What are fungal nails?
Nail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is where the nail becomes yellow/white, thickens, and may even separate from the nail bed. This can cause the area surrounding the nail to become swollen, inflamed, and painful. The condition commonly affects the toenails and is most prevalent in older adults. This is because as you age your toenails become weaker and more brittle, meaning fungi can infect the nail more easily.
What causes fungal nail?
Fungal nails can be caused if your feet are often damp or wet. For example, if you wear trainers with poor ventilation for prolonged periods of time causing sweat to build. Other common causes are if you regularly use shared pool facilities, have a weak immune system and if you have damaged nails. Also, due to compromised blood circulation, diabetic patients are more likely to have a fungal nail infection.
Treatment using the Lacuna Method
Although we offer many fungal nail treatment options, the Lacuna Method is a very effective treatment for fungal nails. It involves making of tiny holes into the nail plate so anti-fungal treatment can be applied and penetrate the deeper nail bed. The treatment is not normally painful, with previous patients comparing the pain to having their eyebrows plucked at most. We recommend that patients complete 4 sessions, over a period of 6 months, for their treatment plan to be successful.
Please click on the links If you would like to read more about our fungal nails infection treatments and the Lacuna Method. If you are suffering from fungal nails book an appointment with us today.