Fungal Nail Infections

A fungal nail infection or onychomycosis is a contagious condition caused when fungi (a kind of microorganism) enter a damaged nail usually caused by trauma. You may first notice the infection as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your nail. Symptoms of a fungal infection may include brittleness, discoloration, thickened and crumbling of the nail, as well as debris under the nail itself. In some cases, the nail can detach from the nail bed.

At Mint Foot Care Podiatry, our podiatrists will examine your nails and give you the best treatment depending on the severity of the condition. Our podiatrist can provide an accurate diagnosis at the time of the appointment, reduce the thickness of the nail, recommend a topical anti-fungal medication, an oral medication (antimycotic) such as Terbinafine or PACT and give advice on prevention and hygiene. If the infection is left untreated, it can spread to other toenails, skin and fingernails.

At the time of your appointment, we can test for a fungal infection using a Diafactory Dermatophyte test. Test results are within 5 minutes indicating a positive or negative result. This test is almost 98% accurate and can detect up to 99% of common fungi.