How to Treat Toenail Fungus
Fungal toenails look – there’s only one way to say it – bad. They’re thick, yellowed, jagged, crumbling, and sometimes smelly.
Fungi thrive in moist, humid areas such as public pool decks and locker rooms. If you’ve walked barefoot in areas like these, you may have picked up the fungus there. You may have picked up a fungus by sharing a towel with someone else who’s infected. Sweaty socks also qualify as a moist area, which is why we advise our patients to change out of sweaty socks before the fungus can grow and invade.
However, you’ve got some options for getting rid of it.
At-home treatments for fungal nails
When a fungus infects your toenail, it likes where it is. It stays, indefinitely, annoyingly – until you take steps to eradicate it. It’s not going to go away on its own. And even if you successfully treat it at home, it’s likely to come back.
Home treatments, including topical creams you can get over the counter, rarely do the trick. One reason is that the creams you buy may not be effective against the organism you’ve picked up. Another is that the cream may not be able to penetrate the nail and reach the infection.
Effective treatments from a podiatrist
The surest way to get rid of a fungal infection of the toenail also called onychomycosis, is to visit a podiatrist. Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, a board-certified podiatrist at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Fairfax County, Virginia, can advise you on the best treatments for your fungal nail infection. These include:
- oral antifungal medications
- prescription nail polish that contains an antifungal medication
- prescription-strength antifungal cream
- nail debridement (filing down)
- surgical removal of the nail
Toenail fungus usually isn’t painful or dangerous for most people – just persistent and unsightly. However, Dr. Wilhelm stresses that anyone with diabetes or a suppressed immune system should seek prompt treatment for fungal nail infections. For them, a toenail infection can lead to serious complications.
Contact our Centreville office to schedule a consultation about your fungal infection. Call (703) 996-3000, or make an appointment online.
