Posts for tag: fungus
“Color me happy,” “Cajun Shrimp,” “Italian Love Affair” all of these are nail polish colors. Fantastic names! Oh, so alluring and adorable. However, what if they were named “Fungus Among Us” or “Love that Bacteria” or “Shades of Virus?” Nail salons are toted in some literature to give an infection to seventy percent of people that visit them. That means that more than most leave with pretty toes and a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. There are several places that an infection can be transferred, so you can minimize your risk and enjoy your pedicure. First, make sure the place itself looks clean. Is the floor clean? Are the stations well-maintained? Make sure the foot bath stations are cleaned after each person and if there is dirt or debris in the bath, insist it be cleaned. Take your own instruments and nail polish as this will prevent you from getting or spreading an infection…it’s important that we all take measures to prevent infection. Keep in mind that it is illegal to use sharps or debride (remove) skin in these places, so speak up if a razor blade, scalpel or scraping instruments are being used to remove callus or rough skin. Unfortunately, the proper way to trim toenails is different than the way to trim fingernails and consequently the nail can become ingrown. This begins the cycle of getting an ingrown and getting another pedicure to treat it. Usually, once the nail has started to become ingrown, eventually it will result in pain and/or pain and infection. This should be treated immediately by your podiatrist and not by the nail salon personnel. If you see changes in your toenail including discoloration, thickening or lifting you should at minimum remove all nail polish and stop getting pedicures for a month or so. Then, perhaps a different place should be sought. Some discoloration may be from chronic nail polish or nail polish that contains formaldehyde. Allow your nails some time to return to normal and then seek your podiatrist’s help in determining if you have an infection of the nail or have had trauma to the nail that will affect its appearance. You can now get nail polish without formaldehyde and with antifungal in it at our clinic. An arrangement of gorgeous, cleverly named colors are available for purchase without an appointment. So stop by on your way to your next pedicure!
Some of the most common conditions I see everyday are nail problems. Toenails grow differently than fingernails and can grow into the folds of the nail bed, consequently, an ingrown nail results. Most people try to relieve this condition by cutting deep into the corners, which can actually make this worse or encourage the ingrown to form. Occasionally, the nail pierces the fold and an infection develops, like the photo seen here. Your podiatrist can offer several treatment options that can relieve this condition as well as treat any infection caused by at an ingrown nail.
Another condition is nail fungus, or onychomycosis. Fungal nails are often discolored, thickened and difficult to cut. However, not all nails that fit this description are fungal nails. There are a several other things that can alter the appearance of a nail. One of those is nail trauma. This can be a one-time incident (i.e. you accidentally dropped a soup can on your toe or jammed it on furniture) or from repetitive microtrauma that you didn't even know occurred. Other causes of nail changes can include nutritional deficiencies, psoriasis and genetic disease. A nail biopsy is one way your podiatrist can diagnose the nail condition and recommend a proper treatment. There are several treatments for fungal nails so be sure to ask what's the best one for you.
Did you ever have a nail turn black or purple and then lift from or fall off the nail bed? A condition called subungual hematoma can occur to one or more toenails at a time. This can be a painful or painless condition and it can occur over a short time. It forms when a blood vessel under the nail is broken, usually from acute trauma or constant pressure. In turn, the bleeding fills the nail bed and discolors the nail. It may cause pain because of pressure under the nail. This is a very treatable condition that your podiatrist is more than happy to take care of.
Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus normally occurring between the toes. The fungus commonly attacks the feet due to the warm, dark, humid environment created by shoes. This environment is ideal for fungus growth. These conditions are also found around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms. Because athletes use these facilities frequently, the infection is common among athletes and the term "athlete's foot" became popular.
The symptoms of athlete's foot are found alone or in any combination that include dry skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters. The blisters often lead to cracking of the skin and breaking leading to small raw areas of deeper layers of skin. This can cause pain and swelling, not to mention and a higher risk of infection. As the infection spreads, itching and burning become worse. Athlete's foot can also spread to the soles of the feet and toenails. It can also spread to other parts of the body when people scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere.
Prevention of athlete's foot is not always as easy as it sounds. The fungus is picked up in dressing rooms, showers, and pool locker rooms, places where bare feet are very common. When using these places a few extra steps can go a long way in reducing the risk of coming in contact with the fungus. Using shower shoes and avoid walking barefoot in these areas is a great prevention. Daily washing of the feet with soap and water followed by carefully drying (especially between the toes) and quality foot powder are also excellent methods. Outside of the previously mentioned areas, athletes should wear light and airy shoes, socks that keep their feet dry, and changing socks frequently if heavy perspiration occurs.
Treatments with chemicals commonly advertised often fail to contact the fungi key layers of skin. For this reason, topical or oral antifungal drugs are being prescribed with growing frequency. If a person is still experiencing similar symptoms to those listed before after two weeks of proper foot hygiene and self care then it is time to consult a podiatrist. The doctor will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem and determine a specific treatment plan often including the prescription of antifungal medication.