Did you know about 10% of adults in Western countries have toenail fungus? Without proper treatment, toenail fungus can spread to other toes and affect the strength and quality of your toenails. At Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the team of board-certified podiatrists, regularly works with people of all ages to diagnose and treat toenail fungus. If you suspect you have a toenail fungus, request an appointment today by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.
Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that affects your toenails. Fungi and bacteria live throughout your body, but if fungus begins to overgrow, you can develop an infection.
It’s hard to detect toenail fungus at first. It grows very slowly, so you might not notice anything different. Left untreated, though, toenail fungus can spread, causing your toenails to crack, chip, and crumble away.
Toenail fungus affects everyone differently. Sometimes it affects only part of a nail, while other times it spreads to several nails.
Regardless of the severity of your condition, toenail fungus presents similar symptoms, including:
As your toenail fungus gets worse, you might also notice a foul odor emanating from your foot.
Toenail fungus affects people of all ages, races, and sexes, but certain things can increase your risk, including:
Toenail fungus also tends to run in families. If your parents or siblings regularly experience toenail fungus, you’re more likely to as well.
To diagnose toenail fungus, your Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists provider examines your foot and toenails, reviews your medical history, and asks about your symptoms. Usually, these measures are enough to make a diagnosis. Your doctor might also take some toenail clippings and send them to a lab for analysis.
Treatment for toenail fungus depends on the severity of your condition. If you catch toenail fungus early, an over-the-counter topical ointment could provide adequate relief. If your symptoms persist, your podiatrist might recommend taking an oral prescription antifungal medication like:
If your toenail fungus persists, your podiatrist might recommend combining oral antifungal medications with antifungal nail lacquer or another topical solution.
Don’t let toenail fungus prevent you from confidently wearing sandals. To request your toenail fungus appointment at Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists today, call the office or click the online booking tool.