Do You Have Fungal Nails?
Onychomycosis is the medical term for a fungal nail infection and affects up to 14% of the population. While the fungus may be found in your fingernails, toenails are more common to be infected.
Mild infections may produce few symptoms; a nail may lose its shine, slightly discoloured, and thicken partially. In severe infections, the nails become discoloured, thicken, and detach from the nail bed. The skin surrounding the nails may become inflamed and painful. Other diseases and conditions can cause the nails to have a fungal-like appearance, so the best way to determine if you have an infection is to visit your chiropodist. Using a dermatoscope attachment on the camera, our chiropodists can ascertain whether you suffer from a fungal infection. Occasionally, your chiropodist will take a nail sample and using Dormer’s ACU-DTM test kit, we can determine if there are fungal spores within the nail.
Upon confirmation of infection, Werkman, Boven & Associates offers various treatment options for fungal infections, including Lunula Laser, topical therapy, or surgical nail removal. Your chiropodist can discuss these options with you at your next visit.
What can you do to avoid a fungal infection?
Visit your chiropodist to treat your fungal nail infection. Schedule an appointment today!
Contains information from:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 13). Fungal nail infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/nail-infections.html
NHS. (n.d.). NHS choices. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fungal-nail-infection/
