Fungal Nails Specialist
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Richard Hochman DPM, LLC
Podiatry & Alternative Medicine located in Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Some cases of nail fungus respond to medication, but often, nail fungus is persistent and requires laser treatment. If conservative treatment hasn’t worked, or your nail fungus keeps coming back, board-certified podiatrist Richard Hochman, DPM, LLC, offers the Lunula Laser® at his practice in Coral Gables, Florida. The Lunula Laser is a proven effective laser treatment for nail fungus that gets lasting results in just four painless, 12-minute sessions. To find out if this treatment could be an option for you, call the office or schedule an appointment online.
Fungal Nails Q & A
What causes fungal nail infections?
Nail fungus infects the skin under your toenails. The infection usually starts in a small area under the tip of one nail but can make its way deeper into your skin and spread to your other toenails.
Fungal nail infections form by the same kind of fungus as athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot often spreads to your toenails. However, you can get a fungal nail infection without already having athlete’s foot.
You are at a higher risk of contracting a fungal nail infection if you:
- Constantly sweat
- Have a history of athlete's foot
- Go barefoot in shared swimming pools, gyms, or locker rooms
- Have diabetes, circulation problems, or a weakened immune system
Toenail fungus is contagious and can easily spread from nail to nail and infect other people. If left untreated, nail infections can cause significant nail damage, including nail loss.
What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?
Nail fungus can have various visible signs, including:
- White, yellow, or brown discoloration spots on nails
- Thickened nails
- Nails that feel powdery to the touch
- Dark debris accumulating under the nail
- Detachment of nails from the nailbed
- Scaly skin under the nail
- Brittle, crumbling, split, or ragged nails
These changes can affect a part of a nail, an entire nail, or multiple nails. The area around a fungal nail infection may hurt and smell foul.
If you notice any signs or symptoms of nail fungus, don’t ignore them. Even if these changes are only minor, or you’re not in significant pain, the infection can spread and worsen quickly without treatment.
When should I get laser treatment for toenail fungus?
In some cases, fungal nail infections respond to at-home treatment, including over-the-counter antifungal medication. When this doesn’t work, Dr. Hochman may prescribe a stronger medication, including topical creams or ointments, oral medication, or a combination of both.
Medication can help some people relieve or reduce the symptoms of a fungal nail infection in the short term. However, it doesn’t fully get rid of the fungus, and many people have difficulty tolerating the side effects. That means many people struggle with recurring nail fungus.
Dr. Hochman is proud to offer the Lunula Laser, which is a proven effective treatment to get rid of fungal infections, promote accelerated healthy nail growth, and strengthen your body’s natural response to infection. The Lunula Laser safely and painlessly treats nail fungus, and stops it from coming back, in just four 12-minute sessions.
Don’t let nail fungus become a recurring problem. To learn more about the Lunula Laser, schedule an appointment with Dr. Hochman online or over the phone.
