Is toenail fungus unhygienic? Toenail fungus can sometimes make the nail look like it is dirty or unclean. Some patients suffering from the condition may worry that it is a sign of poor hygiene. Getting infected with a toenail fungus does not necessarily mean that you are unhygienic. However, if you have a fungus you may want to evaluate certain practices to ensure that you are taking every step to prevent reinfection.

Symptoms of Toenail Fungus

A toenail fungus infection doesn’t mean that your nails are dirty, even though they may look like that. While fungus can turn your nails a brown or yellow color and make them flake off or crack, this isn’t a sign that you are unhygienic. It simply means that a toenail fungus has gotten into contact with your nail! When a fungus attaches to the nail bed, it will grow and thrive in even the cleanest of people.

However, there are certain things that you may be doing that could help the fungus grow faster. Make sure to change your shoes immediately after working out so that your feet aren’t kept in a sweaty environment for a long period of time. A sweaty, damp environment can make toenail fungus grow even faster. Keeping your nails dry will make it harder for fungus to infect your nails. 

While a nail fungus isn’t necessarily indicative that you are unhygienic, there are definitely some hygiene practices you can adopt to avoid catching a fungus in the future. The most important of these is avoiding being barefoot in areas where the fungus might be present, like public locker rooms. Additionally, make sure not to share toenail clippers with anybody at all, even family. The fungus can easily attach to the surface of the clippers and use them to infect new people.

Laser Treatment

If you have a toenail fungus, the best thing to do is seek out an FDA-approved treatment with a licensed podiatrist. The best treatment available for fungus is the PinPointe Laser, which typically requires only one treatment and has no side effects or downtime.

Our nail doctor in San Antonio, TX recommends laser treatment. It has the highest cure rate in the market. There are no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after. Also, it is not painful.  To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist specialized in the PinPointe laser treatment, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.