Have you noticed a change in the colour or thickness of your toenails? This is most likely a fungal nail infection.
This blog will aim to help you understand how you got the infection, how to best treat a fungal nail infection and how to prevent further infections.
How did I get a fungal nail infection?
Fungal infections love warm and moist environments. The most common places to pick up a fungal nail infection are:
- Being barefoot in common spaces (such as public toilets, communal showers or pools/ gyms)
- Nail salons where instruments such as nail clippers and emery boards are not cleaned between clients
- Trauma- damaging a nail bed can make you more likely to contract a fungal infection
How do I treat my fungal nail infection?
At Pro Feet Podiatry we use a photodynamic light therapy called PACT.
This light therapy uses a photosensitive agent (blue gel) that reacts with the light from the PACT machine. The interaction between the gel and the light causes an increase in oxygen in the area and leads to fungal cell death without causing harm to the surrounding skin and tissue.
Our PACT progress includes x4 appointments a week apart, followed by a review appointment 6 weeks later. After this review your appointments will be made on the basis of healing. Heavily infected nails may require more frequent appointments.
We use PACT therapy in combination with NailKalm. This treatment is applied by the patient at home twice daily. Nailkalm is a clinically proven antifungal treatment that also aids in the nail regeneration.
To give your nails the best chance of recovery we suggest the following treatments:
- Anti fungal spray – Spray can be applied to the inside of all shoes and also tinea on the skin, reducing the chance of reinfection.
- Canesten Hygiene Laundry Rinse – Wash all socks and stockings will help to eliminate fungal spores that can remain in your clean washing increasing the risk of re-infection.
How to prevent fungal nail infections?
Once you have completed a PACT cycle it is suggested that you have an annual treatment to kill any fungal spores before they get out of hand. Other recommended prevention techniques include: Wearing thongs in warm moist environments, only using trusted salons with good hygiene techniques and keeping any cuts or abrasions covered with a bandaid until healed.
If you think that you have a fungal nail infection please contact our clinic to make an appointment. If you have any other questions you are more then welcome to contact me.
Marney Cowell
Podiatrist
Profeet Podiatry
[email protected]