Toenail fungus can be more than unsightly; it can cause discomfort and distorted nails. Daniel Pero, DPM, at Integrative Foot and Ankle provides the most advanced podiatry care to his patients for a variety of foot conditions, including embarrassing problems like toenail fungus, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Don’t hide your feet a minute longer. Call Integrative Foot and Ankle for more information or schedule an appointment online.

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What is toenail fungus?

Fungal infections of the toes and toenails are a common problem. They are caused by an overgrowth of fungal organisms, like dermatophyte, yeast, and mold, on your skin or under your toenail. These infections can develop from fungus on your body or from those you physically encounter.

Once your nail is infected, the infection can spread to other toenails and the skin of the toes. When the skin on and between your toes becomes infected, you have athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot can also begin on your skin and then spread to your toenails.

You can develop toenail or fungal infections on your feet at any age, but your risks increase with aging as your nails grow more dry and brittle. That leaves your nails vulnerable to infection.

Additional risk factors include:

  • Diabetes or circulation problems
  • A weakened immune system
  • Damp or moist feet for extended periods
  • Nail or skin injuries around your nails

Walking barefoot in communal areas like locker rooms and pools also increases your risk of developing fungal infections.

What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

The symptoms of a fungal infection on your feet can be subtle at first. It can affect part of the nail, several nails, or the skin around the nails. Signs of toenail fungus include:

  • Thickened and discolored nails
  • Ragged, brittle, or distorted nails
  • Lines and ridges (scaling) under the nail
  • White or yellow spots or streaks on the nail
  • A faint, unpleasant odor coming from the infected area

With athlete’s foot, you’ll have itching, burning, and stinging on the skin on, between, and underneath your toes.

How is toenail fungus treated?

Treating toenail and foot fungus can be challenging, but Dr. Pero at Integrative Foot and Ankle offers the most advanced podiatry treatment options.

Several treatment options are available depending on the cause of your infection. These might include oral antifungal medications, topical medications, or a combination of therapies.

Integrative Foot and Ankle also uses innovative laser treatments, like the Cutera YAG 1064nm laser. This laser therapy targets the pigment in the fungus and exposes it to pulsed light energy without causing damage to your surrounding skin. Dr. Pero was the first physician to introduce YAG 1064nm laser toenail fungus treatment to northern Palm Beach County in 2012.

After your laser treatment, Dr. Pero offers and applies a temporary Keryflex™ nail restoration system which instantly creates a beautiful appearance of nails.

Dr. Pero has trademarked his own protocol for a combination of treatments used for correcting fungal nails that are resistant to typical medical and laser treatments, the Toenail Lift™, and has successfully treated hundreds of patients that have previously failed treatment by other specialists. In other words, he knows exactly why your toenail fungus won’t go away or why it keeps coming back.

Get to the bottom of your toenail or foot fungus by calling Dr. Pero at Integrative Foot and Ankle for more information, or schedule an appointment online today.