Summer is coming, and whether you’re hitting the beach or hanging out in your backyard, New Jersey is heating up, and chances are you’ll be bearing your feet — or at least wishing you could.
When nail fungus commandeers your toes, you may be embarrassed to go out in public due to your yellow, crumbly, thickened nails. We understand your frustration, and we can help.
If you want your nail fungus to clear up by summer, now is the time to start treatment, and there’s no better place to get professional care than at Family Foot and Ankle Center of South Jersey. Our podiatric experts, Dr. Joseph DiMenna and Dr. Joseph Bakanas, have decades of experience treating stubborn nail fungus, so you can bear your feet confidently. Here’s what you need to know.
Toenail fungus can affect anyone, but it’s most common in older adults, men, and people with certain medical conditions, such as:
You also risk developing toenail fungus if you wear tight-fitting shoes or walk barefoot in damp communal areas, such as swimming pools, gyms, or showers. This is because the warm, moist environment created by wet, sweaty feet creates a thriving breeding ground for fungi.
Microscopic fungi can enter your skin and nails through cuts or scrapes, nail cracks, or separations between your skin and nail, and once they set up shop, they can multiply and take over.
You may cover up your feet publicly, but you shouldn’t ignore the problem. Leaving toenail fungus untreated can lead to complications, such as thickened nails that can be painful to walk on, distorted nail shape, splitting, and the lifting of the nail from the nail bed.
Advanced toenail fungus can also lead to secondary bacterial infections that can progress to cellulitis or osteomyelitis, which are infections that can easily spread if you don’t get immediate medical attention.
Toenail fungus can be stubborn, but several treatments exist. Home remedies include soaking the affected toenail in a solution of white vinegar and water or applying tea tree oil to the nail.
If at-home methods don't work, our team at Family Foot and Ankle Center of South Jersey can help. We offer prescription antifungal medications, such as terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole, which can be taken orally or applied topically.
In some cases, we may need to remove the toenail to treat the infection.
Toenail fungus treatments don’t work instantly; they take time to infiltrate your system and oust the fungi. Topical antifungal treatments can take several months to work, while oral medications can take up to a year to fully eliminate the infection.
Toenail fungus doesn’t go away on its own, and it usually worsens with time, so the best course of action is to start treatment as soon as possible. To get the help you need, call 856-381-0310 to book an appointment with Family Foot and Ankle Center of South Jersey today.
