What Causes Toenail Fungus and How Can I Get Rid of It?

Are your toes ready for summer? If not, you’re not alone. Fungal infections account for about half of all nail diseases. It’s not always easy to talk about yellow or thick toenails, but you don’t have to hide your nails forever. Fungal infections can be treated, but how do you know if you have one?

At Francine Rhinehart, DPM, we recommend you seek podiatric care at the first sign of nail trouble — such as yellow or thickened nails — since fungal infections can quickly become hard to manage. From medication to cutting-edge laser treatments, it’s our goal to help you achieve healthy nails. 

We’ve created this guide to uncover what causes nail fungus, and what you can do to eliminate fungal infection. 

What causes a toenail fungus infection?

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that impacts the skin on your foot or between your toes. When fungus impacts the nail bed, it’s called a toenail fungal infection, or onychomycosis. The most likely fungus to infect your nails is called a dermatophyte.

So how does a fungus get under or into your nails? There are a few ways to contract a fungal infection:

• Your nails were dry, cracked, and brittle — and that crack allowed fungus to enter the nail
• You already had an athlete’s foot infection that spread from your skin to your nail

You’re also more likely to develop an infection if you have poor circulation in your feet or if you have a weakened immune system, according to the experts at Mayo Clinic.

How to get rid of a fungal infection

Fungal infections can be hard to manage because they spread so easily. Fungal infections are easiest to contain when you first spot the signs of a nail infection.

You might notice yellow, thick, brittle, or even flakey nails. Over-the-counter remedies might be tempting, but sometimes they just aren’t powerful enough to tackle a full-blown fungal infection. 

Here’s what we can do to eliminate an infection:

• Oral antifungal medication 
• Topical antifungal medication
• Surgery to remove the infected nail
• Laser treatments

We know you want to show off healthy-looking feet this summer, and that’s why we also offer the Keryflex ™ nail restoration system (which can be used along with laser treatments) so you can say goodbye to pesky fungal nail infections.

Preventing future fungal infections

Prevention is a strong defense against future infections. You can reduce your risk of developing another toenail fungus by keeping these tips in mind:

• Always wear shower shoes when in public spaces
• Practice good foot hygiene such as changing socks when wet, washing feet daily, and avoiding nail polish (if possible)
• Always allow gym shoes to dry thoroughly between uses
• Apply anti-fungal powders to gym shoes
• Trim nails regularly and straight across
• Wear moisture-wicking socks 

In addition to the above, it’s especially important to practice good foot hygiene if you have diabetes.

Get the podiatric care you need 

Whether you just spotted a yellow nail or you’ve been struggling with an infection for weeks, the team at Francine Rhinehart, DPM can help you combat toenail fungus.

Give us a call at 214-865-9968 to request an appointment or you can also use our online scheduling tool to book today!