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most commonly asked questions regarding nail fungus
1. what is nail fungus?
nail fungus is an infection in the finger/toenail called onychomycosis. it moves in under the nail so to a certain extent the nail actually protects the fungus while it is growing!
more specifically this means that the nail becomes soft or thick and different to your usual nail. it may also break away from the nail plate. this may also be accompanied by pain in the infected finger or toenail.
it is actually quite a common infection so you should not feel embarrassed if you do get a fungal infection.

2. who is at risk from fungal infections?
the straight answer is actually anyone but there are a number of people who are more at risk.
these are:
- people over 60
- people with medical conditions such as diabetes or bad circulation
- people who use the gym and swimming pools as they are sharing showers and fungus can be picked up from the warm, wet floor
- anyone whose feet sweat a lot e.g. athletes, footballers, dancers etc
- people whose hands are wet a lot of the time. e.g. hairdressers, dishwashers
- anyone sharing a towel or cleaning facilities with someone who has a fungal infection. this explains why sometimes people in the family get the infection at the same time
- people who have artificial nails

3. what are the signs and symptoms of a fungal infection?
the signs can be any of the following:
- nail detached or loose from the nail plate
- discoloured nail
- brittle nail
- nail crumbling
- change of nail shape/distortion
- thickened nail
- loss of shine in the nail

4. what caused my fungal infection?
it can be difficult to pin point exactly why you got the fungal infection but it is safe to say that warm damp environments are where a fungus can best take hold. this is why showers, locker rooms and bathrooms are a prime breeding ground!
it is generally more common on the toenail because of either tight shoes that pinch or shoes that make the feet sweat. any damage to the nails can also make it easier for the fungus to move in under the nail. e.g. shutting a nail in the door.
if you have false nails it maybe that water have got in-between your natural nail and the false nail thereby creating a warm, moist environment. to prevent this you should make sure you keep your infill appointments fortnightly to reduce the risk of the false nail lifting and creating a gap.

5. how do i get rid of my fungal infection?
there are over the counter remedies available but the best course of action is to make an appointment with your doctor. they will be able to tell you for certain what kind of infection you have and recommend the best course of action for you.
do remember that apart from picking up a fungal infection from another person it is possible for the fungus to spread from one of your nails to the others.
generally it can take up to a year for your new nail to grow and replace the old infected one so you should be particularly stringent with looking after your nails once your doctor has given you a prescription.

6. is there anything i can do to prevent getting a fungal infection in the future?
yes there are a number of ways to protect yourself from fungal infections:
- avoid walking barefoot in public areas such as gym locker rooms
- shorter nails are generally less risk to keep them neat, in fact having regular manicures is a good idea as your technician can keep an eye on the health of your nails
- buff down any particularly thick areas of the nail. be careful not to overbuff though!
- wear gloves when washing up
- wear cotton socks and always change them when they get damp from sweat of if your feet have got wet
- don’t wear pointed shoes as the pressure can increase the likelihood of a fungal infection
- if you have false nails remember to book an infill appointment every 2 weeks to avoid lifting. use a nails inc. aftercare kit to look after your nails in between visits to your nail salon

use one of the nails inc. treatment packs for your specific nail type to keep up the natural good health of the nail.