As part of our series of posts on nail fungus infections, we thought we’d tackle the subject of prevention. No one wants to suffer the embarrassment of having thick, ugly-looking yellow nails that take months and months to treat, so take your time to read the bullets below.
Each one highlights a habit or an activity that will increase your susceptibility to infection by a dermatophyte fungus. We realize that some habits will be harder to break and some behaviors harder to change than others.
Your two key preventative strategies include avoiding contact with infected people or surfaces and keeping your nails dry and ventilated at all times. You’ll see one of these theme underpinning each of the bullets below.
Are your habits putting you at risk?
- Do you pick your nails or the skin that surrounds them? Any injury or trauma to the skin may reduce your local immunity and provide an easy entry point for infected fungal spores.
- Do you wear tight feet that press against your nails. Again this may increase your likelihood of infection.
- Do you have one pair of favorite shoes that you wear day in and day out? (If you can’t bear to throw them out, get hold of some antifungal powder and shake this into them on a weekly basis).
- Do you wash your socks on the cold cycle?
- Do you own plastic shoes that are not well ventilated. (Remember fungi do best in damp, protected, warm and dark environments)
- Are your socks made from synthetic materials? (Natural cotton is best)
- Do you walk around barefoot in public shower rooms or locker rooms? (Take extra special care where floors are damp.)
- Do you suffer from repeated athletes foot infections that you ignore rather than treat? (It’s caused by the same fungus)
- Do you exercise, get sweaty but then wait a few hours until you change into fresh clothes, shoes and socks?
- Do you forget to dry yourself thoroughly after showering?
- Do you participate in contact sports?
- Do you share personal items with other people (for example towels, nail instruments, socks?)
- Do you go to low cost nail salons without checking that nail instruments are sterilized property between customers?
- Do you hate the idea of using an antifungal soap on your feet?
- Do you have an occupation that requires you to keep your hands and feet wet for long periods of time?
