Board-certified and Cincinnati-based dermatologist Dr. Alexandra Bowles says there’s a reason your foot and toenail fungus is so persistent and may seem impossible to eliminate for good.
Thriving in the warm, damp environment of our shoes and skin, she said these dermatophytes, molds or yeast feed on the keratin in nails and outer layers of skin, causing itching, flaking, burning and cracking, or in rare instances, painful open sores and fluid-filled blisters.
“These infections can linger because fungal spores remain in footwear or on surfaces, ready to regrow when conditions allow,” Bowles said.
Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist and skin care expert, added that because nails grow slowly and lack a strong blood supply, it is harder for the body’s immune system or even topical treatments to clear the infection fully.
“Together, these conditions are frustrating but manageable with proper diagnoses, treatment and prevention,” Bowles said.
