Fungal Toenail Calgary

Laser treatment for ugly toenails

• Finally get rid of yellow, brittle or thickened toenails
• Quick in-office procedure
• Virtually painless
• Effective and Safe treatment
• Alternative to Surgery or Prescription medications
• No down-time from your regular activities

Do your toenails appear yellow, brittle, or ugly?

Then perhaps you suffer from a toenail infection, a condition that will continue to worsen over time if the infection is not stopped. Toenail infections can be caused by heavy foot perspiration, poor shoe/sock ventilation or walking barefoot in damp areas such as a gym or locker room. Until now, the only solutions for unsightly toenail infections were to surgically remove the nail and apply topical treatments or medications with potentially negative side effects. None of these solutions where ideal. Laser technology has recently given doctors a valuable tool to fight this embarrassing condition.

Toenails often serve as barometers of our health; they are diagnostic tools providing the initial signal of the presence or onset of systemic diseases. For example, the pitting of nails and increased nail thickness can be manifestations of psoriasis. Concavity-nails that are rounded inward instead of outward-can foretell iron deficiency anemia. Some nail problems can be conservatively treated with topical or oral medications while others require partial or total removal of the nail. Any discoloration or infection on or about the nail should be evaluated by a Podiatrist.

Fungal infection of the nail, or onychomycosis, is often ignored because the infection can be present for years without causing any pain. The disease is characterized by a progressive change in a toenail's quality and color, which is often ugly and embarrassing.

In reality, the condition is an infection underneath the surface of the nail caused by fungi. When the tiny organisms take hold, the nail often becomes darker in color and foul smelling. Debris may collect beneath the nail plate, white marks frequently appear on the nail plate and the infection is capable of spreading to other toenails, the skin, or even the fingernails. If ignored, the infection can spread and possibly impair one's ability to work or even walk. This happens because the resulting thicker nails are difficult to trim and make walking painful when wearing shoes. Onychomycosis can also be accompanied by a secondary bacterial or yeast infection in or about the nail plate.

Because it is difficult to avoid contact with microscopic organisms like fungi, the toenails are especially vulnerable around damp areas where people are likely to be walking barefoot, such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers, for example. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to all types of infection, including fungal infection. Those who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. Other contributing factors may be a history of athlete's foot and excessive perspiration.

Causes of fungal nails

• The spread of athlete's foot to the nails
• Shoes and socks create a warm, dark and humid environment, which encourages fungal growth
• Systemic disease
• Trauma
• Heredity

What can you do?

• Practice good foot hygiene, including daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes; changing shoes regularly
• Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure
• Wear shoes made of materials that breathe
• Wear socks made of fibers that "wick" away moisture faster than cotton socks
• Avoid wearing excessively tight hosiery, which promotes moisture
• Shower shoes should be worn when possible in public areas
• Disinfect home pedicure tools and instruments used to cut nails
• Don't apply polish to nails suspected of infection-those that are red, discoloured or swollen

What can a Podiatrist do for you?

• Perform a physical examination
• Culture the infected nail
• Prescribe appropriate anti-fungals
• Perform debridement or removal of the nail as indicated
• Perform laser treatment to help eliminate or control the fungal nail