Fungus is a microorganism or small “bug” that likes to live where it’s warm, dark and moist. Shoes and socks are the perfect breeding ground for fungus. Toenails infected by fungus is also known as onychomycosis (on-ih-koh-my-KOH-sis) in the medical community.
What does it look like?
A fungal infection of the toenail can change the texture and appearance of the nail. It may become thick and could turn yellow, brown or white. It can also have an odour and crumble when touched. Oftentimes this can cause embarrassment or insecurity but there are ways to treat toenail fungus.
What is the cause?
Fungus or fungi (plural) is contagious in nature and can spread from one person to another or from one toenail to another. The most common type of fungi to infect the nails is dermatophytes. The nails are more susceptible to becoming infected if they are injured or if a person’s immune system is not working optimally. Diabetes, for example, can have a negative impact on the immune system. Onychomycosis can occur in all people of all ages but tends to be more common in older adults. A toenail fungus shows itself in the nail plate or the toenail, but the infection is actually living in the nail bed underneath the nail. The nail bed contains a nail matrix or cells from which the nail plate grows.
What can be done?
It is recommended that anyone concerned about the health of their toenails should have an assessment by a foot care clinician. BioPed has chiropodists and footcare nurses who can assess toenail health and overall health of the feet and advise on how best to proceed. It is important to remember, just because toenails have thickened or are discoloured, it does not automatically mean there is a fungal infection present in the nail. There are several clinical signs foot care clinicians will look for during an assessment.
Fungal toenails can be resistant to treatment. The challenge with topical treatment (treatment applied to the actual nail) is effective penetration through the nail plate down into the nail bed where the fungus resides. There are several topical treatments available, some are over-the-counter and some are available by prescription only. The length of treatment when using a topical medicine can be a year in length as it depends on the growth cycle of the nail. Other treatments include laser and light therapy. No matter the treatment used, it is important to ensure the nail plate is pared down to a more normal thickness to allow the treatment to penetrate through to the nail bed. Additionally, oral medication or a pill can be prescribed by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner, but it is quite powerful and can have side effects. Using a disinfectant spray inside shoes and adding disinfectant to the laundering of anything that comes in contact with the feet can both help prevent reinfections from occurring once treatment has been initiated.
It is always best to be sure what a foot issue is before initiating any form of treatment. Book an appointment today with one of BioPed’s foot care clinicians to discuss further and learn more about treatment options.
