FUNGAL NAIL TREATMENT
Fungal nail infection, or onychomycosis, is a common foot health issue. Infections range from mild to severe and can affect one or several nails on both feet. The infection causes your toenails to thicken, becoming unsightly, which can affect your confidence and impact your lifestyle.
At Feet By Pody, our expert team of podiatrists have many years’ experience in providing fungal nail treatment.
Diagnosing Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections have a number of different symptoms. The nail can become thickened and discoloured, turning white or cream, and the quality of the nail is sometimes affected, becoming brittle and crumbly. Chunks of your nail may break off, and sometimes the nail becomes soft and falls off completely. You may also experience some pain when walking.
Because symptoms can be similar to other nail problems, it’s important to correctly diagnose whether or not you have a fungal nail infection before beginning treatment.
Diagnosis is quick and painless. We take a biopsy, clipping off part of the nail and sending it to the laboratory for testing. We use an advanced test called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to find small amounts of DNA in a sample, using a process known as amplification. It takes between one and three weeks to confirm the diagnosis.
Fungal Nail treatment
If your results come back negative, your toenail condition may be caused by a trauma to the nail or nail bed. In this situation, we would use standard chiropody treatment, trimming and remodelling the nail to improve its appearance.
However, if fungal nail infection is confirmed, we’ll advise the best course of treatment for you.
Fungal Nail
Onychomycosis
Nail Fungus
Topical Anti-Fungal Agents
If you have a mild fungal infection, you can use topical treatments such as oils, sprays or creams. Most topical treatments require application over several months. A chiropodist can advise which treatment to purchase and, in some cases, it may be best to use topical agents alongside regular chiropody treatments, where we can file and remodel your nail. This helps to clear away some of the infected nail, which aids the nail to absorb the medication, speeding up the healing time.
Oral Medication
If your infection is moderate to severe, you may need a course of oral medication, which can only be prescribed by your GP. Anti-fungal tablets enter directly into your bloodstream, attacking and killing the fungus from within.
The initial course of medication lasts 12 weeks. However, you’re unlikely to see much improvement during this period because the infected nail plate needs to grow out. For this reason, the course of medication is often extended. After the 12-week period has passed, you should be able to see the healthy nail appearing at the nail base.
Oral medications are the most effective course of treatment for severe infections although they can have side effects, which we will discuss with you. You can’t take them if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffer from liver or kidney conditions. For some infections, we recommend a combination of oral and topical treatment.
Alternative Fungal Nail Treatment
Some nail clinics offer laser treatment. However, this is expensive and, as yet, results have not proven to be any more effective than other treatments. So, for now, we’ve chosen not to offer this.
Why Choose Feet By Pody?
At Feet By Pody, our foot specialists have many years’ experience providing fungal nail treatment. Because there’s no quick fix to fungal nail infections, we’ll see you regularly throughout your treatment, taking pictures to record the progress of the nail.
We operate from five modern, well-equipped clinics in London, where we use the latest stringent sterilisation procedures to ensure you receive the most hygienic foot care possible.
You can visit Feet By Pody at any of our clinics:
• Canary Wharf E14
• City EC2
• Woolwich Royal Arsenal SE18
• London Bridge SE1
• South Kensington SW7
If you suspect you have a fungal nail infection, book an appointment with Feet By Pody today. Book Online or call 020 7099 6657 to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable healthcare professionals.
