Nail Infection: Answers To The Four Most Asked Questions

Nail Infection: Answers To The Four Most Asked Questions

Nail infection affects up to ten percent of adults in the United States. In adults aged over 60 years, this percentage rises to twenty percent. Although nail infection affects such a significant portion of the population, it is not as contagious as you might think. In most cases, people with nail infection usually do not pass it on to others, and if you have a nail infection, it is highly unlikely that you caught it from someone else.

That said, there are a lot of questions around the topic of nail infection. In this article, we briefly cover four of the top questions that patients ask us about nail infection.

What causes nail infection?

Fungi cause most nail infections. They are everywhere, including living on the body right beside bacteria. If fungi populations remain constant, no infection develops. However, when fungi populations grow beyond normal levels, an infection can result. Fungal nail infection occurs when fungi start to grow uncontrollably under, on the edges of, or on top of a nail and mostly affects toenails. But what causes fungi to grow uncontrollably? Moisture, warmth, and darkness favor fungi growth, which means that poorly dried feet that are ever in shoes are prone to fungal infection.

Who is at risk of getting a nail infection? 

Although anyone can develop a fungal nail infection, certain groups are more susceptible. These groups include people who:

• Have diabetes
• Are older than sixty-five
• Have a nail injury
• Wear closed shoes for extended periods
• Swim in public pools
• Have a compromised immunity

Besides these risk factors, nail infections tend to affect men more than they do women. Additionally, children tend to have fewer nail infections than adults. In older adults over the age of sixty-five, multiple factors including thickening nails, poor circulation, less movement, and reduced immunity converge to make this demographic at the highest risk of nail infection.

What is the best way to treat a nail infection? 

Fungal nail infections are notoriously difficult to treat. In many cases, they respond poorly to over-the-counter medications and topical applications. As such, the best approach when treating fungal nail infections is to use a combination of prescription medications plus more potent topical applications than what you would buy over the counter. Depending on the type of fungus involved, your foot specialist may prescribe one of the following drugs:

• terbinafine (Lamisil)
• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• griseofulvin (Gris-PEG)
• in our office we have had success by drilling very small holes in the nail to allow topical medication to better penetrate the nail

It is important to know that not all nail infection treatments work. In some cases, a resurgence may occur, in which case treatment must be restarted.

How can I prevent nail infection?

Preventing nail infection involves a combination of lifestyle changes and good grooming habits. If you frequent nail spas and salons, make sure the tools they use are cleaned and sanitized after each use. Also, avoid walking barefoot in public areas like public pools as these can be breeding grounds for fungi.

Adopt good grooming habits like keeping your nails short and clean and drying your feet thoroughly when from the shower. If possible, also reduce your use of artificial nails and nail polish as these can create favorable conditions for fungi to grow. While it is not always possible to prevent nail infection, good lifestyle and grooming habits can help keep your nails healthy and infection-free.