A lot more than a cosmetic concern, toenail fungus can cause embarrassment, and discomfort and alter your confidence. If your toenails are discolored thickened and, even worse, brittle, you may have toenail fungus. A common condition, but it’s something that can become embarrassing quickly, particularly if you are in public or sandals. However, toenail fungus has more to offer than simply looks because it may also be painful and even uncomfortable, making it hard to walk or wear any shoes.
Toenail fungus is usually painless, but if left untreated, it can spread, grow worse, and turn serious health problems into a bigger issue. That’s why it’s important to consult with a toenail fungus treatment clinic. Getting professional treatment will clear up the infection, but it’ll also help your nails get back to full health and you feel like you used to.
In this write-up, we’ll break down everything you need to know about toenail fungus: We will be covering, what causes it, how to spot the symptoms, and most importantly, what the best treatments are. If you are wondering whether to treat toenail fungus or just curious about your options this will talk you through what you can do and why a visit to a toenail fungus treatment clinic is the most effective option for lasting relief.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
Onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, is an infection that develops under your toenail. It’s due to many types of fungi such as dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds. All warm, moist places make these fungi happy, especially inside your shoes on your feet. If you’ve ever walked barefoot in a public pool or have gone sockless for any length of time in wet shoes, you might have unknowingly taken the first step toward developing this nasty infection.
Toenail fungus is often considered a cosmetic problem, but you need to know that it can cause more problems than you can think of. If the infection is left untreated, it can make your toenails thick, brittle, and yellow. In some cases, the fungus can make your nail lift off from the nail bed, causing pain and difficulty when walking. Toenail fungus is something many people think is only an older adult problem or something that will just go away on its own. That’s not necessarily true—it can happen to anyone and, if you don’t treat it, it will spread and worsen.
Then, how can you tell that you have toenail fungus? Signs to look for are yellowing, white spots on the nails, and thickened, or crumbling edges of the nail. Even sometimes there can be some bad smell. If your problem looks like toenail fungus, make sure to tell it apart from back foot dandruff or any nail injuries. If you’re unsure, a toenail fungus treatment clinic can help you determine what you’ve got and recommend the best treatment for your nails to get healthy again.
Why Do People Treat Their Toenail Fungus Early?
Prevent Permanent Damage
If you see the early signs of toenail fungus, don’t put off treatment. The problem can get worse if ignored. If left untreated, toenail fungus can make your nails permanently damaged and lead to pain and itching. The fungus can sometimes spread to other toes or to the surface of the nail, where it’s harder to treat.
Avoid Pain and Discomfort
On the cosmetic front, however, toenail fungus can be bad: it will make your toenails look ugly! However, the problem is also about pain and discomfort. If the infection spreads, your nails may become thick and uncomfortable to walk or wear shoes. The infection can increase the risk of injury to your nails, making the problem worse. If the fungus affects your nail bed, it can be swollen and irritated and cause you more pain.
Protect Your Health
Treating toenail fungus early actually helps prevent the infection from spreading deeper or getting into other areas of your body. An example of someone at a higher risk of toenail fungus complications is people who have diabetes or a weakened immune system. If the infection is left untreated, it may spread throughout your body and cause serious health problems.
Save Time and Money
And early treatment means you can sidestep those longer, more expensive treatments down the line. A toenail fungus treatment clinic can help you get rid of the infection quickly, giving you relief before the infection gets too far along. The sooner you act, the better your chances of getting your nails healthy again without the invasive procedures.
Effective Toenail Fungus Treatment Clinic
If you have a fungal nail infection, you can get rid of it with the right treatment and return your nail to good health. If it’s a mild infection or something more severe, there are several treatments available. Now, let’s examine effective toenail fungus treatments and how a toenail fungus treatment clinic uses advanced elements and techniques to care for you.
Topical Treatments: Quick and Simple Solutions
Toenail fungus is usually treated with topical treatment when the infection is mild. Antifungal creams, ointments, and lacquers that you apply directly to infected nails are also used to treat these conditions. The ingredients in them are terbinafine or ciclopirox which are used to target the fungus and prevent its spreading.
