BLOG - REGULAR BLOG BY JANET McGROGGAN - PRINCIPAL PODIATRIST 

Posts tagged “Fungal Nails”

Athletes foot is generally easily treated using over the counter remedies but the fact that the nail harbours the fungal infection and is very slow to grow makes clearing up a fungal nail a challenge.  
 
Our nails are made up of three layers and the infection can be localised to the lowest layer and the skin under the nail plate. Onychomycosis can cause thickened, unsightly and sometimes painful nails in a variety of colours ranging from white to yellow and even green as different fungi families appear as different colours. 
This week I want to chat a little more about what is out there for people with difficult nails. 
 
Summer is here (well it was, it’s pouring now) and many men and women are embarrassed about getting their toenails out. 
• People with fungal nails or nails destroyed from chronic fungal nail infections. 
• People with nails totally or partially removed through surgery or trauma. 
• People with thickened and distorted nails from major or minor trauma. 
 
You may feel that you are alone, but you are not and there is a very effective solution to this problem which can be used short term – over the holidays or reapplied to look great all year round. 
Topical treatments from the chemist can work well especially if the infection hasn't reached the base of the nail.  
 
These are usually applied daily or weekly and the trick is PATIENCE and DO IT!!! 
 
Be prepared to treat until the affected nail grows out, a big toenail can take a year to completely replace itself. It is worth treating the skin for athlete’s foot at the same time if this is present, Canesten is great for this but athletes foot will recur while you get rid of the fungal nail. So, keep on top of it. 
 
If you are having no luck using topical treatments and you know that you have a fungal infection your GP can prescribe an oral antifungal. 
Fungal nails are very common, so don't worry you are not the only person in the entire universe with a wonky nail, or two. 
 
They don't all look the same, some are white, yellow, brown or black. Some are thick and some are crumbly. But no matter what they look like, once you know that you have a fungal nail if you decide to treat it you will be in it for the long haul, so buckle up and be diligent. 
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