Fungal Nails

Description of Fungal Nails

Fungus' are infected organisms which can affect the foot. If the infection is in the skin is commonly known as athletes foot. A fungal infection of the nails is called onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is a very common problem. The nails on the toes become yellow, thickened and discolored. There may be some debris under the nails which is a byproduct of the fungus. Sometimes these nails are painful but oftentimes they are unsightly and patients are embarrassed to wear sandals or go barefoot.

There are now some excellent oral medications to treat fungal nails. These oral medications can be taken for short periods of time and destroy the fungus in the nail. Sometimes we test liver enzymes to make sure these medications do not cause any injury to the liver. However it is rare to have these lab tests elevated during treatment. There is one topical medication that also can be used which has proven to be effective, however he must use it for 12 months.