The area of the toes is generally warm and damp, unfortunately making it a great area for fungus to grow within. If left untreated, the fungal infection can spread, which is why it’s so important to get professional help early on to consider your treatment options.

Fungal infections occur due to fungus getting through the cracks of the toes or cuts in your skin. Common signs that you may have a fungal infection include thicker than normal toenails, oddly shaped toenails, discoloration, a yellowish hue to the nail, and separation of the nail and nail bed. Fungal infections can affect anyone but are most common among men, those with diabetes or athlete’s foot, and smokers. The risk of having toenail fungus also increases as you age if another family member has it, and if you have a weaker immune system.

To avoid getting a fungal infection, it’s important that you wash your feet daily with soap and water, making sure to get in between your toes, and dry the feet well. When cutting your toenails, make sure the clippers you’re using are clean and that you’re cutting straight across. It’s also important that you wear shoes in areas where fungus can thrive, such as wet public places like swimming pools or locker rooms.

If you believe you’re experiencing a fungal toenail infection, we recommend that you call Ankle and Foot Centers of Missouri as soon as possible. In our onsite, state-of-the art pathology lab, we use Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which is the fastest and most accurate method to diagnosis your particular type of toenail fungus. Identifying the specific pathology of your toenail fungus allows us to formulate the most appropriate treatment method.