Nail Fungus! What it is and how it is treated!

Nail Fungus, otherwise known as Onychomycosis, causes fingernails or toenails to thicken, discolor, disfigure, and split. At first, onychomycosis appears to be only a cosmetic concern. Without treatment, however, the toenails can become so thick that they press against the inside of the shoes, causing pressure, irritation, and pain.

  Half of all nail disorders are caused by onychomycosis, and it is the most common nail disease in adults. Toenails are much more likely to be infected than fingernails. The incidence of onychomycosis has been increasing and is related to diabetes, a suppressed immune system, and increasing age. Adults are 30 times more likely to have onychomycosis than children. In fact, only 2.6% of children younger than 18 years are reported to have it, but as many as 90% of elderly people have onychomycosis. Why do toenails thicken as we age you ask? With age there is a rapid decrease in the growth rate for both toenails and fingernails.  As a result both kinds of nail thicken because of the piling up of nail cells.

Other factors that can affect the rate of thickening include long-term trauma and impaired circulation. Peripheral Arterial Disease, which impairs circulation, most often affects the feet can also cause thickened, brittle nails that can often be confused with nail fungus, or simultaneously associate with onychomycosis and its effects.

Nail fungus can be treated in many ways. The most common treatments are topical antifungals that can be painted on the nail like nail polish, which penetrate the nail directly, and get directly to the fungus.  There are many over the counter liquid remedies over the counter, but for the best outcome to onychomycosis, the best treatment for it is prescription strength such as CNL-8, Onychol, or Formula3 to name a few.  

Other treatments include prescriptions like Lamisil, which are a medicine that you can take orally that gets to the fungus by going through the bloodstream and killing the fungus internally. 

A new treatment that has just recently came to light, is the state-of-the-art Laser that treats many different disorders, including warts and plantar faciitis.  The laser is painless and there is no anesthesia needed for nail treatment. Nail lasers are very effective but sometimes costly.  With the laser, there are no side effects and no need for any drugs. With it, sometimes there is a need for more than one treatment to rid of the pesky fungus. 

If you have any problems with your nails or notice any discoloration or thickening of your nails, call your podiatrist right away so they can find the best treatment for your problem, because remember, “if your feet hurt, you hurt all over!”

Plantar Warts. What to do?

Sometimes painful and very ugly, plantar warts appear as small lesions on the sole of the foot, and occasionally the toes.  In their early stages they look like small black puncture marks, but as they grow they turn brown and take on a cauliflower-like appearance.  A black spot may develop in the middle, which is caused by bleeding.  Plantar warts are pushed deep into the skin by the weight of your body as you walk, which is why they can hurt a lot. Plantar warts are hard warts that grow most commonly on the bottom of feet.  They can be quite painful since they tend to grow inward on foot's surface.  People comment that having a plantar wart is like walking on a stone all day.

Sometimes a group of small plantar warts develop in one spot on the foot.  The smaller plantar warts then form a plaque-like covering.  These warts are called mosaic warts because of the mosaic look of the plaques.

Symptoms

Unless feet are checked regularly, the first time a person is aware of plantar warts is pain when walking.  Then on checking their soles they may notice an unusual rough crusty lump that feels tender and sore.  Plantar warts are sometimes mistaken for corns or calluses but there are several differences to look out for when trying to determine if you have a plantar wart or something else.  Plantar warts have one or more black pinpoints within the growth.  These pinpoints are actually clotted blood vessels.  Calluses are smooth and clear.Plantar warts also have well defined boundaries and rough surfaces whereas calluses are less defined around the edges and are have much smoother surfaces.

Causes

These uncomfortable growths are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) which thrives on warm, moist surfaces such as those found in swimming pools, locker rooms, and bathrooms.  It is a highly contagious pathogen and can survive for several months without a human host.  The only way to catch HPV is by direct contact, and the viral route into you is through cuts, abrasions, and other skin breaks on your feet.  If an infected person walks barefoot on a floor, virus particles may be released which you could catch by walking across the same surface.   It’s also possible to become infected by using a towel of a person with plantar warts.

Treatments

If you have plantar warts there is absolutely nothing to be worried about, even though they can be painful.  They are benign non-cancerous growths and there is a range of treatments on offer to eradicate them.   Many plantar warts disappear after a few months or years, and doctors recommend that you should seek help only if they are painful.   However, they present a tough challenge to the medical profession as evidence shows that there is no single therapy that is capable of bringing about complete remission from plantar warts in every patient.

 

 

Plantar warts can be eradicated by salicylic acid which is available from drug stores.  Applied daily to the troubled area, the solution breaks down viral cells and can lead to wart removal in about four weeks.

Stronger treatments which can be obtained from a doctor include cryotherapy, that is freezing the warts off with liquid nitrogen or nitrous oxide.  Electrosurgury involves the application of an electric needle to the middle of the wart until it boils, and then it is scraped out.  Warts can also be removed by pulses of laser energy which heat up the blood vessels within the wart, resulting in a necrotic wart that eventually falls off.     However, some of these surgical techniques can be quite painful, and may need to be repeated.

If you have a plantar wart, treat it immediately, before the lumps and bumps take over.  But the first line of defense is to protect yourself by keeping feet clean and dry, and avoid walking barefoot in communal bathing areas, especially if you have cuts or scratches on your feet.  If you do notice a plantar wart then cover it up with a plaster. In some instances this may be all that is needed to clear it up.

Children and people with immune deficiencies are especially susceptible to HPV so it is extremely important that precautions are taken so they will not be exposed to the virus.  Wear protective footwear, especially in public places that may be contaminated such as gyms, locker rooms, pools, and other wet warm places.

If you or anyone you know thinks they may have a wart, contact your Podiatrist to set up an appointment to get your warts treated as quickly as possible. Warts are contagious and should be taken care of as soon as you see one. Because remember, when your feet hurt, You Hurt all Over!