Fungal Nail Infection
With a fungal nail Infection/fungal foot infection the nails are often thickened, discoloured and may crumble when cut. A fungal nail infection is usually caused by the same fungus as Athletes foot so it is contracted the same way through communal shower and pool areas or similar damp environments and spreads quite easily to other nails.
Fungal nail infections are difficult to diagnose, however we can normally tell from the chalky, crumbly appearance – the white/brown discolouration and the yeasty smell whether a nail has become fungally infected. There are various types of fungal nail infections – the most common are yeasts and spores but treatment is very similar and like the treatment for a verruca, it involves the compliance of the patient. We will give expert advice on the different treatment modalities available and which is best suited to your condition and lifestyle.
In some cases, if the infection is diagnosed as non-symptomatic or very mild, no treatment can be the best course of action and our podiatrists will advise you of this if this is the case.
Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms
From the gait analysis they can see the underlying cause of many foot and lower limb conditions and so can provide more accurate and appropriate treatment specific to you. The gait scan can be used to make a pair of custom designed orthotics to meet the needs of your condition.
Gait analysis allows our Podiatrists to pick up on any biomechanical faults or structural changes in their early stages so that they are caught early on and treatment can begin before any problem worsens.
Fungal Nail Infection Treatments
Initially our Podiatry team reduce the length and thickness of the nail to confirm the presence of a fungal infection rather than a simple thickened nail. When they have done that they will discuss on going treatment with the patient – this will take one of two forms. It will either involve using a topical gel or cream on the affected nail daily for approximately 9 – 14 months, or the patient can be referred to their GP for a course of tablets if that is possible.
If you are treating the nail with topical cream or paint then the treatment will last a long time – typically as long as it takes the new nail to grown and this happens at an average rate of 0.1mm per day! If you are taking a systemic treatment or tablet then you will need to take it for a period of 3 months after which time you should be able to see a permanent change in the nail.
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