side effects.
While topical medications usually do not eliminate the fungus, they may be effective when used directly on the nail bed, after the nail plate has been removed.
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Toenail fungus is nothing to me, because I have these Toenail treatments .
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