Yellow, Crumbly Nails?

What is a fungal nail infection?

Onychomycosis, more commonly known as fungal nail can affect nails of both the hands and feet. It often affects either the big or little toenails. It is caused by a number of different organisms including dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum and yeasts such as Candida albicans. Fungal nails often coincide with tinea of the skin.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose your fungal nail we will initially need to take out a small sample of the affected nail. We can then organise for you to drop your nail sample off to a local pathology centre for testing. This test normally takes between 2-3 weeks.

How is it treated?

Fungal nails can be treated in either one of two ways, these being topical ointments or an oral drug. Depending on your circumstances we can help to determine which treatment method is most appropriate.

How to prevent fungal nails?

There are a number of different ways to prevent fungal nails and to help stop them reoccurring, these include:

–        Washing your socks and wearing a fresh pair each day

–        Thoroughly washing your feet every night and drying them properly, especially between               the toes.

–        Cleaning the shower with bleach

–        Wearing thongs/slides in communal areas such as gym, pool and hotel showers

–        Wearing socks in slippers/ugg boots as they tend to hold and breed fungus/bacteria.

If you suspect you have a fungal nail infection, come in and see one of our friendly team today who will be able to assess your toenail and implement a management plan to help get your toe nail looking better.

Isaac Hogan- Podiatrist

You can call us on 62932024 or BOOK a GENERAL TREATMENT ONLINE HERE