My Blog
Posts for tag: Onychomycosis
Flip flop time of year is just around the corner, so it’s time to chase away those little critters that, as seen on television commercials, want to “live under your nail” – commonly known as fungus. Also known as onychomycosis, this condition manifests itself as toenails that appear very thick, crumbly, discolored (yellow, brown, green, or white), or with debris underneath the nail itself. The organisms which cause this condition are called dermatophytes, the two most common ones being Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophyte. These critters prefer environments that are warm, dark, and damp, thus making the foot an ideal location for infection.
It is important to treat any concomitant athlete’s foot infection, or tinea pedis, along with fungal toenails. The reason for this is because fungus can spread from the toenails to the skin and also from the skin to the toenails. Athlete’s foot appears as dry, scaly skin in a moccasin distribution or as what appears to be small, popped blisters on the soles of the feet. Symptoms can be itching, burning, soreness, peeling, blistering, or cracked skin. Some people have no symptoms at all; this does not mean that you should leave the infection alone! On occasion, the skin which is already infected with athlete’s foot may crack, thus allowing bacteria to enter the skin and cause a secondary infection. This makes treatment more difficult, sometimes requiring both antifungal agents along with antibiotics.
There are multiple ways to treat fungal infections in the foot. As for onychomycosis, some people have heard of soaking the toenails in bleach or using vinegar. These methods are not curative! It is important to treat this condition with the appropriate antifungal agent. Formula 3 is an oil-based, nail polish-type treatment that has shown promising results over the years. You simply paint the oil on all of the toenails twice daily (once in the morning, once before bed). All nails should be painted in order to prevent the spread of fungus. Noticeable changes may be evident as early as 3 weeks to 1 month after beginning treatment. Laser treatment for nail fungus is also available at our Huber Heights office location.
Athlete’s foot can be treated with the antifungal medication Tineastat, which can be purchased at all of our office locations. You should also use drying agents to prevent foot sweating and, therefore, cure and prevent future outbreaks of athlete’s foot. We have an array of products which prevent excessive sweating at all office locations, as well.
If you are suffering from any of the above mentioned conditions, make an appointment with us today so we can help to start your summer off on the right foot!
As warm weather approaches, women (and even a growing number of men, like NFL stars Tim Tebow and Victor Cruz) are getting pedicures to improve the way their feet look. For those who opt to get a salon pedicure, we at Advanced Foot & Ankle Care want you to keep three things in mind to have your feet looking and feeling their best all summer long.
Bring Your Own Tools
Unfortunately, not all tools at nail salons are sterilized properly. For this reason, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself at nail salons is to invest in your own set of tools. By bringing your own set of tools, you can decrease the risk of infection since these instruments haven’t been used on anyone else. If you do not wish to invest in your own kit, do make sure that the tools they are about to use have been sterilized.
Only Cut Nails Straight Across
Make sure that your technician uses a toenail clipper that has a straight edge and cuts your toenails straight across. This is also a good practice to keep at home if you ever cut your own toenails, as cutting them straight across helps prevent painful ingrown toenails. If you are experiencing an ingrown toenail, avoid the salon and make an appointment to have it examined by one of our podiatrists.
Only Color Healthy Nails
If your nails look healthy, feel free to have them painted. However, if your nails are yellow, thick, or brittle, do not try to cover them up with nail polish. Since these are symptoms of nail fungus, call any of our offices: Huber Heights, Troy, Piqua and Sidney, to make an appointment to have them examined by one of our physicians. We at Advanced Foot & Ankle Care have a wide variety of treatment options, including our Cutera Laser, which can kill fungus without damaging the surrounding tissue.