A fungal infection isn’t necessarily a health threat, but if you’re trying to put your best foot forward during the dog days, you want to make sure you avoid it at all costs.
Toenail fungus ruins the appearance of your nail, and, if it progresses, can actually lift the nail away from the nail bed. What’s worse? They’re hard to get rid of — unless you get help from the professionals.
In this blog, Dr. Maurice Aiken and our expert podiatric team at Bay Breeze Foot & Ankle Specialists in Dunedin, Florida, discuss toenail fungus prevention so you can feel confident stepping into sandal season.
Onychomycosis (toenail fungus) is a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, damp environments, like locker rooms, showers, and public pools. The spores are in the air, and they grow when they land on and invade a receptive surface like your toenail.
They feed off the nail tissues and burrow into the skin under the nail. Eventually, your nail thickness begins to peel away from the nail bed. Once your nail lifts away, it won’t reattach, and a new nail won’t grow to replace it.
We offer a range of approaches to treating fungal infections, from topical treatments to advanced and minimally invasive procedures, such as HyperBlue® laser therapy.
However, we also want to help prevent fungal infections from happening in the first place. Here are a few ways to keep toenail fungus at bay.
Toenail fungus transfers easily from person to person and even to other objects and surfaces. To prevent this, make these health habits non-negotiable:
These strategies for healthy feet can keep you and your family fungus-free.
You might be vigilant about where you walk, but you can catch a fungal infection if you’re careless with your personal items. Toenail fungus can linger on items like towels, clippers, and footwear — never share them with others.
These types of products are beneficial if you’re prone to sweaty feet. We can help you find antifungal sprays and powders to treat your footwear with to reduce fungal growth.
Toenail fungus may be stubborn, but you don’t have to live in fear of it. A little bit of diligence and some extra care with your feet can help you sidestep an infection.
Call Bay Breeze Foot & Ankle Specialists or request an appointment online today if you’d like more prevention tips, or you think your nails are infected.
