Preventing nail fungus • Caring for your feet properly

Healthy nails are the best protection against infections like nail fungus. How to properly care for your hands and feet and what you should consider when doing manicures and pedicures if you already have nail fungus.

Careful care of the hands and feet not only protects the skin, but also fingernails and toenails from drying out. Cracks that easily become infected with bacteria and fungi are prevented. Especially if you are currently fighting a nail fungus disease, you should not neglect skin and nail care!

Prevent nail fungus? That's how it's done!

Applying cream prevents nails from drying out

Applying cream to the feet and hands should always extend to the nails. This keeps them supple and protects them from drying out. Cracks, as they often occur with dry skin, should be avoided at all costs. They otherwise serve as a gateway for nail fungi and bacteria.

Creams with a high proportion of moisture-binding additives such as urea (urea) are particularly beneficial for skin and nail care. Conventional and usually cheaper body creams are also suitable for hands and feet, provided that they can be distributed well and are quickly absorbed. In the case of cracks (Rhagaden), ointments with urea or ointments can also be applied.

Treat nail fungus properly

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Maintain cuticles particularly well

Special attention should be paid to the skin around the nail. It is particularly sensitive and prone to injury. In addition, nail fungus preparations can lead to redness and scaling.

In order to keep the cuticles supple, you should always apply cream or treat them with care oil: Dip a cotton swab in wheat germ or almond oil, for example, and coat the sensitive areas around the nail with it.

Nail hardener instead of color varnish: Stable nails are less susceptible to nail fungus

Nail hardeners are particularly suitable for relatively thin nails that tear frequently. Strong nails are much better protected against minor injuries in which pathogens such as fungi easily nest.

Recognize nail diseases: What longitudinal grooves and Co. mean

Recognize nail diseases: What longitudinal grooves and Co. mean

Cosmetic varnishes are better avoided if you have an existing nail fungus disease. Regular painting and the associated use of aggressive nail polish removers dry out the nail surface and reduce its resistance.

Instead, nails are treated with fungal ointments, tinctures or a medical varnish that is applied daily. Because it is water-soluble, it does not form a cover layer, but penetrates deep into the nail with its active ingredient.

Cosmetic embellishments for nail fungus are not only an additional stress factor for the nail. There is also a risk that the paint brush will transfer the fungal pathogens from sick nails to healthy ones. Under no circumstances should the bottle of nail polish be shared with other people, as the risk of germs spreading over the paint brush would then be very high.

Artificial nails unsuitable for nail fungus

Nail fungus causes unsightly discoloration and deformation on the nail surface. The desire of those affected to cover the nail fungus with nail polish or artificial nails is understandable – but this only covers the fungal disease instead of treating it.

But even for healthy nails, artificial nails are associated with risks if used improperly. There is a risk that fungi will multiply in the smallest adhesive bubbles – especially if you intend to wear the artificial nails over a longer period of time. When detaching, it can happen that parts of your own nail are also torn off.

Optimal nail care: how it works

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Foot care against fungi: foot baths stimulate blood circulation

The feet are particularly susceptible to mycoses such as athlete's foot and nail fungus. In addition to daily washing or showering, a foot bath is recommended once or twice a week to stimulate blood circulation so that the skin is optimally supplied with nutrients. Additives from the drugstore or pharmacy, essential oils or a tablespoon of sea salt are suitable as additives for the foot bath.

After a shower or a foot bath, the feet and especially the spaces between the toes are carefully dried in order to prevent the development or spread of nail fungus. Afterwards, the feet are creamed in order to maintain the moisture of the skin.

Correctly remove the cornea from the feet

The function of the cornea is to protect the underlying foot tissue. However, if the layer becomes too thick, it can cause pain, especially if it tears and catches fire. Therefore, you should not let them grow excessively. There are numerous tools for cornea removal – for thicker layers of rasp or planes. However, their handling should be practiced so that injuries are not caused if the rasps are too deep. Pumice stones, foot files and diamond sponges are suitable for thin layers of the cornea.

When choosing foot care tools, care should be taken that they are easy to clean. Because adhering soap residues and skin particles are unsanitary and form a breeding ground for bacteria. In addition, pathogens from nail fungus and athlete's foot are carried away.

The biggest risk factors for nail fungus

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Good circulation through foot exercises and massage

In addition to the foot bath, a foot massage with oils or cream – starting with the toes over the sole of the foot and the back of the foot – stimulates the blood circulation. Don't forget the toenails here, so that these areas remain supple and are therefore more resistant to nail fungus.

Caution is advised with various aids that are available for foot massage. For example, massage rollers made of wood or metal should never be rolled crosswise over the bottom of the foot. Electrical massage aids are also of limited use. They must not be used for venous disorders and nerve inflammation. Do not share these items with other family members if you already have a fungal disease.

Reflexology is also very popular. They are based on the fact that there are areas ("reflex zones") on the soles of the feet that are connected to organs of the body. If these areas are massaged, the function of these organs can be positively influenced. However, foot experts advise you to be careful with this type of massage. It should only be carried out by specialist personnel, because if it is treated incorrectly or if it is used too intensely, it can do damage rather than help.

Walking barefoot and doing gymnastics prevent fungal diseases

Regular foot exercises can prevent fungal diseases because they ensure strong, well-circulation and flexible feet and prevent malpositions – one of the risk factors for foot and nail fungus.

Simple exercises:

  • alternate walking on the tips of the toes and heels
  • try to spread your toes like a fan
  • pick up various objects from the floor with your feet

Whenever possible – especially in summer, of course – walking barefoot on different surfaces should be preferred. The feet are strengthened by themselves. Barefoot walking also offers a break from constricting footwear. Don't overdo it, start with short barefoot phases. Otherwise, inexperienced foot muscles will quickly become overwhelmed.

When for medical foot care?

Anyone who often suffers from foot problems or belongs to a risk group, such as diabetics, should seek professional help. In contrast to cosmetic podiatrists, medical podiatrists, also referred to as professional podiatrists, are able to recognize or prevent illnesses on the foot through special training.

Podiatrists treat ingrown nails, cornea and cracks (Rhagaden) and are authorized to remove corns or warts. In addition, the medical podiatrist will give you instructions for proper pedicure at home.

Proper care against nail fungus: the most important tips

  • To cut Your nails carefully so that a small white border remains.

  • Avoid injuries! The cuticle is particularly sensitive. If necessary, push it back gently with a wooden stick. Rounded nail scissors and files are best suited for cutting the nails. Natural pumice stone is ideal for removing the cornea on the feet.

  • All Maintenance tools such as scissors, files or rasp should be cleaned after use and disinfected if necessary. Disposable files are suitable for nail care at home, especially if a family member is infected with nail fungus.

  • Refrain from existing nail fungus infection cosmetic varnishes and artificial nails. Instead, apply a medical varnish daily.

  • Pay attention when choosing Beauty salons on hygiene.

  • Footbaths should not exceed five minutes and the temperature should not exceed 37 degrees Celsius. After a long bath, the skin can crack when it dries. It is important to carefully dry the feet, also in the spaces between the toes, to prevent athlete's foot and nail fungus.

  • To the Apply cream moisturizers without fragrances and alcohol are suitable. In the case of very dry skin, special creams and care foams with a urea content of five to ten percent should be used.

  • Foot gymnastics, foot massages and Kneipp baths promote blood circulation in the feet, strengthen them and keep them healthy.

  • Professional medical foot care: In the case of reduced pain sensation and corneal thickening on the feet, treatment by a specialized pedicurist makes sense. Even those who cannot do foot control and care on their own should not be afraid to seek the help of a relative or professional medical foot care.