Helpful Tips to Prevent Nail Fungus

Have you noticed a discoloration or a thickening of your nails? Discoloration along with thickening is the first signs of a nail fungal infection, technically known as onychomycosis.

Recommended Nail Treatments:

ZetaClear : Funginix : Healing Natural Oils

The natural color of the fingernail or the toenail is a pinkish white color and nails infected with onychomycosis will often begin to yellow or take on a brownish color in more advanced infections.

Often these first signs go unnoticed in women because of the use of nail polishes and or acrylic nails.

Additionally, the over use of nail polishes that are red based will often stain the nail yellow which may cause a woman to ignore the fact they may indeed actually have a fungal infection.

Once set in, nail fungal infections are rather difficult to eliminate and can cause severe and irreversible damage to the fingernail or the toenail.

Following are helpful tips to prevent nail fungus can help you enjoy healthy good looking nails forever.

1.Your nails are not tools; therefore, do not use them as tools. Many people, out of habit and convenience will use their fingernails to scrape off stickers or labels, remove staples or even to open cans and bottles; this can chip, break and weaken you nails.

Tiny tears, cracks and breaks in the nail and nail bed can make you susceptible to bacteria or fungi to attack and before you know it a full grown infection sets in. Avoid using your nails for these tasks or any other stress bearing task.

2. Treat an injury right away! If you find that you have broken or chipped a nail it is best to file it smooth right away so that it does not snag on something and break into the quick. If you have had a cut or a hangnail or a break that exposes the nail bed be sure to wash the area with antibacterial soap and keep the wound clean.

3. Keep your nails clean and healthy. Healthy clean nails, whether the fingernail or the toenail is optimum. To keep them healthy be sure to keep your health by eating the right foods and or taking a multi-vitamin. Keep your hands and feet clean and dry; however, use a non petroleum based moisturizer to prevent an over drying of the nail. 

Wear shoes that are loose at the toe to avoid the toenails becoming compressed or irritated and weakened. Keep your nails filed and trimmed to a length that allows you to function without your nails getting in the way. Over exposure to nail polish removers can weaken the nail making them susceptible to drying, peeling or splitting and fungal infection.

4. Beware of the prime fungus spreading hot spots. Walking around barefoot at a public pool, a public gym or other places that are warm and wet are prime breeding grounds for fungus including athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. If you frequent a place such as this always wear a protective water shoe and never wear someone else’s shoes!

Nail salons are also hot spots for the spread of nail fungus. If the pedicure tub or the instruments are not properly sterilized a fungal infection is nearly always inevitable.

Nail salons often use electronic equipment to get the job done quickly and tiny cuts, abrasions and nicks are common.

If a fungal spore is present and gets into one of these tiny cuts and then a polish or acrylic seal is put on the nail the breeding can begin.

Before you know it the fungus is in the nail bed eating away at the keratin of your nail weakening the nail until irreversible damage is done.