Should nail fungus prevention be important to you? If you are reading this, it probably means you previously had nail fungus and have gotten treatment for it. If you received laser treatment for nail fungus, this means all your nail fungus is now dead. However, this does not make you immune to future infections. You should definitely take steps to prevent catching nail fungus again in the future. As most people are aware nail fungus is unsightly and usually spreads to other nails. It can become painful, thick which makes it hard to trim nails and may cause ingrown toenails. And lastly, patients with diabetes, having nail fungus may have an increased risk for ulcers.
5 Easy Ways to Prevent Toenail Fungus
For these reasons it is extremely important to take all the necessary precautions to make sure that you do not contract nail fungus again. Our recommendations will help you reduce the chances of sharing the nail fungus with your loved ones.
- Do not share shoes, socks, nail trimmers, or nail files with other people.
- Change your shoes and socks often so sweat is not trapped for long periods of time.
- Avoid being barefoot in all public places such as pools, gyms, hotels.
- Wear shoes that fit you well, shoes that are too small might cause trauma to the nails.
- Use antifungal after-care products to kill any fungus that you might come in contact with after treatment is received.
How to Keep your Home Clear of Fungal Spores
At home, you should begin to disinfect everything that may be harboring any remnant fungal spores. This includes washing your towels, linens, and carpets. You may bleach the floor of your shower and tub. Also, clean your shoes. Wash all your socks in hot water and bleach if possible. Nail tools, such as nail clippers and nail files, are a big source of nail fungus. So you should throw these out and replace them with new ones or sterilize them well. It is also a good idea to throw out any old nail polish you used when you were infected with nail fungus.
On a daily basis, there are certain things you should do to prevent reinfection. These include the basic steps for generally preventing nail fungus, including not being barefoot and keeping your hands/feet clean and dry at all times. If you have diabetes or another pre-existing health condition, you should constantly monitor your nails for signs of nail fungus. You should also apply an antifungal cream and solution to your nails to kill any nail fungal spores that you come into contact with, and apply an antifungal spray to the inside of your shoes. If you had nail fungus on your fingernails, it is a good idea to disinfect your phone, computer, and any other appliances or objects that you touch often, such as the microwave, fridge door, TV remote, and car steering wheel.
For more information, or if you are yet to treat your nail fungus, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our nail doctors. We have over 150 locations nationwide, including Charlotte, NC.
