What Causes Toenail Fungus and How can I get Rid of it Before Summer?

Toenail fungus is a common condition that can easily be hidden with shoes and socks during cooler months, but you’re bound to head outdoors to spend a day at your favorite lake or pool during the summer. Instead of feeling excited about summertime leisure activities, you might feel self-conscious or embarrassed by the unsightly effects of toenail fungus.

Premier Foot & Ankle has multiple locations throughout the metroplex including Dallas, Plano, Allen, Mesquite, Frisco, and McKinney, Texas. Our experienced team of podiatrists offers advanced treatments so you can get rid of toenail fungus and feel more confident wearing sandals or going barefoot.

What causes toenail fungus?

A fungal nail infection is a condition caused by a living fungus. The most common type of fungus is a dermatophyte, but yeast and molds may also cause toenail infections. While you can get a toenail fungus at any age, it’s more common in older men and women.

As you get older, your toenails may become dry and brittle. If they crack, they allow fungus to enter and wreak havoc on your toenails. Toenail fungus can also be the result of athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is a skin fungus infection and it can spread to your toenails.

Toenail fungus is contagious and can spread nail to nail on your own feet, as well as to other people. You can come in contact with it at nail salons, swimming pools, gyms, or other public places where people are barefoot. Tight shoes, a weak immune system, and circulatory problems may also contribute to the onset of toenail fungus.

If you have diabetes, circulatory issues or nerve damage in your feet, you may be more susceptible to toenail fungus. Aside from feeling self-conscious about the appearance of your yellowish, thick, brittle nails, untreated toenail fungus can become quite painful and lead to permanent nail damage.

Recognize the symptoms?

Signs of toenail fungus include:

• One or more toenails appear thick, brittle, or crumbly
• Distorted toenail shapes
• Whitish, yellow, or brown discoloration of the nails
• Dark area of debris buildup under your nail, often your big toe
• Unpleasant foot odor

If you do have toenail fungus and you’re ready to take action before summer, our skilled podiatry team can help.

How to get rid of toenail fungus before summer

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend a combination of at-home remedies, medications, and laser treatments. These include:

• Prescription graded topical ointments/polishes
• Antifungal foot soaks
• Oral medications
• Dietary changes to help restore your body’s pH balance
• Nail removal for painful or infected toenails

Your podiatrist at Premier Foot & Ankle may prescribe oral medications or surgically remove a severely infected nail to prevent the infection from recurring. The team also offers the advanced technology of Hyperion HyperBlue 1530® laser therapy. This painless laser treatment uses light energy to penetrate your toenail and destroy the fungus in your nail bed.

Laser treatments for toenail fungus take just about 10 minutes per session and typically restore your toenail in 3-4 treatments, which means you’ll be fungus-free by summer.

Are you ready to get started with the most effective toenail fungus treatment solutions for your individual condition? We invite you to call the Premier Foot & Ankle office closest to you or request an appointment at your preferred location using our online booking system.