Toenail Fungus Specialist

What is toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus, medically known as either onychomycosis or tinea unguium, is a toenail infection that starts below your nail plate. Coming in contact with a fungus causes it. There are four main kinds of toenail fungus:

Distal subungual onychomycosis

Distal subungual onychomycosis is the most common kind of toenail fungus. It's the same fungus that causes athlete's foot, which usually affects the skin between the toes. This type of fungus generally spreads all over your nail bed, which causes nail discoloration and weakness. 

White superficial onychomycosis 

White superficial onychomycosis is an uncommon kind of toenail fungus, appearing in only 10% of all toenail fungus cases. It causes superficial white patches on your nail. 

Candida onychomycosis

Candida onychomycosis is typically triggered by trauma to the toes. It causes your toenails to grow swollen or bulbous. 

Proximal subungual onychomycosis 

Proximal subungual onychomycosis usually starts as yellow or white patches at the bottom of your toenail that gradually migrates upwards. 

All types of toenail fungus can worsen if not treated. Eventually, your nail could become so weak that it crumbles away or falls off.

What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

The main symptoms of toenail fungus include:

• Scaly-looking nails
• Warped nails
• White or yellow spots, streaks, or patches under the nail
• Bad smell coming from the nail
• Ragged or crumbling nail
• Flakiness on the top of the nail

You should check your feet regularly to look for problems, and if you notice these signs, it's important to see the Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists team promptly for treatment.

How does a podiatrist treat toenail fungus?

The Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists team treats toenail fungus on an individualized basis. Treatment isn't always necessary but is usually recommended since toenail fungus can be contagious. If you have mild toenail fungus, conservative treatments such as prescription antifungal drugs and/or topical preparations are typically very effective. 

If your toenail fungus doesn't respond to antifungal medication, or if it keeps coming back, you could need nail avulsion. Nail avulsion is a minimally-invasive procedure in which your podiatrist removes the nail plate and uses chemical treatments on the affected skin to destroy the infection.

Use the online appointment scheduler or call the Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists office nearest you for toenail fungus help today.