Long Term Effects Of Untreated Toenail Fungus

Find out why you should treat toenail fungus right away. 

If you have a toenail fungus the worst thing you could do is just ignore it. Our California, MD, podiatrist Dr. Larry Hotchkiss understands that it isn’t always easy to treat toenail fungus, especially on your own. Fortunately, our team is here to help when toenail fungus has become too challenging to treat yourself.

What happens if I don’t treat my toenail fungus? 

So you’ve tried over-the-counter products and nothing seems to be working, so you’re frustrated and ready to give up. So, what’s really going to happen if you don’t treat your toenail fungus? You might not be dealing with symptoms right now, so you might not realize the type of havoc that toenail fungus can wreak on your foot health. Our California, MD, podiatry team has certainly seen it all. If you don’t treat toenail fungus properly, here’s what could happen,

• You could develop foot pain that makes it too uncomfortable to wear shoes
• You could lose the nail completely
• The fungus could spread to other nails or even the skin (known as athlete’s foot)
• You could develop cellulitis, a severe and dangerous skin infection (more common in those with diabetes and compromised immune systems)

How should a toenail fungus be treated? 

If you suspect that you have toenail fungus, the first call you should make is to our California, MD, podiatric team. A simple test can confirm whether you have fungus or not. From there, we can determine the most effective toenail fungus treatment for you based on the severity of the infection, your current health, and your lifestyle. Common professional treatment options for toenail fungus include,

• Prescription oral anti-fungal medications
• Topical antifungal cream or medicated nail polish to apply directly to the affected nail
• Laser toenail fungus treatment

If you are dealing with toenail fungus, trust the health of your feet to our California, Clinton and Waldorf, MD, podiatrist Dr. Hotchkiss. Find out for yourself why we were voted #1 podiatry practice in Charles County, MD. To schedule a consultation, call Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle at (301) 843-9581, (301) 868-3899, or (301) 690-6044.