The feet are one of the most overlooked parts during the grooming routine - but feet need love too!
Follow these tips to help avoid a common but dreaded toenail fungus infection.
With taking up to a year or more to get rid of a toenail fungus, prevention is the best course to avoid a toenail headache.
And, according to Mayo Clinic, a seemingly benign toenail fungus may develop into something more serious beyond your feet if not taken care of in those with a weakened immune system, poor circulation, or diabetes.
If you already have a lingering toenail fungus, these are good basic foot tips to add on to your current treatment plan.
The following vitamins and minerals are integral to nail health and you should try to eat these on a regular basis to ensure healthy nail growth:
Keeping your feet clean is key to preventing foot fungus from developing or spreading.
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching your feet.
Pick up a lotion for use on the feet and toenails to keep the surrounding skin healthy.
Trimming toenails straight across instead of in an arc helps prevent future ingrown nails and injury to the toes.
Cutting nails in this way may help decrease your likelihood of developing a nail fungus.
Be sure to disinfect those nail scissors after each use!
Avoid applying nail polish to affected nails, or nails that are prone to infection.
Layers of polish or fake nails can trap moisture, leading to a fungus prone environment.
Check with your favorite pedicure salon to make sure they are disinfecting the tools between each customer.
And if you are super sensitive to fungal infections - bring your own nail polish too!
Be sure to switch out socks on a daily basis to avoid a damp and bacteria-filled environment.
Sweat-wicking socks are available and may help if your feet get sweaty during the day.
You may even want to have 2 pairs of everyday shoes to allow a day between wears to let them really air out.
Very old and dirty shoes may be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.
Toss old shoes once they start smelling or looking run down.
Apply antifungal sprays or powders to the inside of shoes or wash them on a regular basis to keep them in tip-top shape.
Shoes with a good fit and breathable mesh should help keep foot fungus at bay.
Shoes should not be too tight or rubbing against your toenails.
Be sure to wear footwear when in public areas with a wet floor like public pools, showers, locker rooms, or saunas.
These areas have the perfect environment for extra bacteria and fungus on the floor plus a whole lot of people going barefoot - so don’t be one of them.
Take the time to look at your toenails every once in a while.
If they have developed changes such as yellowing, thickening, or crumbling, you may have a toenail fungus and you should have a consultation with a doctor to figure out your treatment options.
While it is cool that you and your best bud wear the same shoe size, you may be putting yourself at risk for a fungal infection by wearing someone else’s shoes.
And sharing nail clippers should always be avoided.
There are a few options out there including medicated polish, creams, or prescription tablets.
Our pharmacist and physician formulated Strut Nail Formula combines a few of the strongest antifungals in an easy to apply cream.
We added in a pharmaceutical-grade penetrating agent to get the medication where it needs to go to work.
Start an online consultation today to see if our Nail Formula is a good option for your nails.
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