If you are like most people, you probably like wearing sandals or going barefoot during the hot summer months. However, if you have toenail fungus, it can be embarrassing and keep you from showing your feet. Even though there are many home and commercial remedies for toenail fungus, it can be very difficult to get rid of on your own. In this case, you should seek help from a foot doctor in Kenosha, WI to treat it with professional aptitude.
What is Toenail Fungus?
If your toenails have a yellow appearance, have white spots that get bigger, are thick and/or painful, then you may have toenail fungus. This condition is an infection that gets into the toenail through cracks in the nail or from cuts on the feet. Since toes are warm and often get damp, they can be a breeding ground for different types of fungi, and also for yeast.
Treating Toenail Fungus
Even though there are many -the-counter remedies made to treat toenail fungus, they can take months to work, if they even work at all. The best way to have it treated is to see a professional, reputable foot doctor. The doctor may diagnose the fungus by taking a scraping of your toenail to determine its cause. This will help them determine the exact treatment needed to get rid of the problem.
You may be prescribed an oral antibiotic to clear up the infection internally, or some topical treatments may be used on the nail to get rid of the infection. There are special creams and toe-nail lacquers made to combat toenail fungus topically. If necessary, your foot doctor may need to surgically remove all or part of the toenail if it has been badly damaged by the infection, or if it keeps reoccurring. Toenail fungus can spread among the toenails and even the fingernails if it isn’t treated medically.
If you are struggling with fungus, schedule an appointment with an expert as soon as possible.