Tips for preventing fungal nail infections

Though fungal nail infections are quite common, there are some things that you can do to help prevent them and also to stop them from reoccurring after treatment. Overall foot care and hygiene are obviously essential to keeping your feet nice and healthy and here are a few tips to help with the prevention of fungal nail infections.

• Keep your feet cool, dry and free from moisture as moisture is a great environment for fungal infections to grow. Wear socks and shoes that allow your feet to breathe instead of keeping them trapped and restricted.
• Regularly cut your nails to keep them trimmed and filed.
• Wash your feet every day to get rid of bacteria that have built up. This point may seem obvious, but many people overlook washing their feet in the shower, even though it is essential for good foot hygiene. Not only will it help to prevent fungal nail infections but also skin problems and foot odour.
• After washing, remember to dry your feet toe-by-toe to ensure your feet are nice and dry with no moisture.
• Wear clean socks every day. It may also be useful to wash your socks on a higher setting to kill all bacterial and fungal spores.
• Wear suitable footwear or shower shoes in communal showers and locker rooms as these are top spots for catching a fungal nail infection.
• Wear well fitted shoes and try to avoid high heels and narrow toes where possible.
• Exfoliate the skin on your feet to eliminate dead skin cells and stimulate cell renewal to keep your feet looking ultimately healthy.
• Always keep an eye out for any changes to your nails. They should be pink, shiny and strong but not yellow, thick or brittle. If you notice any changes in colour or thickness, it is possible you could have a fungal nail infection. Get treatment as soon as possible to get your nails back to normal quickly and easily.