Onychomycosis – What is toenail fungus?

What is toenail fungus?

Onychomycosis, also known as toenail fungus, is a common infection of the toenail. About 20% of the general population and 75% of the 60+ population are affected. Toenail fungus is more common in men compared to women.

What causes toenail fungus?

Multiple different species of fungi can contribute to fungal infection of the toenails. Fungi likes dark, moist environments which makes it prominent in areas like showers, locker rooms, and pedicure salons. Additionally, fungal infections of the skin of the foot (tinea pedis/athlete’s foot) can also spread to the toenail and vice versa.

What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

Symptoms include the following:

• Thickened nail
• Discolored nail – typically white or yellow
• Brittle nail
• Nail that appears to have multiple layers or multiple nails
• Nails that are separated from the nail bed or fall off
• Odor may be associated with the nail

What are risk factors for getting toenail fungus?

Risk factors include the following:

• Increased age
• Sweaty feet
• Athlete’s foot
• Walking barefoot in damp public areas such as swimming pools, community showers, gyms
• Having an injury to the skin of the foot or an injury to the toenail
• Having a skin condition that can affect the toenail
• Decreased immune system
• Decreased blood flow to the foot

How can you prevent toenail fungus?

Prevention can include the following:

• Wear shoes when you are in damp, community environments
• Keep your nails clean and dry
• Keep your nails trimmed and disinfect nail clippers after use
• If you have sweaty feet, consider treatment with anti-perspirants.
• Change socks throughout the day and wear a moisture wicking style.
• Treat shoes with disinfectants or antifungal powders, spray, for UV light.
• Chose a nail salon that uses sterilized tools for each customer.
• Utilize nail polishes such as Dr. Remedy which have anti-fungal properties.
• If you believe you have a fungal infection of your toenails or skin of your foot, contact Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa.

What are the treatment options for toenail fungus?

Treatment options recommended by the foot and ankle doctors at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa include the following:

• Topical antifungal treatment
  • Tolcylen
    • There are multiple different products that can be helpful for both toenail and skin fungus infections. These can include antifungal nail solution, antifungal skin cream, antifungal foot soaks, antifungal shoe spray.
  • Topical treatment can take 6-9 months to complete the treatment depending on nail growth.
    • By combining topical treatment with EBM-L1, we can decrease treatment time by 40%.
      • EBM-L1 is a medical grade superfood containing keratin, biotin, cynathine, type 1 collagen, calcium and orthosilicic acid which combined support healthy hair, skin and nails. As well, it has been shown to increase growth rate by 40%.
      • You can learn more here: https://ebmmedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/L1_PPI_Final-Print-Version.pdf
    • Oral antifungal treatment
    • Laser Nail Therapy
    • Temporary or permanent removal of the nail

The physicians at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa would love to discuss all things onychomycosis and treatment with you! You can schedule a consultation for any of our 4 convenient Central Iowa clinic locations: Ankeny, Grimes, Des Moines and Fort Dodge by calling us at 515-639-3775!