Grooming and softening fungal nails are a necessity when infected by toenail fungus.  Toenail fungus infections usually will have only aesthetic consequences. But there are also some functional consequences they can have as well. Knowledge of what these signs and symptoms are is important. If you are able to identify toenail fungus early on, you can then get it treated. This will aid in the frustrating treatment process. Because fungus proliferates so rapidly, the earlier you receive treatment for it the more effective it will be. Understanding the cause of your concerns can help maintain your nails while waiting to receive effective treatment.

Nail fungus affects

Grooming and softening fungal nails can be considered one of the most integral parts of nail maintenance. Fungal infections will commonly cause aesthetic damages to the nail. This can be frustrating and difficult to manage. But functional changes a toenail fungus causes usually need to be addressed sooner with more urgency. Toenail fungus can often make the nails hard and thick, a condition that can cause the nails to become much more difficult to maintain. Particularly, nails that are very thick or hard become difficult to trim and clip as you normally would for regular grooming.

Proper nail care

Grooming and softening fungal nails are a big part of regular hygiene. Parts of regular toenail hygiene. This includes regularly washing the toes and nails to remove dirt, grime, and other irritants and pollutants from the nail, toe, and foot. Trimming the nails is also an essential part of proper nail hygiene. 

Long toenails pose many problems and are both uncomfortable and unsightly. When grown too long lengths, nails can push up against your shoes and socks as you walk. This can definitely be a cause of pain and discomfort. Additionally, as the nails grow they can even start to curl underneath your toe. When the nails start to curl under, it is aesthetically negative and can cause more issues. Very long nails can start to irritate the skin of the toe, and are definitely also more prone to breakage when they are very long. When they break, the nails can potentially create sharp edges that could form an ingrown toenail. 

Why nail trimming is difficult when infected with fungus

Grooming and softening fungal nails are essential for maintenance. Unfortunately, the condition of the fungal toenails can make regular grooming of the nails impossible. When nails are thick or hard from a fungus, it can be impossible to even get your nail clippers to fit around the nail. Thickened nails are also more difficult mechanically to cut. This is due to the nail clippers having to be able to shear through a larger amount of nails. Also, the nail fungus can cause the toenails to become harder than normal. Even if the toenail is as thin as it is while healthy, nails that are hardened because of fungus can still be more difficult to cut.

At-home treatment to softening nails

Grooming and softening fungal nails is, therefore, an integral step of their hygiene and maintenance. Fortunately, this isn’t hard to do at home, which is good news for those who may not be able to afford a visit to a podiatrist. Many of the most effective temporary nail softening techniques can be done very easily at home with just a few basic ingredients.

The most effective at-home treatment to do if you have hard or thick toenails from a fungus is simply soaking them regularly in warm water. By doing so, you are allowing the toenails to absorb the water, making them easier to cut. The steps to do this at-home treatment are simple. First, fill a tub with enough warm water to submerge your feet, and let them sit in the water for 20-40 minutes. You can also put Epsom salts as an additive into the water, which will enhance the softening. Do something fun while you’re soaking your feet like reading a book or lighting a candle. This one simple thing will make the softening process something you can even learn to enjoy!

Getting rid of fungal toenails can only permanently be done with an effective treatment. To avoid soaking your feet every time you trim them for the rest of your life, you will need to eliminate the root cause of the hardening and thickening. The best treatment available is the toenail fungus laser. Our laser typically requires only one treatment to eliminate the fungus. After this treatment, a new healthy nail will grow behind the old damaged one. This new nail will be softer and easier to cut. To schedule a consultation with a licensed podiatrist with our nail fungus laser, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.