Toenail Fungus Doctors in Waxahachie, Corsicana & Ennis, TX

Award-Winning “Ugly Toenail” Treatment

Do you find yourself wearing shoes even in the hot summer months? Are you embarrassed to take your socks off around people due to thick, yellow toenails? If this sounds familiar, we have good news. You don’t have to be resigned to closed-toed shoes forever! At Family Foot & Ankle Centers, we offer advanced treatments for toenail fungus in all 3 of our podiatry locations: Waxahachie, Ennis & Corsicana. In no time, we will have your toes looking and feeling great again.

Don’t be discouraged if you have ugly toenails! Our award-winning podiatrists have had success in treating even the most stubborn cases of toenail fungus. By being on the cutting edge of toenail fungus treatment, we are able to deliver exceptional results to patients who believed their toenails would have to be hidden away forever.

What Causes Toenail Fungus?

Toenail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, affects more than 1 in every 6 Americans. It is a common fungus and athlete’s foot is caused by the same type of fungus, known as a Dermatophyte. This fungus is contagious and usually begins as a small white spot under your nail. Slowly but surely, this spot spreads to affect your entire nail. As it continues to spread, toenail fungus begins to make your toenails thick and discolored. This infection can spread to your skin or fingernails, although fungus on the fingernails is pretty uncommon. Toenail fungus often thrives because your feet provide a warm, dark, and often damp environment.

This toenail problem often is caused by the fungus entering into bruised or damaged nails. Exposing toenails to fungus contaminated areas such as locker rooms and swimming pools increases the chances of infection.

What Does It Look Like?

Your toenail fungus can look very different depending on the actual type of fungus infecting the nail. Some fungus are dark, while others are white or yellowish. Also, cracked, brittle or broken nails can be a early sign of toenail fungus. Thickening of the toenail is common and you may see debris under the toenail in advanced infection.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made by taking a small clipping of your toenail and sending it to the lab. Both the presence of fungus and what type of fungus can be identified. Other conditions such as psoriasis and trauma to the toenail can mimic toenail fungus and require a different treatment.

How Is It Treated?

Fungal nail infections can be time consuming to treat and recurrence is common. Treatment depends on factors such as your age and severity of infection. Frequently, by the time patients come into our office, they have unsuccessfully attempted non-prescription medicine.

Oral antifungal pill. Terbinafine (oral Lamisil) is a commonly prescribed medication for toenail fungus. This oral form of treatment clears the fungal infection faster than topicals. It is taken daily for up to 3 months and helps new nail grow out while the old nail grows off. Full clearing of the nail may not be seen for 6-12 months.
Topical nail polish. Many patients prefer to apply a topical lacquer to the nail. These can be very safe and effective. Newer prescription topicals such as Jublia and Kerydin are very popular with patients. These medications need to be applied for several months, depending on the severity of the nail infection. This will also help to keep the fungus from spreading to other toenails.
Nail removal. Sometimes, it is better to remove your nail and start fresh. This removes all the fungal colonies so that topical medicine can then be applied to the new nail as it grows out.

How Can It Be Prevented?

The following tips can help from getting a toenail fungus or from getting reinfected after treatment. Since athletes foot is a common cause of toenail fungus, it must be addressed:

Wash your feet daily with antibacterial soap and water. Dry well between your toes afterwards. Wash your hands after touching your feet.
Trim your nails straight across and do not push back the cuticles. Keep toenail nippers clean and disinfected.
Change your socks daily. Change shoes daily as it takes 24 hours for leather shoes to completely dry from normal foot perspiration.
Treat your shoes twice a week with antifungal powder.
Remove your nail polish regularly to allow the toenails to “breathe”.

Get Immediate Help If You Are A Diabetic

If you have diabetes, it’s important to see us as soon as possible when you experience any condition involving your feet. If you have diabetes, your risk of a small problem, like toenail fungus, becoming a big problem increases due to poor circulation. Toenail fungus is one of those conditions that could be shrugged off as “no big deal.” But in extreme cases, or if coupled with another condition such as an ingrown toenail, it could become a huge issue and lead to a skin infection, blood poisoning, or an infection in your bone. Don’t hesitate, give our office a call!

Experience Our Award-Winning Care for Toenail Fungus in Waxahachie, Corsicana & Ennis, TX Today!

To experience our award-winning toenail fungus treatment, schedule an appointment today by calling us at 972-597-4132 or by clicking here to use our convenient online form. We offer same-day appointments and have bilingual Spanish-speaking professionals on staff for your convenience. During your appointment, our team will be happy to answer all your questions about our treatments, our office, our flexible payment options, and anything else you may want to know about us! Call today – we can’t wait to help you live your life pain-free!

As the premier podiatry centers in Waxahachie, Corsicana and Ennis, TX, our foot doctors and team at Family Foot & Ankle Centers also provide 5-star podiatry care to patients in our surrounding areas. We proudly serve patients in Navarro and Ellis counties and surrounding areas including Red Oak, Midlothian, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Arlington and Mansfield. The Foot Specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are improving lives one foot at a time.