Nail damage from bleach can be very serious, potentially causing harm to the entire toe. This includes the skin around the toenail and the toenail itself. Typically, damage to the toe can show up as a chemical burn on the skin. Chemical burns from the surface of the skin are exposed to corrosive and dangerous chemicals.
Bleach DIYs
Bleach is sometimes recommended as an at-home treatment for toenail fungus. However, treatments of this nature are typically very ineffective. They are ineffective because they don’t utilize properly researched medicines or techniques and aren’t done by medical professionals. All at-home treatments for toenail fungus are going to have very little effect. They aren’t as effective as proper medical care. For example, some internet blogs recommend using bleach on the toenail fungus. No nail doctor would ever recommend it. Using bleach on toenail fungus is discouraged by both nail doctors and bleach manufacturers.
Risks of Bleach
As for cleaning products, bleach is a very harsh chemical that has the potential to cause a lot of harm. Cleaning products need to be this harsh as they need to be able to powerfully dissolve dirt, grime, and bacteria that are lying on bathroom floors, showers, and countertops.
Nail damage from bleach will vary in severity depending on multiple factors including the length of bleach application. Chemical burns are more severe the longer the chemical is in contact with the skin. If the bleach is completely pure, it will cause the most severe damage.
Avoid Nail and Skin Damage
If any bleach comes into contact with your skin, to minimize the damage you should immediately rinse off any bleach for at least 5 minutes or longer with running water. Immediately remove any clothing that could have come into contact with the chemical as well; these clothes could harbor residual chemicals in them that will cause further damage.
Rinse the area with water followed by a very thorough wash with soap and water. After rinsing and washing off the bleach, dry off the area and take a look at the skin.
To assess the nail damage from bleach, you should first examine how the skin looks in the area that was in contact with the bleach. Chemical burns almost always require immediate medical attention.
However, if you only notice mild redness without any pain, you can wait to see if the condition gets better before seeing a medical professional. In the meantime, you can apply cool compresses and ointments to the burn to see if that helps with the symptoms. However, if the burns don’t get better quickly, you will need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Safer Treatment Options for Nail Fungus
These infections are best treated by nail doctors, who are doctors that specialize in treating issues of the feet specifically. While a majority of treatments available for toenail fungus lack effectiveness or pose risks of danger, there are some options available that are effective and still safe.
The PinPointe Laser is an FDA-approved treatment for the fungus that only requires one session to eliminate fungus. To learn more about the PinPointe laser technology visit our website here and schedule a free consultation with one of our nail doctors.
