Fungi grow best in warm, moist places, and they can spread from person to person. You can get a fungal nail infection from walking barefoot in public showers or pools or by sharing personal items, such as towels and nail clippers.
Be Courteous with Toenail Clippers
Don't share your toenail clippers! If you have toenail fungus, you'll probably want to clip your unsightly toenails. However, the fungus will easily stick to the surface of your clippers and could infect other toenails or anyone else who uses them.
Toenail fungus or athlete's foot can also transfer from person to person by using personal grooming items like nail clippers or towels.
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.
Is tinea unguium contagious? Yes, many types of toenail fungi, including tinea unguium, are quite contagious. You can spread the fungus to someone else through direct contact. You can also get toenail fungus by touching an infected surface.
You can use a bleach-based solution or another disinfectant regularly on the shower floors and walls. To keep fungus from growing in your shoes, sprinkle them with an antifungal powder or use a spray. Don't wear any shoes that are damp or wet.
How do dermatologists treat a fungal nail infection? Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail(s), cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.
Rinse out the clippers as well as your container, and fill the latter with your disinfectant of choice: either 70% rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or a hospital grade disinfectant - but never two or three at once! Let your clippers soak in the solution for at least 30 minutes to completely clean them.
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.
How to clean pedicure tools to prevent infection and re-infection. Fill a bowl with enough isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to completely cover your stainless steel nail clippers, tweezers, and nail nippers after your pedicure. Soak for 30 minutes and air dry.
If you then wear hot, enclosed shoes or sweaty socks, you may then be further fuelling the fungus and accelerating its spread. Around your home, your showers, bathrooms, floors around the house, and swimming pool areas are where your family are most at risk of contracting your fungus.
If you just finished treating nail fungus, throw away shoes, boots, skates, and other footwear that you wore before you started treatment. Put on a clean pair of socks every day and whenever your socks get sweaty. Wear shoes that: Alternate shoes.
If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis. They can also prescribe stronger medicines.
If you share a bed with another person, the fungus may transfer to them via shared linens.
Toenail fungus, called onychomycosis, lurks in shoes and boots where moisture is easily trapped, and fungal spores can remain alive and active from 12 to 20 months.
Vinegar is inexpensive, accessible, and effective in killing microbes, including bacteria and fungus. It can also be used as a safer alternative to bleach for some applications, such as cleaning.
A: You should replace your nail clipper after six months to a year or whenever the blades become dull or damaged. Dull blades can do more harm than benefit and leave your nails with jagged edges.
Don't go barefoot in public places. Use a spray or powder that fights fungus on your feet and in your shoes. Don't pick at the skin around your nails. Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your nails.
Revolutionary nail fungus laser therapy has an 80% success rate. Instead of medications or debridement, Dr. Frankel offers a laser therapy treatment with an 80% success rate at permanently treating nail fungus. It's painless and performed in-office with three 10-minute procedures every four weeks.
There are procedures that use lasers or light therapy to kill the fungus, but doctors need more research to find out how well they really work. So, at this point, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the nail. It's not a common surgery, but it's an option when all else fails.
Keep your nails clean and dry. Wash your hands and feet regularly. Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Dry well, apply an antifungal foot powder and moisturize your nails.
Spray the bottom of your shower with a disinfectant to kill any lingering bacteria or fungus.