After reviewing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will examine your nails to assess them and scrape samples to examine under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of fungus present.
Treatment will depend on the severity and type of fungus causing the infection, but you’ll usually need to take oral antifungals to grow a new, healthy nail. You may also need antifungal nail polish to apply daily to damaged nails. Sometimes it is necessary to combine oral and topical antifungal treatments.
However, you should keep in mind that clearing up a fungal infection can take several months and that it can come back.
If the infection is serious and you have a lot of pain, your doctor will probably remove the damaged nail to apply the antifungal directly and attack the infection.
Prevention:
You can perform the following measures to reduce the risk of developing nail fungus, such as:
- Cut your nails straight and smooth the edges with a file.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas.
- Avoid wearing fake nails.
- Wash your hands after touching an infected nail.
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Perform hand and foot hygiene daily.
- Wear clean socks or stockings every day that help absorb sweat.
- Wear ventilated shoes and don’t wear the same shoes several days in a row.
At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
