Fungal Toenails
Fungal toenails are caused by an organism that grows in and under the nail. The fungus likes to grow in warm, moist places like your shoes. Many patients pick up fungal toenail infections in the gym locker room, from a nail salon, wet shoes or from trauma. Fungus can stay in the nails for many years and can be passed from one person to another.
Do you have thick, yellow, discolored toenails?
Are you embarrassed to wear your open-toed shoes in public?
Chances are you have fungal toenails, a condition also known as onychomycosis.
There are currently three treatment modalities for this condition. They include topical medications, oral medications, which can have some serious side effects; and the newest modality which is laser therapy.
At our practice we use a laser, which focuses a concentrated beam of laser light through the nail to eradicate the fungus living under and in the nail. The procedure is performed right in our office, requires no anesthesia and is painless. Most patients require only three treatments and can once again enjoy wearing open toed shoes.
If you're tired of looking at those unsightly toenails, please contact our office to determine if you are a candidate for laser therapy.
Ingrown Toenails
We know that many of my patients fear coming in for treatment of an infected ingrown toenail. They come in with excruciating pain and I get to send them home feeling a whole lot better.
An ingrown toenail occurs when a corner of the nail grows into the flesh of the toe, causing redness and swelling, followed by pain and often infection. Ingrown toenails can occur due to improper trimming of the toenail, trauma or genetic factors.
Treatment for ingrown toenails is performed by gently numbing the toe, and then removing the offending corner of the nail. If you have chronic ingrown toenails we can apply a chemical to the nail root to permanently prevent the re-growth of the ingrown portion of the nail. Patients are typically back into a shoe and can resume their normal activities almost immediately.
If you have an ingrown toenail, don't be afraid to come in. Your treatment will be gentle and virtually painless, and we'll get you back to your normal activities right away.
