What Are Fungal Nails?
Nail fungus is an incredibly common fungal condition. Caused by fungus infiltrating the nail, the condition will commonly begin with little white or yellow spots at the tip of your toenail. As the infection progresses and goes deeper, symptoms will become more drastic and noticeable – discolouring, thickening, and causing your nails to crumble. Fungal nails can affect patients in different ways, affecting any number of nails at once, and swift medical care is vital to eliminating the infection.
Types Of Fungal Nails
Though all fungal nails are the result of a fungal infection beneath the nail, there are a wide variety of reasons that can cause the infection itself. Different types of fungal nails can result from the various causes of the condition, and there are a great many factors that may increase the risk of fungal infection. Circulation and strength of the immune system can play significant roles in causing a toenail infection, but there are also specific circumstances that may bring about the condition.
Some common types of causes we see at our clinic include:
- Being older in age (reduced blood flow, greater exposure to fungi, and a significant decrease in nail growth can all be massively influential)
- Having a history of athlete’s foot (also referred to as tinea)
- Skin conditions such as psoriasis
- Minor skin or nail breaks and injuries
- Being prone to heavy sweating
- Diabetes
- Ongoing circulation issues
- Having a weakened immune system
- Walking barefoot in communal areas (especially damp ones, such as shared showers and public pools)
- Nail beauty salons (not having proper sterilisation measurements in place)
Symptoms Of Fungal Nails
Noticing you have nail fungus will likely be due to a change in one of your toenails. A fungal infection will drastically affect both the appearance and texture of your nail over time, and these changes may lead to discomfort or pain from the toe when moving about or wearing shoes. Early signs of infection can include white spots or streaks on the nail. You may have nail fungus if any of your nails are:
- Thickened and rough in texture
- Brittle and crumbly
- Distorted in shape
- Overgrown, pressing into the skin on either side
- Darkened in colour due to a buildup of debris beneath the nail
- Showing a whitish to yellow-brown discoloration
- Suddenly pressing uncomfortably against the front of your shoes
- Emitting a noticeable smell
Treatment For Fungal Nails
Fungal nail infections need to be treated swiftly and effectively. At Midland Podiatry, we only prescribe our patients with treatment plans that are established in their efficacy and safety – designed to deliver the most efficient results. Working in collaboration with a pharmacist, we will likely provide you with a specifically formulated nail solution. This treatment will eliminate infection, helping to grow back a strong, healthy toenail.
Whatever treatment you end up undergoing through our care will be tailored entirely to your needs. In more severe cases, the podiatrist may recommend an oral medication prescribed by a GP to address the fungal nail problem.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fungal Nails
How can I prevent fungal nails?
Nobody wants a painful, uncomfortable infection to start affecting their toes. The best ways to manage your nail health and prevent any unwanted fungal infections include:
- Keeping nails short
- Wearing shoes that leave plenty of room for your toes
- Avoiding wearing damp or sweaty socks for too long
- Thoroughly drying your feet after washing them
- Using a different pair of nail clippers for infected nails
- Wearing waterproof shoes in wet areas
- Wearing footwear in communal areas like change rooms, showers, gyms and pools
When should I see a podiatrist?
Treatment for infections is most effective with early intervention. The moment you start to notice symptoms of a fungal nail, you should contact our podiatry team at Midland Podiatry to book an appointment.
How do you thin out an infected nail?
At Midland Podiatry, we will help you to thin out a nail that has been thickened by fungus. Our prescribed solutions work best on thinner nails, so we will make sure to walk you through thinning them down before treatment begins.
Why Choose Midland Podiatry?
Experienced Team of Podiatrists
With over 30 years of combined healthcare experience, Midland Podiatry is the friendly team of podiatry experts you can trust. Healthcare is something you want to bring to only the best hands possible, after all! With our skills and industry experience, you can rest assured that you’re receiving the best care possible.
Local Healthcare
We’ve been working in Perth’s Eastern Suburbs for many years now. There’s nothing we’re quite so passionate about as delivering world-class podiatry care to the local communities we’ve grown so dearly fond of over the years. Why travel far and wide to get great healthcare when it’s right at your doorstep?
Compassionate Care
We deliver our treatments with a total focus on compassion and empathy. No two patients are the same, after all. When you come to Midland Podiatry, you will feel how every single team member strives to make your experience as comfortable and catered to you as possible.
Book Your Podiatry Appointment Today
A fungal nail can cause incredible discomfort. Dealing with an infection can be uncomfortable, painful, and risks long-term damage to your nails. Don’t let things progress beyond where they need to – if you think your toenail has become infected by fungus, book a podiatry appointment as soon as possible.
Call Midland Podiatry today, and we’ll get your treatment plan built out immediately, ensuring your nails are back in excellent condition.
