Fungal Nails + Fungal nail test

At your initial assessment the podiatrist may offer a fungal nail test depending on the clinical presentation of your nails. Fungal nails are best treated after an accurate fungal nail teat has been carried out. Toe nail samples will be taken and sent off  to a research microbiology laboratory  based at Wythenshaw hospital where they test for fungal, bacteria or mould infections in the affected toe nails.  The relevant fungal nail treatment will then be advised by our podiatrist based at Archways Podiatry in Marple 

Fungal nails  occur when dermatophytes ​(athletes foot / fungi ) living on the skin enter the nail usually by trauma to the nail plate by footwear. The specific fungus affecting your nails can determine the fungal nail treatment, which will be decided after a fungal nail test. This will be discussed by Louise podiatrist based at Marple 

Following the results of the fungal nail test, treatment will commence depending on the findings of the test, it may take 4 weeks to receive the results from the microbiology lab, who then will try an grow the exact fungus ( dermatophye ) so we know which treatment is more accurate.

Treatment will then commence which involves reduction of the affected nails, using specialist burrs and using an anti-fungal preparation determined on the results of the fungal nail test

A fungal nails advice leaflet provided by the podiatrist based in Marple will be provided for self care treatment to commence at home in between your appointments

• Fungal nail treatment   depends on the result of the fungal nail test 
• It can  be topical which is  pain free and initiated by the podiatrist based in Marple
• It involves reduction of the fungal  toe nails in the nail plate, using specialist nail burrs, to allow an anti-fungal medicated solution to reach the point of infection, which  is the skin directly under the nail plate, imperative for fungal toe nails
• The Podiatrist  will start with applying the first application using a specialised treatment method, then you will be given instructions on daily self application ( twice daily ) application of the through the reduced nail plate to reach the infected site of the fungal nails 
• Continued use of the fungal nail treatment will allow the nail to grow out healthily restoring your nails appearance and healthy shine. 

• The fungal nail treatment is not a short term  and there is no quick fix. Anti-fungal treatment is required at home for at least 6 months but in some cases it can take as long as 18 months, for the fungal nails to be clear​ A further fungal nail test may be necessary.
• The podiatrist will advise on frequency and duration of application of the fungal nail treatment and 6 weekly reviews are advised and more holes may be burred as the nail grow forward, which will be arranged by the podiatrist based in Marple
• Short term studies have shown to be very encouraging, but no treatment can be guaranteed 100%