- Office 5, Level 1, 300 Point Cook Road, Point Cook, 3030
Fungal nails are a frustrating and difficult-to-treat problem that is leaving up to one in four people unhappy with the appearance of their toenails. Our experienced podiatrists treat fungal nails safely and effectively using K-Laser.
Fungal nail infections begin when fungal spores come in contact with the nails, and under certain conditions, are able to infect the nail plate. As the fungus grows and spreads, its effects on the nails become visible through white streaks, yellow spots, nail thickening or flakiness, developing a moth-eaten appearance – or just remaining discoloured with a white, yellow or brown appearance.
As fungal nail infections often take time to infiltrate and show signs of infection, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where the infection was contracted. If someone in your household has a nail infection, then it can spread through households by sharing the same surfaces, particularly if they’re damp, like showers. In public spaces, it may be from shared changing rooms, public showers or at swimming pools.
Fungal nail infections can be a big hassle to treat, with many people spending months applying creams and ointments without success. This is because topical antifungal products are unable to penetrate the outer coating of the nail to reach the areas beneath and within the nail that fungus lingers in. Oral medications are also an option, but pose the risk of undesirable side effects.
We effectively treat fungal nail infections using K-Laser, and have shared exactly how it works to eradicate nail fungus here.
To help prevent fungal nail infections, we recommend:
Your nails contain keratin, a tough, fibrous protein that helps nails maintain their structure. The fungus feeds on this keratin, hence leading to the changes in the appearance of the nails.
Fungal nail infections are estimated to account for 50% of all nail diseases, but other causes can also change the appearance and colour of the nail plate, including:
Not normally, no. In most cases, the infection will continue to progress and stay until treatment is started.
Over time, yes. Not everyone that comes in contact with fungal spores will become infected, and their bodies can help protect them from infection. If your nail is weakened from trauma, if you have poor circulation, or if your immune system isn’t at 100%, you may be more susceptible to an infection taking hold. This means that, over time, it is likely that you will pick up the infection.
Yes, we recommend treating all the fungal infections on your feet, both the skin infection (Athlete’s foot) and your fungal nail infection. You can learn more about Athlete’s foot fungal skin infections here.
