Is fungus waging a war against your toenails? Fungal infections cause nails to become thick, discolored, and unsightly. You don't have to live a life in shame of showing off your feet. This is one battle you don't have to fight alone. Absolute Foot Care Specialists of Las Vegas can eliminate your toenail infection and help your toenails regain their clarity.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
Caused by a category of fungi known as dermatophytes, this disorder affects both men and women of all ages. In fact, almost 50% of Americans will have experienced this fungal infection by the time they reach 70 years of age.
What begins as slight discoloration of the nail can turn into a full-fledged war causing nails to become white, green, black, or yellow. It is characterized by thickening of the nails and crumbling of the edges. If left untreated, debris will build up under the nail causing it to become darker, duller, and even shift in shape. The area around the nail bed may even become inflamed and painful. If you begin to notice white or yellow spots under your nail, contact the Absolute Foot Care Specialists. We will resolve the issue before it gets out of hand.
How Did I Get It?
This type of fungus thrives in the damp, dark, and humid environments of locker rooms, showers, or public swimming pools. These are areas where individuals often walk barefoot and directly come into contact with the dermatophytes. They enter the nail through minuscule cracks or cuts in the skin surface and dwell in the warmth and darkness of shoes and socks.
Due to their location, the feet have decreased blood flow. This slows down the body's natural response to fight infection. As we age our circulatory systems don't operate at maximum strength and we're at higher risk for developing this condition. Nails also grow at a slower rate and become more brittle with each passing year.
Other opportunities for fungal infections to strike include:
- Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or immune-deficiency conditions
- Wearing tight shoes
- Wearing damp socks
- Skin conditions
- Nail injuries
- Athlete's foot
How Is It Treated?
Dr. Levine understands that fungal toenails can cause embarrassment as they progress. Upon your appointment, we will carefully inspect your nails and provide you with the best treatment option. Because the organisms are undetectable to the human eye, we may need to scrape a sample from under the nail and send it to the labs for closer inspection.
Over-the-counter medications often fail to provide accurate relief. Other options include prescription creams or medications, and even medical nail polish. This infection is hard to fight. Laser treatment is often recommended to eliminate the fungus. In extreme cases, surgery is also an option.
Advance Foot Care Specialists of Las Vegas have 3 different offices to choose from. Make an appointment with one of our locations today! Call 702-839-2010 to speak with a friendly member of our staff or request an appointment online. Make thick, discolored toenails a thing of the past.