Mostly, yes. Though anyone who tells you it's a one-visit fix is selling you something. Foot fungus is stubborn, and getting rid of it takes a bit of patience.
What a podiatrist can do is work out exactly what you've got, treat it properly, and show you how to stop it coming back. Whether it clears completely depends on the type, how long it's been there, and how well you stick with the plan.
Skin or nails?
"Foot fungus" usually means one of two things, and it's worth knowing which.
Tinea, or athlete's foot, is on the skin. Itchy, flaky, sometimes cracked, most often between the toes or across the soles. The other kind gets into the toenails and makes them thick, yellow or brown, crumbly, maybe a bit smelly.
They tend to travel together. Tinea can creep into the nails, and a fungal nail can keep reinfecting the skin around it, so plenty of people have both and only think about one. A podiatrist can usually tell just by looking. That beats guessing and spending a month on the wrong cream.
The skin side
Skin's the easier job. There are creams, gels, ointments, sprays and powders, and which one's best depends on what's going on with your feet. You can get them from a clinic, over the counter at the chemist, or on prescription.
The usual slip-up is stopping as soon as it looks better. The itch goes, the cream goes back in the drawer, and a few weeks later it's back. The fungus can lie low and return when things suit it, so keep treating for several weeks after the symptoms have gone, and follow the instructions on whatever you're using.
The nail side
Nails are harder. The fungus sits underneath where creams struggle to reach, and nails grow slowly. Even once the infection's gone, the damaged nail still has to grow out, which takes months.
At Foot Focus Podiatry, there are a few options. If the nail's thin enough, a medicated solution can do the job, and our podiatrists can thin the nail first so the medication gets through. We've developed our own customised solution with a compounding pharmacist, and there's a generic one too. Tablets are another route. They can clear it faster, usually over 6 to 12 weeks or until the nail's grown out, though they can have side effects, so we'd talk it through before anything's prescribed. David Survepalli and Reza Naraghi on our team can prescribe them. Some people use tablets and a solution together.
For a severe, painful infection that nothing else has shifted, there's nail surgery through a podiatric surgeon.
We don't do laser. Some clinics do, but it's not something we offer. We stick to nail reduction, ongoing nail care, topical treatment and the practical stuff that lowers the chance of it returning.
What nobody can promise
That it'll be gone forever. Fungus can come back, especially if you're going back to the same warm, damp shoes or wet communal floors. It takes time. And results aren't the same for everyone.
What we can give you is a proper diagnosis, a plan that suits you, and a straight idea of what to expect. We think that's worth more than a big promise.
Keeping it away
It's all fairly dull, but it works. Dry your feet well, especially between the toes. Change damp socks, and go for cotton or natural fibres. Rotate your shoes so they dry out between wears. Wear thongs at the pool, gym and public showers. Keep nails short, and don't share clippers.
When to get it checked
A thick or discoloured nail, or a rash between the toes that won't shift, is worth a look, since a few other conditions can pass for fungus. If you've got diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system, don't wait. Foot infections can be more serious for you, and sooner is better.
Getting on top of it
It's common, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about. But it's easier to deal with early, before it spreads from the skin to the nails or from one foot to the other. Foot Focus Podiatry has been looking after feet in Wilson since 2000, and your first visit starts with a proper look at what's going on.
If it's been bugging you for a while, podiatry in Perth can give you a diagnosis and a plan that fits, so you're not left trying things for months and hoping.
Tags : podiatry foot focus podiatry
