Preventing Nail Infections
There are many strategies you can take which will help to prevent nail infections:
- Determine if you are taking medications which increase your susceptibility to yeast infections. If you are, ask your doctor if there are alternative medications available which do not cause the same level of risk.
- Take steps to manage your psoriasis. Eat a healthy diet. Learn as much as you can about psoriasis.
- Wash and dry your hands frequently. Pay special attention to the skin which surrounds your nails.
- Ask your doctor to recommend a moisturizer that prevents your skin from cracking, yet does not promote bacterial growth.
- Wash and dry your feet carefully each morning and prior to going to bed at night. Always wash your hands after applying creams or medication to your fingers and toes.
- Report discomfort, swelling, drainage, redness, or openings in the skin surrounding your nails to your doctor for further recommendations. If you have a yeast infection, your nails may have a slight foul odor. You may see a white area beneath your nail. Your nails may thicken and have a rough surface. They may turn yellow, brown, green, or grey. A nail may lift up from the nailbed. Your nails may crumble. These are all signs of a nail infection. Seek medical assistance.
- Consider taking a garlic supplement or eating a clove of uncooked garlic daily. Garlic fights yeast infections.
- Use soaps that contain tea tree oil. Tea tree oil inhibits the growth of yeasts and other microorganisms.
- Change your socks a minimum of once each day. Change them immediately if they become soiled or wet. Wash them in hot water and bleach.
- Wear shoes that provide good circulation to your toes.
- Keep your nails short. Do not wear artificial nails or nail polish.
- Wash clippers, nail files, and other grooming equipment with a disinfectant prior to and after each use. Soaking them for twenty minutes in rubbing alcohol is an inexpensive method.
- Bring your own tools if you get your nails professionally cared for.
Check with your health care provider for further information.
What to Do in the Event of an Infection
Notify your health care provider if you think you may have an infection. While yeast infections are common, many nail infections are cause by fungi. Bacterial infections are less common, but more serious. Many infections are due to a combination of several organisms, including fungi and yeasts.
Treatment
In order to completely get rid of a nail infection, you need to be highly motivated. Most treatments are taken or applied once or twice each day. Treatment is not considered to be complete until the entire nail grows out. Fingernails generally grow out in about a year. It may take one and one half years for a toenail to completely grow out.
