By Sam Fowler, PMAC, Office Manager
To make the best decisions about your health, it’s important to have accurate information. Unfortunately, instead of talking to their physician or health-care professional, people tend to search online for answers to their health problems, which may often include unreliable information that can cause delays in proper treatment and healing. Toenail fungus is a good example of a common condition that has many misconceptions about how it should be treated. People may spend months, or even years, treating their fungus with everything from Listerine to vinegar to baking soda. It seems like there are more treatments for toenail fungus available not only in the “foot care aisle” at the grocery store, but also with prescription medications that are marketed to the pubic via catchy television commercials.
Are you ready for the truth about toenail fungus? Onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus, is an infection that occurs when there is an opening within or under the nail plate, allowing fungus to enter into the body. The symptoms can vary from thick, brittle, discolored, or even crumbling nails, or a combination of multiple symptoms! Toenail fungus can take a long time to develop, and is usually not painful in the beginning, so it’s easy to ignore and hope it will go away (which it won’t!).
First and foremost is to see a podiatrist for treatment. The sooner you start treatment, the easier it is to remedy. There are many different treatment options available, including prescription creams and topical medications, as well as laser treatments. Regardless of the treatment you choose, the fungus is alive and well in the environment, so the chance of reoccurrence is almost certain! Getting a pedicure, going to the pool, and walking on the beach are just a few ways you can re-infect your toenails. Other medical conditions can even increase the chance of reoccurrence! An ingrown toenail surgery (nail avulsion or matrixectomy), a toenail injury (stubbing your toe and lifting up the nail), another fungus, such as athlete’s foot or fungus on the skin of the feet, all increase the possibility of re-infection. Treating onychomycosis is not a one-and-done deal.
After you have treated the current infection, you must be on some kind of maintenance treatment to prevent reoccurrence. If you do not follow a preventive regimen, you risk re-infection, and another nine to 12 months (the average time it takes for a toenail to grow out) of the “ugly” symptoms associated with this condition. Simple preventative treatments may include using topical medications once weekly rather than daily, or doing a laser therapy treatment once a year, rather than three times per year. Your podiatrist — not the Internet — knows the truth about your foot problem, and is the best person to advise you about proper treatment.
To get your feet looking, feeling, and performing their best, make an appointment with Dr. Melissa Lockwood at Heartland Foot and Ankle Assoicates at 309- 661-9975, or www.HeartlandFootAndAnkle.com.
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