FUNGAL NAIL

Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection which often causes thickening and discolouration of the nail plate. Often callous breaks down and builds up beneath the nail plate, sometimes causing the nail to even change shape. Of all the different conditions of fungal nail infection of the body, this is the most difficult to treat.

Fungi thrive in warm, moist places like our shoes. It usually starts at the end of the nail plate and continues to spread under the nail. Sometimes chalky, white plaques develop on the nail and as the infection progresses, yellow and brown pigmentation can become visible.

Fungal nail treatments are fungi-static in action meaning it does not actually kill the fungus, only prevent it from growing any further. For this reason, it takes at least 12 months of continued treatment for a completely healthy nail to be regrown and the infection to clear.

Your podiatrist can help with the treatment of fungal nails through thinning and/or removal of the affected nail plate in order to allow better penetration of specialised fungal nail treatments to the affected nail bed.

Have a condition that needs attention?