16 Feb Treating Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis as it’s commonly referred to, can be very distressing to those people who have it. Being aesthetically displeasing to the eye, combined with creating pain or difficulty while working, toenail fungus is unfortunately very common in the United States with 35 million people suffering from it.
At Cherrywood Foot Care, a leading podiatrist in Bellmore, we have helped thousands of people affected by this condition. Offering state of the art treatment techniques such as our Cool Touch Laser, our experienced and knowledgeable staff can help all severity of cases.
Toenail Fungus
So what actually is toenail fungus? An infection of your toenail, toenail fungus seeps into your cuts or nails, leading to discoloration and your nail becoming harder and thicker as well. Difficult to treat, people that are older are more susceptible to the infection with 20 percent of people over 60 years affected while a staggering 50 percent of people 70 years and older are affected by the condition as well.
Who’s Likely To Be Infected
Studies have shown that people with the following are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition.
- Smokers
- People with diabetes
- Athlete’s foot
- Poor immune systems and hygiene
Treatment
While treatment plans differ due to the severity of the infection, early treatment and diagnosis are vital in order to completely eradicate the infection. Not considered a treatment plan, making sure to always wash your feet, and trim your nails will decrease your chances as well. Not treated in a timely and effective fashion, an infection can lead to other parts of your body.
- An oral antifungal: Usually reserved for some of the harder to treat cases, oral antifungals such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or fluconazole attack the infection directly as opposed to slowing its growth. Side effects do occur so make sure you consult your doctor before taking any.
- Topical Medications: Administered directly on the nail and its surrounding areas, topical medications such as nail lacquers, creams, and lotions have also proven to work although not as effective as oral medicines.
- Laser Treatment: A relatively new treatment option, laser treatment is a quick and effective way to completely destroy the pathogens that create the infection. A treatment plan requiring only a couple of sessions for 20 to 30 minutes.
Cherrywood Foot Care- Podiatrist In Bellmore
Interested in finding out more or looking for a podiatrist in Bellmore? Our experienced and knowledgeable staff at Cherrywood Foot Care is here to help! Contact us today!