Fungal Toenails
Overview
Fungal toenails are one of the most common foot problems. It is highly contagious, and spreads through warm, damp, and dark spaces. This can be caused by excessive sweating that dampens the shoes, or even so much as a pool area locker room. When you wear shoes from somebody who has fungal toenails, the fungus can easily spread to your own. This is why shoes obtained through secondhand means such as thrift stores should always be washed immediately.
Causes
Fungus thrives in moist, dark areas. This typically refers to wet poolrooms or sweaty shoes. Those who have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating,) tend to be more prone to contracting fungal toenails, as well as people over the age of seventy, people with diabetes/ psoriasis, or people with athlete’s foot.
Symptoms
- Discoloration of the toenail, typically green or black.
- The nail might feel chalky to the touch and might even be lifting from the nail bed in some areas.
- Thickening of the nail.
- Breaking or cracking in some areas.
Treatment
An important thing to note is that fungal toes will only go away with treatment, and a lack of doing so can actually worsen symptoms greatly. It is notoriously persistent, so exercise patience during treatment as certain medications may take months to see an effect. There are many different simple and cheap over the counter medications for fungal toenails. These are usually best suited for mild cases, but in more severe cases, contacting a healthcare provider is recommended. Your doctor might prescribe you an antifungal nail polish (which is a colorless polish meant to be painted on the toes,) or a laser treatment. However, usually the most effective means of treating a fungal toenail are antifungal medications.