Nail Fungus

Nail Fungus

It doesn't hurt. It won't threaten your health. And the odds are that no one else will even notice that you have nail fungus--at least in its early stages. A long-term condition, however, can be marked by thick, yellow, raggedy looking nails on your fingers and toes.

This isn't a condition you want to ignore. "The fungus starts at the free edge of the nail and works its way to the root. Once the fungus infects the root of the nail, there is virtually nothing you can do other than take the nail out and destroy it," says Houston podiatrist William Van Pelt, D.P.M., former president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.

Nail fungus is usually caused by an immune system deficiency, but it's aggravated by moisture, so keeping hands and feet clean and dry is the best way to prevent or control it. And here are the best ways of doing that before this bothersome blight gains a toehold.

Aim a cool hair dryer. Your feet spend all day in a warm, damp environment--namely, your shoes. To get your toenails dry before you put on your shoes and socks, use a hair dryer set on the cool setting. Then blow-dry under, around and between your toes after bathing, suggests podiatrist James Graham, D.P.M., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Apply antiperspirant. Sweating makes matters worse, since it creates a warm, moist environment--perfect for spreading nail fungus. "One of the best ways to stop sweating before it starts is to apply an unscented antiperspirant to your feet," says Dr. Van Pelt. "You can use either a roll-on or a spray, but the key is to use an unscented brand, because the perfumes in scented kinds are too harsh for many people."

Snip nails short. Long nails act like levers. When you catch the end of a long nail on something, it lifts the nail from its bed, and that invites fungus inside. Clip back your nails so that none protrudes beyond the nail bed, suggests Lowell Goldsmith, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York.

But don't clip your cuticles, advises Dr. Graham." When cuticles are damaged, that removes your nail's protective barrier and allows easy entry for the fungus and bacteria," he says. And use an orange stick rather than a nail file to clean under your nail tip. "Digging debris from under your nail tip too vigorously may create space that allows the fungus to grow," says Dr. Graham.

Smooth away dead skin. Fungus often attaches itself to dead, dry skin, then moves on to other areas. "Soap and water and a gentle scrub brush will remove dead skin buildup," says Richard L. Dobson, M.D., professor of dermatology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Wash your hands. Fungal infection can spread from your feet to your hands. So wash your hands after inspecting your feet, advises Dr. Graham.

Wear breathable footwear. "Man-made materials such as vinyl and patent leather (which isn't actually leather) don't breathe, so I advise wearing shoes made of natural materials such as leather or canvas," says Dr Van Pelt. It's also a good idea to not wear the same shoes two days in a row, adds Dr. Graham. That way, each pair will be thoroughly dry before you put it on again.

Socks should also be made from a blend of fabrics--preferably acrylic and wool--that wicks away moisture and retains its softness. If your socks feel moist throughout the day, change them frequently. And for extra drying power, sprinkle a medicated antifungal powder into your socks. But avoid using cornstarch. Besides caking, "it could prompt bacteria to breed and compound your problem," says Dr. Graham.