Fungal Nail Treatment That Works

What You Need To Know

Learn how toenail fungus develops and how our podiatrists treat it.

Understanding Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is a common problem that causes your nail to become discolored and thickened. The nail may also grow brittle and crumble at the edges. Toenail fungus usually isn’t painful, but you may experience pain if the infection worsens. Left untreated, the infection may make it difficult to walk and wear shoes.

Nail fungus is common, affecting as many as 10% of people worldwide. People of all ages can get toenail fungus, but it most often affects older adults. Nails become dry and brittle with age, which may cause them to crack and allow fungus to enter. This is a common issue for seniors and those with chronic conditions like diabetes and poor circulation. Excessive sweating and a history of athlete’s foot can increase your risk.

Toenail fungus may begin as a tiny white or yellow spot beneath the tip of your nail. As the infection progresses, it may cause discoloration throughout the entire nail, ranging from white to yellow-brown. The nail may thicken, become brittle, grow ragged at the edge, or distort in shape. You may also notice dark debris under the nail or an unpleasant odor.

Fungal nails are contagious, and you are vulnerable in public areas like swimming pools, showers, spas, and locker rooms. Left untreated, an infection may spread to other nails or to the skin.

If you notice discoloration, brittleness, crumbling, thickening, or loosening of one or more toenails, schedule an evaluation with our podiatry team so we can confirm the diagnosis and start you on the right treatment plan.

Our Treatment Options and Prevention

We provide a number of treatment options for patients experiencing fungal nail conditions. Every patient is unique, and treatment cannot be one size fits all. After a thorough physical exam, your podiatrist suggests a combination of treatments to ensure a complete cure and prevent recurrence. Traditional care may include careful debridement of the nails, thinning of the nail plate, prescription topical antifungal medication, custom antifungal soaks, and in some cases prescription oral medication.

SoCal Foot Care offers the Erchonia Lunula Laser for the treatment of onychomycosis. The Lunula Laser is the first and only non-thermal laser to receive FDA clearance for the treatment of fungus toenails. It is completely pain free, with no downtime and none of the risks associated with oral antifungal medications or thermal lasers. Treatments are done weekly, and the laser targets the treatment area for about 12 minutes per session.

For patients who want to restore the appearance of damaged nails, KeryFlex Nail Restoration is a painless, in-office application that uses a composite resin to create a flexible, durable, non-porous nail. It provides an immediate cosmetic improvement and is unaffected by acetone, polishes, or detergents.

Prevention supports long-term success. Wash and dry your feet daily, protect them in public areas with shower shoes, wear clean synthetic socks, and trim nails straight across. Complete regrowth of a clear nail typically takes nine to twelve months. Schedule an appointment to find out which treatment option is right for you.