Toenail fungus isn’t a serious medical condition, but that doesn’t stop it from being stubborn to treat. Toenail fungus also creates cosmetic issues that force your toes into hiding, thanks to unsightly nails.
In other words, this is a condition you don’t want to spread around.
At our podiatry practice, Francine Rhinehart, DPM, and our team routinely help people with toenail fungus, and we understand how frustrating — and contagious — this condition is.
To help you keep your toenail fungus contained, we provide some tips below.
Toenail fungus is common and affects up to 14% of the general population.
The infection usually begins with a small white or yellowish spot on your toenail. From there, toenail fungus can wreak havoc quickly on your toenail and spread to neighboring toenails, so you want to take action as soon as possible.
At the first signs of a toenail infection, skip the mostly ineffective over-the-counter topical ointments. Instead, schedule an appointment with us. The products available at the store don’t penetrate your nail to where the fungal infection is, so you may be wasting valuable time.
Instead, we can use our innovative Q-Clear Nd:YAG laser technology to eliminate the fungus. In just a few 10- to 15-minute treatments, we kill the fungus, preventing it from spreading to others.
While you’re being treated, it’s still a good idea to protect others in your household from your fungal infection with the following strategies:
Whatever touches your feet — towels, nail clippers, socks, and shoes — should be off-limits to your partner and others.
The fungus that creates the infection loves warm, dark, and moist environments. Therefore, it’s important to pick up wet towels from the floor and wash them. The same goes for sweaty socks. In other words, don’t let dank items linger — send them straight to the washing machine for cleaning.
When you’re at home, always cover your feet and keep them up off the floor. That means wearing slippers or clean socks at all times around the house and using flip-flops in the shower.
To protect your bed partner from toenail fungus, wear socks to bed while the infection is active, and clean your sheets at least once a week.
With a little effort, you can prevent spreading your toenail fungus to others while we treat the infection.
If you have questions about toenail fungus or want to schedule a laser treatment, we invite you to call our Dallas, Texas, office, which is located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood. You can also book an appointment online today.
