What is the most common cause of nail fungus? Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is a fungus that colonizes the upper layer of dead skin. It is one of the most common causes of fungal nail infection, athlete’s foot (fungal infection of feet), and ringworm (fungal infection of the skin). – about 80% of fungal infections on our body surfaces (skin, hair, nails, etc) are thought to be caused by this fungus.
Types of Fungus
T.rubrum prefers to live between toes, where pressure, moisture, and temperature are high. It is usually present on our feet, but the human immune system fights against the fungus and prevents its overgrowth of it. – this is why it is important to keep your feet dry!
In humans, men are more common to get infected by T. rubrum than women. And the infection is more common in older ages.
- rubrum usually stays on the upper layer of skin, but it is also possible to cause deeper infections. – so it is important to get professional help if you have a chronic fungal infection.
Fungal Infections
First of all, the infection is caused by a microscopic organism called fungi.
One way of getting a nail fungus is skin-to-skin contact with people who already have it or other fungal infections on their skin such as Athlete’s foot.
Another way of getting fungi in your nails is through objects. You can get nail fungus by walking barefoot in a warm and moist area such as a public pool, or by sharing an infected nail clipper or shoes.
Getting Infected
Nails get infected when the fungi get into the nail. As a result, the fungi get through
- A small cut in the skin around the nail
- Crack in the nail
- A separation between the nail and nail bed
It is important to keep your nail healthy to prevent fungi to get through your nail. When you have nail traumas or poor blood circulation, put extra caution with your nails. Also, do not share things that could spread nail fungus. You can easily pick up other people’s fungal infections by sharing nail clippers, towels, socks. shoes, and other things.
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
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 on 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. 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 Dobbs Ferry, NY recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser 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 our Dobbs Ferry, NY location. Visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
