How Do I Catch Toenail Fungus?
Toenail Fungus Part 1
For those of you who found my “Oh My Fungus” article too long, I’m going to condense some of the snippets for you to make it easier for you to share and refer back to the information. Here you go!
How Did I Catch the Fungus?
In general, you don’t CATCH fungus on your toenails. It develops when the conditions are right for it to grow (Hot, Wet, Dark). Fungus lives in the air around us. All it needs are the right circumstances to grow. Usually, it starts with some form of trauma which damages the top or underside of the nail creating looseness or pitting/scratches. Water gets into the scratches and sets up the conditions for fungus to grow. So let’s focus on understanding how nails get trauma and trying to prevent the infection from getting started. Here are some common causes:
Your last pedicure can be the source of trauma if a harsh gel or shellac was used and damaged the nail surface. Your pedicurist can also damage your nail while scraping the surface of your nail to remove the gel.
An ingrown toenail that drains for a long time can make the nail wet which can cause fungus. I have seen people get fungus after having ingrown toenail procedures and then wearing non-stick pads or bandages over the procedure site, trapping moisture over a draining nail. I recommend dry gauze and antibiotic ointment after nail procedures instead of non-stick dressings for that reason.
You may have developed conditions for fungus by working in the hot sun wearing sweaty socks in boots. Work boots tend to seal sweat in your shoes and promote fungus. A rule of thumb, if your shoes smell like mold, treat them with UV light (sunshine) before wearing them.
Shoes that pinch or are too short (especially if you have a long 2nd toe) can set up certain toenails for damage.
If you have a curved toe (hammer toe) which nail hits the ground when you walk—fungal like damage can occur.
Feet slamming into the ends of your shoes due to distance running or improperly fastened footwear can set up trauma causing fungus.
You could drop something on a toenail, setting up a blood blister under the nail, which lifts the toenail and creates a space for moisture to collect.
Any of these events are common causes of toenail fungus. Controlling whether your nails are in a wet, hot, and dark environment will help you control whether you get fungus, or whether it returns after treatment.
To speak plainly, you aren’t going to catch fungus in your bathroom, from your significant other, or from a locker room shower. (You can catch a wart that way, but that’s a different episode). It can spread from athlete’s foot, as the fungus that causes athlete’s foot can also cause toenail fungus. Athlete’s foot and toenail fungus are both “grown” and “prevented” by controlling the environment around your foot and toes. Keep them dry, not too hot, and in light colored, breathable socks and shoes and you will control as much as possible whether or not you get fungus infections.
As always, I am not your doctor and did not examine your feet. To determine if your skin or nail condition is fungus or something else, please visit your local podiatrist.