Ah, nail fungus, a routine in our chiropodist-podiatrist offices!
We see them every day during treatment; they are not very attractive and are a nightmare for our patients. Getting rid of them requires a long and meticulous treatment that requires a lot of adherence from those affected. About 10% of the adult population has onychomycosis.
Among those over 70 years old, there is a higher prevalence with a 30% rate of onychomycosis. They are three times more common in men than in women. They are most often encountered on the big toes of patients. Therefore, it is important to remember the role of the Chiropodist-Podiatrist in the management of this fairly common pathology.
General information on onychomycosis
Onychomycosis, by definition, is an infection of the nail by a parasitic fungus. It is most often due to a specific type of fungus, namely dermatophytes. However, they can also be caused by yeast or mold-like fungi. The fungus can infect our patient if the patient has a nail that is peeling off at the free edge. This provides the entry point for the fungus to proliferate under the nail plate.
What are the signs?
We can observe the beginning of a fungal infection by a thick, yellowish, crumbly nail appearance with longitudinal ridges.
What are the causes?
Frequenting public places such as municipal swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, etc. is a significant factor in the development of mycoses. Why? Simply because fungi thrive and proliferate primarily in humid, warm, and enclosed spaces. In this case, we tend to find dermatophyte-type fungi.
Yeast-like fungi are commonly found on the hands but can also infect the feet. Often, people who have prolonged contact with water are most at risk of developing this type of fungus.
Finally, mold-like fungi, although rare, can also infect our patients if they are in too frequent contact with soil contaminated by mold.
How do you know if you have a yeast infection?
The Podiatrist has a key role to play in diagnosing onychomycosis and is the first point of alert. He or she will advise the patient to have a mycological sample taken in the laboratory to determine, firstly, whether the nail condition is related to a fungal infection or not. If so, this will help determine the type of fungal infection the patient is experiencing so that appropriate and effective treatment can be implemented.
Treatment of onychomycosis
Treating onychomycosis in our offices is essential to the patient's recovery. However, the Podiatrist-Chiropodist knows that there are two types of treatment to cure me.
First of all, local treatment, which will be indicated for an early and isolated mycosis, which consists of removing as much of the infected part of the nail as possible by milling in order to be able to subsequently treat the area with products such as varnishes, or film-forming solutions that we all know. The effectiveness of the treatment will be based on regular pedicure care, good compliance and good education of our patients.
Then, if the local treatment has not worked properly or if we observe a more widespread, migrated and total mycosis, we will then have to redirect our patient to a doctor so that he can be treated with an oral treatment.
Five practical tips to avoid onychomycosis!
Tip #1: Take care of your feet and practice rigorous hygiene!
Tip #2: Air out your shoes then alternate them every other day!
Tip #3: Avoid wearing socks made of synthetic materials and opt for natural materials such as cotton!
Tip #4: Treat excessive sweating (Antiperspirant spray, antiperspirant powder, Iontophoresis)
Tip #5: Regular pedicure treatments!
Our profession is very important in the management of this pathology, we have a great impact on the healing of our patients through our actions, our advice and our treatments.
The Addax range to the rescue!
My Podologie offers a Laboratoire Addax range, designed to complement podiatric care with professional formats adapted to nail fungus.
• MYCOFLASH® Pen (4 ml)
A foam applicator for targeted treatment. Its dual-action formula eliminates fungus and forms a non-permeable protective film, encouraging nail regeneration with visible results in 4 weeks. Easy to use, it can be applied twice a day, making it a practical tool for both in-office and at-home use.
• MYCOFLASH® Varnish (5 ml)
A precise brush-on polish, suitable for onychomycosis of the hands and feet. It contains the patented active ingredient ISK1320® (Instant Killer) , which eliminates surface fungus in just 20 seconds. Enriched with essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender, sweet orange, patchouli), Natilact® to protect the nail, and biotin to strengthen it, it combines fast action and intensive care. Recommended application 2 to 3 times a day until complete regrowth.
These Addax products fit perfectly into the local treatment protocol: after milling, the chiropodist can apply the pen or varnish to prolong the antifungal action, protect the nail, limit recurrences and promote its regeneration.
