Fungal Disease Awareness Week is September 20-24, 2021. CDC and partners have organized this week to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of fungal diseases to provide timely treatment.
Some fungal diseases go undiagnosed and cause serious infections. Increased awareness about fungal diseases is one of the ways to improve early recognition and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.
The feet are no exception. It is estimated that 25% of people have foot fungus at any given time. Athlete’s foot is closely related to other fungal infections in the body.
A fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet is the classic athlete’s foot while fungal infection of the toenails is called mycotic nails. This happens when you walk barefoot in public showers, locker rooms, and swimming pool areas. Fungal infections are spread to susceptible hosts through contaminated clothing, sheets, towels, or floors. Some people are also more genetically susceptible.
People with immune deficiency conditions or diabetes are more prone to having fungal nails. Often, toenail fungus is ignored for years because they usually don’t cause symptoms. As the condition progresses, the toenail may change in quality and color, becoming brittle and yellowish. Later on, the nail may look unsightly.
How to prevent nail fungus
- Proper foot hygiene
- Changing socks daily
- Regular inspection of the feet
- Wearing shoes in public areas
Signs of fungal infection of the feet
- Skin Redness
- Itching
- Scaling
- Flaking
- Thickened toenails
- Yellow toenails
- Brittle toenails
Foot and nail fungus won’t go away on its own and often a tough condition to battle. Another danger of not treating foot or toenail fungus is that it can spread to other parts of the body such as the groin and the hands. You should visit a podiatrist once you notice any thickening, discoloration, or deformity of your toenails or any skin changes that may indicate fungal infection. The earlier you seek professional treatment, the greater your chance at getting the infection to clear.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, you can schedule an appointment at (239) 430 3668 for an assessment or visit NaplesPodiatrist.com.
—————–
