Smelly toenail fungus can be embarrassing. Smelly toenails are usually associated with sweaty feet and poor hygiene. The smell would usually go away with a thorough wash. In some cases, the foul smell may have a medical cause. White smelly gunk under the toenails that have a similar smell to cheese is likely to be toenail fungus.
What is it?
Toenail fungus or Onychomycosis usually causes the toenails to smell like cheese. The unpleasant odor is caused by the organism, tinea unguium. Other symptoms of toenail fungus include discoloration and brittleness of the toenail. This condition is common in people who wear closed shoes for long periods of time. The feet are unable to breathe and become sweaty. This becomes the perfect environment for fungus to grow. The fungus thrives in dark and damp environments. It can be worse when you do not wear socks.
You can follow this routine to get rid of the foul odor from your feet and prevent toenail fungus:
- Dry your feet after washing. Don’t leave your feet damp because this encourages fungus to grow
- Wear antifungal socks
- Change socks regularly, especially if you have sweaty feet.
- Use foot antiperspirant or antifungal shoe spray on your shoes.
- Wear proper-fitting shoes that allow your feet to breathe
- Clean under your toenails
- Keep your toenails trimmed
- Apply the antifungal solution to your feet and toenails twice a day after washing. You can get these products here.
If left untreated, toenail fungus would just get worse along with the smell. The fungus can also spread to the foot and cause the athlete’s foot. You should take care of your feet and clean them on a regular basis to avoid infection. If you suspect to have toenail fungus, you should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse.
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which 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 St. Louis, MO 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 (314) 530-8772 our St. Louis, MO location, or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
