Nail salons and nail fungus can go hand in hand. Many people enjoy visiting nail salons for manicures and pedicures for a number of reasons. The appearance of aesthetically pleasing nails helps people professionally, socially, and with their confidence. Not to mention that pampering oneself can be relaxing. However, these frequent visits come with a hidden risk – nail fungus! 

Can I get nail fungus from Nail Salons?

It is all too often that a hidden review for the majority of nail salons will complain that visiting that establishment resulted in an infection. These infections can be bacterial, or fungal. While bacterial infections can usually be treated with antibacterials, fungal infections tend to linger unless treated. The reason that nail salons are so notorious for nail fungus is solely due to sanitation problems. 

Salons are usually guilty of reusing instruments on their hundreds of clients, and only clean their foot baths once a day, if even that. Simply washing with water is unfortunately not enough, since fungal spores are not killed by water or soap, and the spores can also get stuck in the pipes of the foot baths. 

How do I avoid nail fungus at nail salons?

So what can you do to minimize your chances of getting nail fungus without giving up your pedicures entirely? For one, try to find an establishment that uses fresh instruments and foot baths on all clients, or uses a medical-grade autoclave to sterilize their instruments. This helps since the high temperatures in autoclaves kill any existing fungal spores. If you are unable to find such a salon, bring your own instruments and nail polish to use, and insist that the nail technician wear gloves. 

Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus

If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed.  This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication. 

Our nail doctor in Las Vegas, NV recommends this treatment for Toenail Fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain.

If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.