Should You Wear Nail Polish If You Have Nail Fungus

spilled coral nail polish — Tatjana Zlatkovic/Stocksy

Tips to Keep Your Toes Mucus-Costless

Did yous know that half of all blast diseases are caused by fungi? These tiny fungi sneak beneath your blast beds and can crusade the toenails to get dark, brittle, and sometimes evil-smelling.

While anyone tin get toenail mucus (onychomycosis), some people are at a greater risk. In fact, age, gender, genetics, overall health — and many simple everyday habits — tin can play a function in the development of a toenail fungal infection.

Here are the near common causes of toenail fungal infection, as well as how you tin prevent toenail mucus and go along your feet healthy.

one. A Family History of Toenail Fungus

"Toenail fungal infection can be affected by heredity and some families are more prone to it than others. In these cases, toenail mucus is sometimes seen at an earlier historic period," says Cary Zinkin, DPM, a podiatrist in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, toenail mucus is most common in men over historic period lx. If y'all have a family history of toenail fungal infections, take fourth dimension to inspect your anxiety daily and encounter a doc promptly if you doubtable toenail fungus.

2. Toenail Mucus and Other Health Weather

Some chronic medical conditions may increase the run a risk of a toenail fungal infection. These include a history of poor apportionment, diabetes, the homo immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or whatsoever other illness that may compromise your immune arrangement or interfere with blood menses to your toes. If you lot have a chronic health status, have extra precautions to go along your feet clean and dry.

3. Boots and Toenail Fungus

Your job could be putting you in jeopardy of a toenail fungal infection, especially if you're required to habiliment sturdy, heavy boots with poor ventilation. These shoes create a warm, sweaty environment that's perfect for the evolution of toenail fungus. "Any occupation that causes or allows the feet to get sweaty or wet puts the worker at risk for a toenail fungal infection," Dr. Zinkin says. "Organisms that cause both toenail fungus and athlete'south foot abound and thrive in a dark, moist place."

To help minimize the risk of toenail fungus, alternate several pairs of work boots or shoes and allow each pair to dry after wearing. Also be sure to change your socks frequently — even during the workday — and so that feet stay dry out.

four. Nail Polish and Toenail Fungus

Nail polish may make your toes await pretty, but information technology tin also cause toenail fungus. Heavy nail smoothen tends to block calorie-free, creating an environment more conducive to fungal growth, Zinkin says. So give your toenails a interruption from polish periodically.

If you're treating yourself to a pedicure, take annotation: Toenail mucus tin be transferred through nail files and clippers, so make sure the salon properly sanitizes all tools after each customer. And you may want to schedule your appointment in the morning considering pedicure instruments and footbaths are typically cleanest at the offset of the day.

5. Tight Shoes and Toenail Fungus

Wearing closed-toe shoes, especially those that are narrow in the toe box, can crusade trauma to your toenails, which tin can weaken your nails and brand them more susceptible to a toenail fungal infection, Zinkin says. When yous have to habiliment a closed-toe shoe, choose footwear that offers plenty of room for your toes to move without being pinched. Or opt for shoes that allow your anxiety to breathe. "Whatever open-toed shoe or flip-flop will permit low-cal and air circulation and will aid forbid toenail fungus," Zinkin says.

6. Locker Rooms and Toenail Fungus

If you're a swimmer, you needn't worry about a chlorinated pool increasing your risk of toenail fungus, merely the locker room is some other story. Wet, humid areas are prime for convenance for toenail fungal infections. "Swimmers should ever wearable foot gear in the locker rooms and showers," Zinkin says. Too, dry your feet thoroughly afterward swimming and showering and before slipping back into your regular shoes.

seven. Runners and Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungal infections are oftentimes a health issue for runners. "Distance runners sweat quite a fleck," Zinkin says. And sweaty socks and tight running shoes create the perfect moist environment for the growth of toenail fungus. Try using special socks that wick away moisture to keep anxiety dry. It'south besides smart to alternating running shoes and permit each pair to dry out completely betwixt wearings.

viii. Hosiery and Toenail Fungus

Wearing pantyhose tin can lead to sweaty feet and the potential for a toenail fungal infection. "Nylon hosiery doesn't absorb sweat, so when wearing hosiery inside a shoe, there'due south an increased chance of fungal growth," Zinkin says. If you must article of clothing hosiery, put some antiperspirant or baby pulverization on your anxiety before slipping into your stockings. This will aid reduce sweating and the run a risk of mucus growing.