Topical treatments are amazing, as you can use them at home. Although it takes time—time usually several months—with results. The reason is that they will only reach the outermost portion of the nail; that is, they may not be reaching the deepest layers where infection actually lies.
Although they aren’t the fastest fix, topical treatments are a decent place to start in treating toenail fungus. If the case is mild they can be enough to clear up the infection and help your nails recover. If you don’t see results, however, the toenail fungus treatment clinic may recommend alternative methods.
Oral Medications: Stronger, Faster Relief
Oral medications are usually suggested for more serious cases of toenail fungus. Taken by mouth, terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox) are taken to attack the infection. They are in your bloodstream, circulating around and directly hitting the fungus, killing it from within.
Treatment with an oral antifungal is usually more effective than topical treatment since an oral antifungal can reach the nail more effectively, which is where the infection is likely hiding. Side effects, however, can include liver damage or digestive issues. This is why it’s so necessary to take them under the supervision of a healthcare specialist, primarily while seeing a toenail fungus treatment clinic.
While you receive the treatment, your doctor will have to check your liver function to know if your liver is functioning well. Even though oral medications can be effective, it can take weeks or even months to achieve full results, however, oral medications tend to be the strongest and best way to get rid of a stubborn infection.
Laser Therapy: The Cutting-Edge Solution
One of the newest and most innovative treatments for toenail fungus is laser therapy. Using focused light, this procedure targets and removes the fungal cells deep within your nails. Because the laser can’t damage healthy tissue, you can resume normal activities after the treatment.
It is popular for laser therapy because it is quick. For most people, only one or two sessions, each approximately 20 to 30 minutes, are necessary. And the treatment is extremely effective with 80% success rates. In reality, many patients will notice improvements right from the first session.
If you’ve already attempted topical or oral treatments without success, laser therapy for your toenail fungus treatment at a toenail fungus treatment clinic may be your best bet. With side effects, it is one of the quickest fungus treatments available and an ideal solution for most who have a desire to destroy toenail fungus quickly.
Surgical Options: Nail removal is occasionally indicated.
Toenail fungus can be so severe in some extreme cases that a surgical procedure may be necessary. Surgery might be the best treatment if the infection has moved deep in under the nail or hasn’t responded to the other treatments. This may involve pulling off (avulsion), or removing part or all of the affected nail so that treatment to the nail bed underneath can be undertaken.
This is the most invasive but can be very effective. The fungus has no place to grow by removing the infected nail and you can treat the nail bed directly. A new, healthy nail may grow back in several months, and the fungus will disappear.
You may also experience some pain or swelling, but recovery from this type of surgery takes time. After your treatment clinic, your toenail fungus treatment clinic will work with you to ensure you recover the right way. Usually, this is reserved for severe cases which aren’t responding to other treatments.
Alternative Remedies: For mild cases, you can choose natural options.
Tea tree oil, vinegar soaks, coconut oil… there are many people seeking home remedies for toenail fungus. These remedies are less effective than professional treatments, but they do have the ability to help control mild cases or provide a short-term cure.
For example, tea tree oil has natural antifungal properties that may help the fungus die. However, it can be slow to produce results and is usually only partial. Another popular remedy is a vinegar soak because vinegar’s acidity can produce a hostile milieu for fungi. Yet, vinegar doesn’t go deep enough into the nail to rid infections that are more difficult to remove.
These home remedies may help if you have a mild case of toenail fungus. However, if you want to address toenail fungus faster to achieve long-term results, you should visit a toenail fungus treatment clinic for professional care. Proven treatments, including laser therapy, oral medications, topical antifungals, and more, have proven much more effective than home remedies in our clinics.
That’s why professional treatments will play a key role.
At-home remedies and over-the-counter treatments may help toenail fungus in its early stages but are often not strong enough to clear stubborn or severe infection. Advanced toenail fungus treatments are available at a toenail fungus treatment clinic, such as laser therapy, oral drugs, and surgical methods that would help clear your toenail infection fast and efficiently.
