Toenail fungus thrives in warm, wet environments, and damp winter boots can encourage it. A Monfort Heights podiatry practice explains the signs, who is most at risk and how it is treated.

Slush, snow and insulated boots are on the way, and with them come the conditions toenail fungus likes best. According to Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care, toenail fungus infections usually occur in warm, wet environments, when microscopic fungus enters the nail through a cut or break. The nail then thickens and appears discolored.

The practice, which has a Monfort Heights location on North Bend Road, says ingrown toenails and toenail fungus are among the most common foot conditions its podiatrists diagnose and treat. Infections are more common among people over the age of 60, and toenail fungus can be particularly dangerous for people with diabetes or weakened immune systems.

Footwear plays a part. According to the practice, tight fitting or damp shoes can encourage fungal growth, which makes winter boots worn all day, or put back on before they dry, a common setting for an infection to take hold or linger.

Treatment includes topical gels, creams, nail lacquers, or antifungal prescription medicine, and it rarely requires surgery. Treatment can take a while since toenails grow slowly, so the practice encourages patients to have a thickened or discolored nail looked at early. Sharon K. Jay, DPM, sees patients at the Monfort Heights location, one of 11 Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care locations in the area.

The Monfort Heights location is at 5463 North Bend Road in the North Bend Crossing Shopping Center. Free parking is available.

"In winter we see a lot of feet that spend the whole day in warm, damp boots. That is exactly the setting toenail fungus likes. A nail that has turned thick or yellow will not fix itself, and because nails grow slowly, the sooner treatment starts, the sooner it looks normal again," said a spokesperson for Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care.

• Let boots dry out fully between wears, or rotate two pairs.
• Change socks when they get damp from snow or sweat.
• Choose boots with room for the toes, not a tight fit.
• Get a thickened or discolored nail checked early.
• If you have diabetes, have any nail change looked at by a podiatrist.

Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care in Monfort Heights is at 5463 North Bend Road in Cincinnati. Patients with a thickened or discolored toenail can learn more about seeing a Podiatrist online or call (513) 525-5465.

About Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care

Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care is a podiatry practice with 11 locations in the Cincinnati area, including Monfort Heights at 5463 North Bend Road. Its podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons treat ingrown and fungal toenails, heel pain, bunions, corns and calluses, diabetic foot conditions and more, and offer custom orthotics and foot and ankle surgery. More information is available at cfac.net.

Contact Information:

Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care (Cincinnati (N Bend Rd), OH)

5463 N Bend Rd
Cincinnati (N Bend Rd), OH 45247
United States

A spokesperson for Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care
(513) 525-5465
http://www.cfac.net/