The words fungal nail infection hardly scream glamour and beauty, but no one’s immune to a little fungus! It’s one of the MOST common fungal infections, and even the most glamorous and most beautiful beings roaming the earth can contract it.
But luckily for all of us, fungal nail infections are preventable, treatable and manageable. So don’t pack your sandals away just yet … because hope is on the horizon!
Fungal Nail Infection 101
Fungal nail infections, also known as onychomycosis (learn how to pronounce it in style here), affect up to 14% of the general population — meaning if you’ve fallen victim to a nail infection, you are by far not the only one!
But what causes it? Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophyte fungi like Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, or Candida albicans. AND YES, as the famous saying goes: “prevention is better than cure”. Therefore, even though fungal nail infections ARE treatable, they may take a long time to treat.
So, let’s look at what causes fungal nail infections to grab a foothold and how to keep them at bay.
Reasons For Fungal Nail Infections
Multiple factors could contribute to the development of onychomycosis. Of course, like most members of the fungus family, nail fungus thrives in damp and humid conditions.
That is why keeping your hands/feet dry and clean is crucial. Additional factors that could contribute to the development of onychomycosis include ageing, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, prolonged wearing of tight-fitting shoes, walking barefoot in public places, and previous nail injuries or infections.
How To Prevent Fungal Nail Infections
- Ensure your nail salon sterilises all its instruments.
- Don’t wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty.
- Don’t share towels/nail clippers/other people’s shoes.
- Wear flip-flops in public showers/locker rooms at the gym/pool.
- Keep your hands and feet clean and dry, and wear clean socks daily.
5 Common Myths
Myth 1: Nail Polish Will Prevent Nail Fungus
Unfortunately not. In fact, nail polish can make it worse! By trapping moisture, your nail polish could create the perfect breeding ground for fungus to thrive.
Myth 2: Nail Fungus Is Not A Big Deal.
Agreed, infected nails won’t get you an out-of-jail-free card. But … when left untreated, they can spread to other nails and even to your skin! This means nail fungus is indeed a big deal.
Myth 3: Nail Fungus Is A Summer-Worry.
Yes, it would be great to only stress about discoloured nails for 3 months of the year. The reality, however, is you can contract a fungal nail infection anytime — be it summer, winter, autumn or spring.
Myth 4: Fungal Infections Will Go Away By Itself.
Sadly, infected nails are not likely to clear without intervention.
Myth 5: Fungal Nail Infections Aren’t Contagious.
Even though we’d all love for this to be true, it is, in fact, not. Nail fungus can spread from nail to nail, nail to skin, and person to person.
How To Spot An Infection
If you spot a strange discolouration on your nails, it could be the start of a pesky fungal nail infection!
Of course, so many of us will overlook it at first, mistaking it for discolouration potentially caused by cutex/nail gels. But as time passes, those nails will either turn white or yellow, get seriously thick, become brittle, break off, or lift entirely. Ouch!
Believe us when we say … it’s not just about looks. Fungal nail infections can lead to severe discomfort when walking and swelling around the nail.
How To Treat Fungal Nail Infections?
Bodyvie provides an in-house laser treatment to tackle fungal nail infections head-on. Our advanced laser treatments utilise intense light energy to effectively heat and eliminate fungal cells within the nail bed, WITHOUT damaging the surrounding tissues.
The best part? It’s painless! Plus, after the treatment, you can pretty much get back to your usual routine.
However, it may take a few weeks to a few months for the damaged nail to heal fully and for a new nail to grow. Meaning … if you were thinking of flaunting those brand new open-toe heels on a Friday, it’s best to have your laser treatment on a Saturday.
The real question remains: are you ready to say goodbye to fungal nail woes with our safe and effective laser therapy?
While fungal nail infections are common, they should never be ignored. It’s not just about the appearance of your nails or your choice of footwear. Left untreated, these infections can end those sandal days in their entirety. We’ll leave you with this: “Great nails don’t happen by chance. They happen by appointment”.
