Can you really pick up infections or nail fungus at salons? You can. Anytime your nails are getting wet, cut or filed—or your cuticles are being trimmed—it is an opportunity for bacteria and fungi to get in under the nail. Both bacteria and fungi can cause nail infections and are very common in the environment.
It's highly unlikely that fungus will directly spread from nail to nail via nail polish application because a bottle of polish isn't the most conducive environment for fungal growth due to all the chemicals present. However, while the risk is low, it's not zero either, so we would not recommend sharing nail polish!
If you or someone you care for has gotten an infection from a nail salon, the first thing you should do is seek medical help. Small infections can lead to big problems, so please protect yourself first. Keep all medical bills and document any hardships faced from the infection. Then contact a personal injury lawyer.
Medicated nail polish.
Your health care provider may prescribe an antifungal nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac). You paint it on your infected nails and surrounding skin once a day. After seven days, you wipe the piled-on layers clean with alcohol and begin fresh applications.
Even though nail salons disinfect their tubs, research has shown that germs can be trapped in the equipment and have been linked to infections.
Among the diseases that can be transmitted in beauty salons are hepatitis B & C, herpes, AIDS, skin and eye infections, hair lice, and chronic fungal diseases.
Nail polish traps in moisture from your nailbed (the tissue below your toenail). Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse.
Nail fungus can be very persistent. Topical treatment with nail polish may take up to one year.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
Usually three months of treatment cures a toenail fungal infection. Antifungal pills, however, can cause side effects. Your dermatologist will watch you closely. You'll also need to have blood tests every month to check for problems.
One place where an individual may be susceptible to athlete's foot is the nail salon. For example, when someone receives a pedicure at a nail salon, they may be at an increased risk of contracting a fungal infection if the practitioner uses tools that were used on other clients' feet.
The condition is common because it's so easy to catch. “Onychomycosis can be caused by direct exposure to dermatophytes (fungus), yeast or non-dermatophyte molds,” says Stern. Often it's triggered by environmental exposure compounded with excessive sweating, infected footwear, trauma to the area and poor hygiene.
The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out, Dr. Rowland says. When that happens, fungus, yeast, bacteria, mold and mildew can develop underneath the nail plate, which can lead to long-term problems.
Yes it can. Hybrid gels (e.g. Shellac, Gelish, Axxium) can cause significant weakness in the nails as well as leave you prone to fungal infections, onycholysis (lifting of the nails) and tearing.
Symptoms of a nail fungal infection
Discolored (usually white or yellow) Brittle. Crumbly, or have rough, jagged edges. Thick.
Can your nail fungus be spread? The simple answer to this is yes. Toenail fungus is actually very contagious, and can be spread by touching infected surfaces. A common fungus is athlete's foot, which is spread when you step barefoot in an infected area, like a locker room or public space.
Sometimes untreated toenail fungus can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot. This may result in athlete's foot, a condition marked by itchy, red, cracked skin.
Fungal spores can live on all kinds of surfaces, including metal toenail clippers for months. When you cut your fungal nail with your clippers, you can easily transmit the fungi to your other toenails or reinfect yourself. In fact, the CDC recommends properly disinfecting all nail tools before every use.
Don't go barefoot in public.
Fungus loves to grow in warm, wet places. It also spreads easily from person to person. That's why it's key to wear shower shoes or flip flops around public pools, locker rooms, and showers.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options: Trimming the Toenail Trimming the toenail is usually combined with medication, but having a podiatrist periodically trim the nail down is helpful and allows the medication to work better, says Sundling.
Beauty pedicures should be avoided if standards for sterilisation haven't been followed. If you think you have a fungal infection of the toenails, don't share nail clippers and files, or attend for pedicures, as you could spread the infection.
Nail salon workers can be exposed to biological hazards if they come into contact with infected skin, nails, or blood from a co-worker or client. Diseases that can result from exposure to infected blood include hepatitis and AIDS. Nail salon workers can also get fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, from clients.
Study: 52 Percent Of People Get Fungal Infections From Nail Salons | Women's Health.