If the professionals at a toenail fungus treatment clinic see your infection, they will run an assessment of the severity of your infection to decide on which treatment is best for you. That way they can track your progress and change course, if needed, to optimize your results. And with access to the latest technology and medications, you’re going to have better results.
Toenail Fungus Prevention Tips
After you clear out the toenail fungus, you need to do what you can to keep the fungus from ever returning. The fungus can be maintained away from healthy nails through prevention. The good news is then there are some simple habits and lifestyle changes you can do to keep toenail fungus away. Now that you know toenail fungus treatment methods, let’s see some essential toenail fungus prevention tips that can be easily included in your daily routine.
Daily Hygiene Habits: Clean and Dry Feet
Keeping your feet clean and dry is the best way to prevent toenail fungus. Because fungi enjoy warmth and moisture it’s important to wash your feet every day using soap and water. Make sure you dry your feet completely, especially between the toes where moisture can collect and a breeding ground for fungus occurs.
Once you visit a toenail treatment clinic, the experts will emphasize the importance of good foot hygiene. By integrating this in your day-to-day activities you defend yourself considerably from fungal infections.
Choosing the Right Shoes: Material and Fit Matter
What you choose to wear on your feet will also help prevent toenail fungus. When the shoes are too tight or are made of non-breathable materials like plastics, or shoes that don’t dry properly after being wet then you are creating an environment where moisture and heat are trapped, resulting in an ideal circumstance for fungi to grow. Shoes made of breathable material such as leather or mesh will keep your feet dry.
Also, make sure that your shoes fit right. If you’ve got tight shoes, the trauma caused to the toenail can become an entry point for fungi. When buying shoes, they must allow some space for the toes to freely move.
If you are someone who is more prone to toenail fungus, it’s smart to rotate your shoes so that the other pair gets some airflow in between. If you’re still wondering if your shoes are helping the situation then it’s preferable to get a suggestion from a toenail fungus treatment clinic.
Lifestyle Changes: Sweat Less, Stay Healthy
However, lifestyle habits are big players too in how we prevent your toenail fungus. If you are active or if you tend to sweat a lot, be sure to change out of your wet socks and shoes right after physical activity. Damp sweaty conditions are heaven for fungi, so drying your feet and putting on fresh socks will reduce the opportunity of infection.
Going to the gym? If in a locker room or shower shared with others, consider wearing flip-flops to avoid fungal spore contact. If you tend to sweat excessively, talk to your doctor about options for controlling excessive sweating, which can increase your risk of fungal infection.
Prevention also depends on keeping your immune system healthy, as well. All this helps in keeping a strong immune system. The stronger the immune system, the better it can fight off infections such as toenail fungus. Your toenail fungus treatment clinic may also suggest some lifestyle changes to help prevent future recurrences such as managing your stress and sleeping better.
Maintaining Healthy Nails: Keep the trim short and stay safe.
If your toenails are trimmed and neat, healthy nails won’t get infected, so it’s important. Keeping your nails trimmed regularly will help to stop them from getting caught on shoes it will both cause trauma and leave an opening for fungi to enter.
To avoid ingrown nails, be careful when you trim your nails—cut them straight across, and don’t chop too far into the corners when you cut. If you’re not sure about how to trim your nails safely, go to a toenail treatment and fungus clinic. They will show you the right way to care for your nails and point out common things to avoid.
Why Choose Revitalize London Toenail Fungus Treatment Clinic?
You are looking to receive the best toenail fungus treatment out there. As seen at Revitalize London, we offer the best, most effective solution for your situation. At our team, we’re devoted to providing the best standard of care so you can get healthy and fungus-free nails soon enough.
State-of-the-art treatments are what we use. Our treatments are capable of completely eliminating toenail fungus with a minimal amount of pain and relatively quick healing. At Revitalize London we do not believe that every case is the same; that is why we take the time to create each patient’s treatment plans based on their individual lifestyle.
Not only do we earn their trust that we know what we are doing, but they trust us in the way we care for them. We’re the toenail fungus treatment clinic that offers safe, lasting results with proven success rates and a history of happy patients. Tune us in and book your consultation to get started on your journey to healthier nails!