Best Ways to Prevent Nail Infections
Nail infections can cause more issues than an unpleasant look that lowers your level of confidence. As bad as that is on its own, cases of infection are also a sign that special care should be given to your nails before you end up with more complicated issues. Ingrown nails and fungal infections, in particular, are among the most common problems, yet they are particularly notorious for how difficult they can be to treat. Therefore, it becomes even more important that you take the right measures to prevent their appearance.
Here are a few simple ways that can help you avoid nail infections.
- Keep a good hygiene
It may be easy to overlook the hygiene of our nails, as you can assume that simply washing your hands and feet will take care of everything. However, you can easily have some dirt trapped under your nails that will stay there unless you take special measures. Soak your nails in warm water for around 10 minutes, so they are softened, and then use a toothbrush, or better yet, a nailbrush to scrub them softly – this will allow you to reach those difficult areas where dirt can stay for a long while.
Remove any dead skin in the area as well and try to keep your nails dry after you clean them, as fungal infections thrive in wet conditions. When it comes to your toes, the closed environment of a shoe can make things trickier, but you can always use special foot powder to reduce moisture – there are even options of formulas specifically designed to fight fungi.
- Wear breathable, loose-fitting shoes
Having your feet trapped in an unbreathable material can lead to a moisture build-up that favors the appearance of fungus. Shoes made from leather or canvas reduce this problem, as they allow air to circulate and keep your skin and nails drier.
It is also important that they are loose-fitting, in order to avoid pressure on your toe-nails – don’t go overboard either, just pick something that leaves a bit of room in front of them.
You should also own multiple pairs of shoes and rotate them, so they can have time to dry out from the sweat appearing after a day’s use.
- Don’t let your nails touch public areas
Fungi infections can easily be taken from public spaces such as public showers or pools, as they are exposed to countless pairs of bare feet. Wearing flip-flops can help you avoid the headaches that come with a persistent infection.
- Do not cut your cuticles
Cuticles provide essential protection against bacteria, so it is important that you keep them as they are. If they cause you pain, soak your hands in warm water for 10 minutes, dry them and then massage coconut or olive oil in the area for 5 minutes. If your cuticle has come out, gently push it back.
- Moisturize your nails
By using moisturizer, you can ensure the health and strength of your nails, protecting them from various types of damage that can lead to infections. Just like previously mentioned, coconut or olive oil are ideal for the purpose.
As you can see, keeping your nails healthy can be done through some simple measures that will save you the time, money and effort that infections can take to heal.
