Toenail Fungus

Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus sounds like such a nonthreatening condition. If you’ve had it for a long time, you probably put it in the nuisance category, along with things like dry skin, chapped lips, and age spots. Unattractive, maybe, but easy enough to ignore if you want to.

But after age 60, you need to take toenail fungus more seriously, says Neil Scheffler, D.P.M., podiatrist and president of health care and education for the Mid-Atlantic region of the American Association of Diabetes in Baltimore. As you age, your immune system is less able to fight off infection. When your nails get brittle—as happens when you have fungus—the sharp edges may puncture your skin, and germs can get in.

For people with diabetes, the risk soars. The danger of infection from a simple cut like that is much greater because of poor circulation. What started as a simple case of fungus can easily turn into an infection that can lead to gangrene if it’s not treated, says Dr. Scheffler.

Technically called onychomycosis, toenail fungus is usually just that, a fungus. But yeasts and molds can trigger reactions that look similar, such as thickening and discolored nails. These things get passed around. Other people leave their footprints on the floors of health clubs, public swimming pools, or locker rooms, and if you step in the wrong place at the wrong time, you could pick up the fungus, yeast, or mold.

Despite its name, this fungal infection can also get on your fingernails. But the toes are the most common site. That’s because toenails grow much more slowly than fingernails. A typical big toenail takes about 12 to 18 months to grow out, and that’s about half the speed of a fingernail. So, once a toenail is infected, it’s growing out at a very leisurely pace. Add to that an environment of sweaty, warm shoes, and you can count on toe fungus lingering quite awhile unless you do something about it.

Unfortunately, the only reliable way to rid yourself of toenail fungus is with an expensive prescription antifungal medication, says Alan J. Liftin, M.D., dermatologist in private practice in Livingston, New Jersey. Occasionally, fungus spontaneously makes a hasty exit from your nails. But don’t bet your toes on it. After you go to the doctor, try the following home treatments to keep fungus from popping up again.

Try This First

Trim those nails. Short nails do not get damaged as easily as long nails, and damaged nails are welcome mats for fungus, says Dr. Liftin. Periodically, use a nail clipper to trim your toenails into a straight line. Then smooth the edges with a file. Make sure to sterilize the clippers after each use so you don’t accidentally reinfect yourself with fungus.

Other Wise Ways

Treat your feet like your face. You may have been using alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) on your face for years to prevent wrinkles. Well, that same cream can do wonders for your feet. Smooth an AHA cream onto your feet before going to bed. This will buff the rough, scaly skin from your feet, and it’s that rough, scaly stuff that picks up fungus more easily than smooth skin, according to Dr. Liftin. You should see a doctor if you have excessively scaly skin on your feet, because this could be a fungus, he adds.

Go up a shoe size. If your shoes are too small, they’ll rub against your toenails, creating damage and making fungal infections pop up. Make sure you have at least a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the toe box, recommends Dr. Liftin.

Work on a hostile environment. Most cases of toenail fungus are really cases of athlete’s foot gone haywire. This closely-related fungus thrives in sweaty socks and damp shoes. To keep your feet dry, change your shoes and socks as often as feasible, and wear open-toed sandals when you can, says Dr. Liftin. Also consider using an over-the-counter topical antifungal cream, powder, or lotion daily, he adds.