Set yourself up for success when treating your fungal nails. You need to treat the environment as well as your nails. Whether you choose laser, topicals, oral medication, or a combination of all 3, we have home tips to optimize your results.
Medication
Treat the skin and the nails with an antifungal. If you have fungal nails, chances are you have athlete's foot or jock itch. The benefit of taking oral medication is it will treat the skin and the nails. We still recommend using a topical antifungal with terbinafine or tolnaftate daily until the skin infection has resolved.
Footwear
Throw out any old shoes and socks. Don't relegate old sneakers to mowing the lawn or doing yard work. Old worn shoes harbor fungus and bacteria. Wash socks in hot water and bleach or purchase new socks. Wear breathable footwear, sneakers with a mesh toe box. Avoid wearing closed-toe shoes without socks.
Maintain Shoe Gear
Keep athletic shoes clean and dry and change them regularly. Wear shower shoes in public areas like swimming pools and locker rooms. Sanitize your shoes daily after wearing them with an antifungal spray like Clean Sweep or UV light, like Shoe Zap.
Control Moisture
If you tend to sweat change your socks frequently. Avoid nylon materials because they hold onto moisture. If you sweat excessively consider an antiperspirant like Carpe. For severe cases, iontophoresis with a Drionic device can be done at home to manage hyperhidrosis.
Personal Hygiene
Wash feet with an antibacterial soap daily. Make sure to get between the toes. Dry feet well. Do not share towels or washcloths with others as you might spread or collect fungus spores. Spray your bathtub and shower with a 10% bleach solution or disinfectant daily after showering.
Family Members
If you have family members with untreated fungal nails or athlete's foot you are at high risk for recurrence. If you truly want to eradicate fungus, everyone in the household should consider treatment.
If you or someone you know has fungal nails, Dr. Michele Kurlanski is here to help. We can evaluate your feet and make recommendations on proper treatment. Call us today at (207) 774-0028 to schedule your next appointment at our location in Scarborough, Maine!
