Toenail fungus is a common infection that makes nails thick, discolored and brittle. Our podiatrists diagnose and treat it at our offices in Metairie, Covington and Prairieville, with options that include prescription medication and in-office laser treatment.
Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is an infection of the nail caused by fungi that live in warm, damp places. It usually starts as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the nail and spreads slowly.
For most people it isn't dangerous, but it rarely clears up on its own and can make wearing shoes uncomfortable. For people with diabetes or poor circulation, it can lead to sores or infections, so it's worth treating early.
Toenail fungus isn't a sign of poor hygiene. The fungi that cause it thrive in warm, moist places like sweaty shoes, locker rooms, pool decks and shared showers, and they can get in through tiny cracks in the nail or the skin around it. In a humid climate like Louisiana's, feet stay damp more often, which gives fungus more chances to grow.
You're more likely to get it if you have athlete's foot, sweaty feet, a past nail injury, diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system. It also becomes more common with age.
Symptoms depend on how far the infection has spread. Common signs include:
The earlier fungus is treated, the less of the nail it reaches, so it's worth having changes checked when you first notice them.
A podiatrist can usually spot toenail fungus during an exam. To confirm it, they may send a small nail clipping to a lab. That also rules out problems that can look similar, such as nail psoriasis, an old injury or, rarely, melanoma.
If you'd like to try home care first, our guide to home remedies for fungal toenails covers what people commonly use and what to expect. For most infections, though, medical treatment works better.
Oral medication is the most effective option for many people. Terbinafine, the most commonly prescribed, is usually taken for about 12 weeks and clears the fungus in most patients. Your podiatrist may check your liver health first. Itraconazole is an alternative.
Prescription topical treatments, such as Jublia, are painted on the nail daily for several months. They are most useful for mild infections that haven't reached the base of the nail.
In severe or painful cases, your podiatrist may remove part or all of the infected nail so treatment can reach the nail bed.
Our offices use the PinPointe FootLaser, an FDA-cleared laser that targets fungus under the nail with light energy. Treatment is done in the office, doesn't involve medication, and you can go back to your day right after.
Laser is a good option if you'd rather avoid oral medication, or can't take it because of liver concerns or other prescriptions. Studies show laser can produce clearer, healthier-looking nail growth, and it can be combined with medication for stubborn infections. Because toenails grow slowly, the clear nail grows in over the following months.
These habits lower your risk of getting toenail fungus or getting it again:
Prevention matters most after treatment, while the new nail grows in.
Our podiatrists treat toenail fungus at our offices in Metairie, Covington and Prairieville, and they'll help you choose between medication, laser or a combination based on your health and how far the infection has spread.
Thick or discolored nails aren't always fungus. If yours looks different, our page on nail conditions covers other common toenail problems.
Nothing kills toenail fungus instantly. Medication, topical treatment and laser all take time to work. Because toenails grow slowly, it can take 12 to 18 months for a fully clear nail to grow in.
The clearest sign is healthy, clear nail growing in at the base while the discolored part moves toward the tip. The damaged part won't turn back to normal; it has to grow out and be trimmed away.
Yes. It can spread to your other nails, to the skin of your feet as athlete's foot, and to other people through shared showers, floors or nail tools.
It can. Toenail fungus often returns, so keeping feet dry, wearing sandals in shared spaces and treating athlete's foot early all help keep it away.
Fungus usually makes nails yellow or white, thick and crumbly, often on more than one toe. A dark brown or black streak, especially on a single nail with no injury, should be checked promptly, because in rare cases it can be melanoma.
If your toenails are changing color, thickening or crumbling, a podiatrist can confirm whether it's fungus and recommend the treatment that fits you.
