FUNGAL TOENAILS: WHAT NOT TO DO

Take it from us—fungal toenails are one of those annoying problems that are relatively easy to acquire, yet often very difficult to get rid of.

An ill-advised barefoot romp around the pool deck or even a pedicure gone wrong may be all the fungi need to gain access to the space underneath a toenail. Once there, the fungi set about their task of “mining” your nail for nutrients—and leaving it discolored, thickened, misshapen, and more.

And when you get to that point, the best case scenario involves you waiting months for new, healthy nail to grow in and push the damaged portions out.

Want to avoid that depressing fate?

Who wouldn’t?

Fortunately, exercising a little caution and care can significantly reduce your risk. Here’s what NOT to do if you want to prevent fungal toenails.

Don’t Go Barefoot in Public Places

The first thing you should know about the dermatophytes that cause fungal toenails is that they just love environments that are warm, humid, and dark. The second thing you should know is that they can spread through indirect contact.

This means that places like public pools, locker rooms, gyms, shower facilities, bathrooms, etc. have an increased risk of harboring fungi—which can then be transmitted to you. When in communal areas, always wear something to protect your feet, such as sandals or shower shoes.

Don’t Wear Sweaty Shoes and Socks

Of course, “warm, humid, and dark environment” doesn’t just describe locker rooms. It’s also a pretty good description of the inside of a pair of shoes that hasn’t gotten a chance to dry out properly!

If you want to avoid making your own footwear a safe harbor for fungi, make sure you change out sweaty shoes and socks as soon as they become damp. (For socks especially, that may mean more than once per day.)

Picking fabrics that are breathable and moisture-wicking in the first place, as well as making sure they fit properly, can give you a big advantage in this regard as well.

Shoes should also be rotated, so that you don’t wear the same pair two days in a row. This gives them a minimum of 24-plus hours to dry out before you put your feet back in. For extra protection, apply some antifungal powder to your shoes each evening.

Don’t Share

… That is, don’t share socks, shoes, or footcare tools (clippers, emery board, pumice stone, etc.) with anyone else. (Don’t buy used shoes either—in addition to potentially harboring fungi, they can also irritate your feet in other ways.) If you already have a fungal infection, sterilize your tools with rubbing alcohol after each use.

As for towels, make sure they are washed after every use—even if you live alone or use your own. An infected towel can not only spread fungi from person to person, but also from one part of your body to another. Speaking of …

Don’t Ignore Fungal Skin Infections

Here’s another thing you should know about those pesky dermatophytes. The very same types of fungi that cause fungal toenails can also cause skin infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch.

If you already have one of these fungal infections somewhere on your body, it can spread to your feet and toenails through indirect contact with your hands, clothes, towels, etc.

If you develop any fungal skin infections (especially athlete’s foot) and you don’t want a much more irritating fungal nail infection, take steps to treat them as soon as possible. Most skin infections can be dealt with at home using over-the-counter topical products, but fungal toenails almost always require professional care.