Dermatology of Onychomycosis in Medellín: Why Do Your Nails Look Like They’re from Another Planet?

Imagine you have been walking through the streets of Santa Elena or the Estrella Park all day, feeling productive and good with yourself, and at that precise moment, you notice your big toe nail. When you lift your leg to cross your feet or take off your shoe, you see that the nail looks darker, perhaps yellowish or greenish, and brittle, making you wonder if it’s just accumulated dirt or something more serious. That feeling of uncomfortable surprise is what many people in Medellín feel when they discover for the first time that their skin has suffered a fungal invasion. It is frustrating because, unlike facial acne that responds quickly to soap, these nails seem to have a life of their own and resist every attempt at superficial cleaning. It is not something that bothers you immediately like intense itching, but that silent presence makes you hesitate before choosing closed shoes, worry about your aesthetics, and feel that something is wrong with your body.

A long time ago, a patient told me her experience at the end of a long work shift: her hands were covered with pimples from the heat and humidity, but the real pain came from her right foot. Her nail had turned brown and thick, as if it had grown over itself. The first reaction was to think about using some home remedy she found in the fridge or buying a product at the pharmacy without thinking much. It is very common for people to try to solve it on their own at first, but what usually happens is that the nail becomes thicker and harder to treat as time goes on. It is not because the remedy does not work, but because the fungus needs a direct path to attack the base of the nail from the inside. In our dermatological consultation, what we do is examine that nail with a loupe and see if there is really an infection or if it is just an accumulation of dead cells. If this happens to you, it is because the problem has been growing there unnoticed until the nail starts to change color and texture.

The main cause of this is dermatophytes, which are very specific fungi that live in our feet and need humidity, heat, and lack of ventilation to multiply. When you wear shoes every day or walk a lot in the hot street, you create the perfect environment for these microorganisms to feed on your nail cells. The technical term we use is dermatophyte, but in normal words, it means a fungus that loves skin and nails. The reality is that many believe that if they use an external cream every day, the fungus will wither and disappear forever. The truth is that if the fungus has already invaded the nail and grown in its base, a single external cream cannot reach inside because the thick nail acts as a protective wall. People believe that treatment is done only with shampoo or pharmacy creams. What really happens is that a medication that penetrates deeply is needed to kill the fungus at its source. However, that does not mean the problem is impossible to solve or that it is a life sentence.

In the dermatological consultation, our approach to onychomycosis is personalized according to the severity of the case. The first thing we do is confirm if it is really a fungus and what type it is, as some are more aggressive than others. Once diagnosed, we explain the treatment options available in our clinic. If the nail is very damaged, sometimes we need to combine oral medications with procedures to remove the affected part and leave space for a new healthy nail to grow. For those seeking specific options or complementary products for their daily routine, you can see more information about our care in our online store: verassere.com/tienda/. Although there are many brands on the market, the important thing is that the treatment is supervised by a specialist who knows how fungi act in your body. Not all cases are the same, and what works for one person may not work for another if their type of fungus is different.

I know we don’t always want to go to the doctor because there is shame in having something visible on our feet, or because it seems like an unnecessary expense. But letting it pass only generates complications. When a fungus infects a nail, it can spread to the surrounding skin or even cause health problems if frequently touched on other parts of the body. The concrete signs you should notice are color changes towards yellow, green, or gray, a thicker and more brittle nail that breaks easily, or the appearance of a white spot at the tip of the nail. Do not wait until it breaks completely or until you start to feel pain. It is better to act when you only notice the color change. If you have had this for months and want to know your options, schedule a consultation in Medellín: https://wa.me/573053901990

Why didn’t what you tried before work? How long does the treatment last if used correctly? Is the procedure to remove the affected nail painful?

If you have had this for months and want to know your options, schedule a consultation in Medellín: https://wa.me/573053901990