How do I know if I have nail fungus? One may develop a nail fungus through many daily activities.

• Have athlete’s foot
• Made contact with someone who also has nail fungus
• Practice poor hygiene habits or foot care
• Diabetes
• Experienced trauma on the toe
• Are immunocompromised

When the fungus spreads, it will find its way into the crannies of your toenail bed and multiply. Poor blood circulation, which may occur in diabetics, may cause the disease to be more urgent and require more attention. Symptoms that may indicate you have a nail fungus are noticeable

• Changes in nail shape
• Thickening of the nail
• Brittle nails
• Darkening of nail color or nail color changes
• Nail dullness, loss of gloss
• The white and yellow parts of the nail plate

Fungal nails can also start detaching from the nail bed, which can cause pain when the nails get stuck in socks or sheets. Once the nail plate is lifted from the nail bed, dirt gets under the nail and causes the nails to have a dark appearance and turn black, which then can turn into a fungal infection.

Fungal-infected nails can start out with just the corner of your nail involved. Then can later spread to all the other toenails.

If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to be wary of your nails and give them consistent attention to your nails to monitor how they are doing. If the nail continues to show these symptoms, you may begin at-home treatment or see a doctor. Understand that many treatments are lengthy in time and require consistency as well as patience. Laser for toenail fungus treatment, however, requires less time and is more effective.

Visit our FAQ page to get more answers to your fungus questions! Click here to learn more about our Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus

The question is, what is this ugly matter underneath the toenail, a fungal tissue or dirt? Dirt can get underneath the clear nail plate and cause dark spots, confusing you into thinking “I have fungus!!!” So check out your nails carefully, and you can decide for yourself what those ugly, discolored spots are underneath your toenails. If the nail doesn’t appear yellow, thick, flaky, or disfigured, it probably is not a fungal nail.

The best way to be sure if you have contracted fungus is to visit your podiatrist, who can identify and help you get rid of your problem. There are over-the-counter topical solutions available that can help in treating the nail fungus problem, but those usually are not very effective.

As you can see, tips for healthy feet without nail fungus can be easy to find. If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser. It typically only takes one treatment. Other treatments, like topical solutions and oral medication, are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed. Oral medication is not recommended by our nail doctors. This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication.

Our nail doctor in Tampa, FL, recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser for toenail fungus treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain.

If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 at our Tampa, FL location. Visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.