About 50% of all diseases affecting nails are caused by fungal infections. Toenail fungus may cause toenails to be discolored, thick, and/or brittle. As the infection progresses, nails may also start lifting from the nail bed. This makes it difficult to wear certain types of shoes. More than the physical symptoms that a fungus produces, for many people, the persistent infections leave them hiding their toes. People with toenail fungus tend to always wear closed-toe shoes and socks year-round. This impacts their self-esteem and confidence in their appearance. Keep reading this blog to learn how you can stop toenail fungus from spreading.

Is Toenail Fungus Infectious?

If you have nail fungus. you may be wondering how you were infected. Fungal nail infections have been shown to affect up to 50% of all people over 60 years of age. The reason for such high numbers is the ease with which fungus can spread from one person to another.

Toenail fungus spreads through fungal spores. Think of these like pollen – they can move through the air and through direct contact when the spores are present on the same surfaces. As fungal spores are not visible to the naked eye, all shared floors or objects can put you at risk. Fungus favors warm, moist, and dark environments. If you visit public pools, gyms, and public showers – this may be your answer.

Public Pools and Nail Fungus

How to Kill toenail fungus?

If your symptoms do not get better with home treatments, make an appointment with one of our podiatrists near you. We have over 150 offices nationwide. Our doctors may recommend you try our laser treatment for toenail fungus. It is the safest and most effective treatment.

We use an 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 Gainesville, FL 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. Furthermore, there’s no pain.

Laser treatment for nail fungus

How to Prevent Toenail Fungus from coming back?

As you’ve learned by now, toenail fungus is quite infectious. Once the infection is treated it’s very important to follow the steps below to prevent it from coming back.

  • Wear sandals in all public places. This includes pools, gyms, and showers.
  • Disinfect or throw away all old footwear.
  • Always were clean, dry socks and change them often.
  • Only wear shoes that fit well. Make sure your shoes are not too small. Furthermore, you can try to buy shoes that have breathable material.
  • Start using antifungal sprays or powders to kill fungal spores in your shoes daily.
  • Sanitize all nail clippers and nail files. As a result, this will help with not transferring old fungus back onto your nails.
  • Never share any footwear with others.
  • Avoid nail salons unless you know they use new or disinfected tools for all clients.
  • Keep your feet moisturized. This is important because you will then avoid cracks in the skin which may leave openings for fungus to enter.
  • If you get athletes foot. Treat it right away.

Ready to say “sayonara” to your Toenail Fungus for good?

We offer free consultations to all of our patients. Do not hesitate to call us today at 800-672-0625 to book your appointment. Our highly trained and experienced staff will help you find the best treatment option for you.

Toenail Fungus Progression