Summer has definitely arrived in Montana. What an excellent time of year to get out to the river or lake and enjoy the warm weather. With all the warm weather comes summer footwear and believe it or not a common complaint can be the color or appearance of those toenails.
Toenail fungus, or medically termed onychomycosis, is a common condition that is the result of a fungal infection that has occurred within the toenail. Over the course of the infection the toenails can become brittle, thickened and/or discolored. Fungal infections thrive in dark, moist environments leaving your feet and toenails extremely vulnerable. This infection can involve one to all ten of your toenails. It can cause separation of the nail bed and may even be painful.
Treating toenail fungus can be very frustrating for patients. There are numerous over the counter treatments that just are not very effective. Why not? Topical treatments fail to treat nail fungus because of their inability to penetrate the nail bed. If the infection is severe enough, oral antifungal treatment may be considered. Although this method can be effective, it does require bloodwork pre-treatment due to the potential for causing liver problems. Laser treatment is one of the latest treatment methods for fungal nails and has shown good results without the risk of complications. Laser treatment is essentially painless and administered in 3 separate treatments as part of a comprehensive fungal eradication program.
Toenail fungus is a very treatable infection. Although it may take time for eradicate the infection, clear, normal nails can be achieved. If you have noticed any abnormal changes in your nails or have “ugly toenails” and want to end the embarrassment, give us a call at 406-721-4007.