Whether you’re prone to toenail fungus, or you’ve never experienced it, there are typically dozens of questions to answer. Toenail fungus is far more common than most people realize. As a result, we tend to ignore the precautions until it’s too late.
Things we do in our everyday lives cause us to become exposed to these types of infections. More often than not, we let it go on for too long. A question that seems to be cropping up is as follows: can wearing nail polish cause toenail fungus?
So, before we can understand the effects of nail polish on fungus, let’s refresh our memories on how you get toenail fungus. Let’s understand how it can spread without proper care. You may find that nail polish can help, “if” you use the right type. And that’s why we strongly recommend using Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish if you want a quick cover-up that will also help to treat the condition.
Table of Contents:
Can Wearing Nail Polish Cause Toenail Fungus?
The basic cause is moisture getting trapped under the nail, so regular nail polish is likely to exacerbate the problem. A fungus can grow in a warm and dark environment. Granted, there are many different ways this can happen. A fungus doesn’t need sunlight to survive, so toenails, even more often than fingernails, provide the ideal environment.
A small cut or abrasion can be enough for a fungus to work its way in, d spread quickly. It allows the fungus to create a separation between the nail, and the nail bed, which can create more room for it to grow and spread.
The first sign is typically a small dot on the toenail. So, if you think you may have been in any situation that was ideal for toenail fungus to attach and grow, be sure to keep checking your nails for any possible signs. The sooner you can identify and treat a nail fungus, the less likely it is to spread. Keep in mind that it won’t go away on its own.
Standard Polishes Make a Problem Worse
Nail polish can’t cause fungus, so why are they talked about together? Well, polish doesn’t cause fungus, but it can lead to keratin granulation.
Nail polish is a sealant. By putting two coats on your toes, you’re locking in moisture. You’re creating a perfect seal around your toenail that doesn’t give the nail bed a chance to breathe. This gives the fungus an opportunity to spread since you’re creating an even darker and moister environment. Don’t use regular polish to cover up toenail fungus or use fake toenails to cover up the fungus.
The good news is that you don’t have to go without polish. Several medicated nail polishes can help your nails to look pretty, and keep away or treat toenail fungus.
How Antifungal Nail Polishes Help
Nail polish may get a lot of attention, but perhaps not the right kind of attention. There are types of nail polish specifically designed to help deal with the effects of toenail fungus. That’s right – you can wear nail polish and not have to worry about toenail fungus at all.
These types of polish are typically either labeled as medicated or antifungal. They are designed to take care of the infection that has got into the nail beds and is starting to spread. But, they work especially well on toenail fungus, not only to help hide it but of course, to heal it.
Medicated Polishes and Their Effectiveness
These polishes don’t force you to sacrifice on why you like nail polish – adding color and flair to your toenails. This Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish, for example, comes in ‘Positive Pink,’ so no one will ever know it’s a treatment.
So, what makes a medicated nail polish different from a regular polish? The proof is in the ingredients. You’ll find vitamins C & E for nail strength, as well as tea tree oil and amino acids from protein.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that you’ll find in most successful treatments, so it’s a good sign that it’s effective. The ingredients combine to bump up the antifungal and anti-infection factor in this polish. Plus, loads of colors can work for anyone.
Most Popular OTC Antifungal Polishes
This DaniPro Antifungal Infused Polish is another great option, utilizing antifungal undecylenic acid to help clear up toenail fungus. Its primary benefit is dealing with hardened, brittle, or even yellow nails as a result of polish or a fungus. And with plenty of great reviews to back it up, it’s sure to be a favorite. Plus, this polish should easily compare with any of your other favorite ‘standard’ polishes.
If you’re not necessarily looking for color, but still want that shine and healthy glow, there are also polishes for that. The Nu Wave Antifungal nail polish, for example, is a shiny topcoat. You can either use it on top of a colored medicated polish or its own for maximum results. It was created by several female podiatrists in the United States and has excellent reviews.
These polishes, especially the clear topcoat, can also work as a sort of barrier for your toenails. If you wear sandals or are in a public area that may put you more at risk of infection, the polish can work as a protective layer.
Steps to Take Before Applying Medicated Polish
- To make the most of a medicated polish, especially if you choose to wear it on a regular basis, amplify the effects with an additional treatment. This could involve using Omieria Labs treatment
- Make sure your nails are properly clipped/filed relatively short. This will allow the polish to get into the nail bed, treating the problem faster.
- Before you apply the polish, there are steps you can take. First, try taking a warm bath or shower, so everything is clean. This will also help to soften up the nail bed and the nails. Then, try a foot soak for 10-15 minutes in warm water, and even a bit of apple cider vinegar. This will encourage the softening process and will allow the polish to be absorbed.
Reasons to Delay the Application of Polish
Medicated nail polishes will work wonders on their own. If you’ve got toenail fungus, sometimes any polish can draw attention to your feet. This happens when your nails are hard and brittle, and can sometimes appear bumpy, so you don’t get an even coat. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to enhance the effect of the antifungal toenail polishes.
How Do Nail Polishes Affect Fungus?
Not all nail polishes are created equal. The problem arises with nail polish and toenail fungus when people are looking for a quick fix. It’s easy to think that applying a layer of regular nail polish will hide the problem, or cover it up. Unfortunately, it’s a short-sighted solution at best.
Toenail fungus causes the nail to become hard and rigid. In these instances, it’s nearly impossible to get a smooth coat of polish on the nail itself, which will likely draw even more attention to your toes. It’s best to avoid polish altogether (even perhaps medicated polish) if you have these deep ridges on your nails. Instead, focus on treating toenail fungus first.
Do Polishes Spread the Fungus?
The real problem with nail polish is that it becomes a catalyst for spreading the infection. Think about it – every time you put polish on your nail to get an even coat, what happens next? You put the brush back into the bottle of polish, and repeat. This makes it easy to contaminate the entire bottle.
From that point forward, if the polish has been contaminated, it could cause more problems. Even if your fungus eventually clears up, each time you use that particular nail polish, you could be spreading it. Medicated polishes are designed to fight back since the ingredients work to kill the fungus no matter what, even if it has touched the wand or brush, or the polish in the bottle. Unfortunately, standard nail polishes don’t have that feature.
Don’t Use Regular Polishes When Prone to Fungus
If you’ve used regular nail polish, throw it out after your fungus has cleared up. There’s a chance nothing would happen from using it again, but it’s too big of a risk. It can be a stubborn thing to get rid of, so lessening your chances of it coming back is a sensible option.
When you don’t wear polish, you’re giving your nail beds a chance to breathe. That allows some fresh air to circulate. Again, medicated polishes are different – it can help if you can get a bit of the medicated product in the nail bed. But, the same doesn’t go for regular polish. Instead, it works as a trap that will only continue to cause issues.
The Truth about Nail Polish and Toenail Fungus
Polish can work against your other efforts when treating fungus. Whether you’re using a home remedy, over-the-counter ointment, or even a prescribed treatment, that should be the main focus. More often than not, the polish will hinder the effects of the treatment.
Unless you’re able to use one of the medicated nail polishes, such as Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish, it’s a good idea to stay away from polishing your toes. Instead of trying to cover it up with a cosmetic product, and nothing else, focus on treatment instead. Once your toes are clear of any fungus or infection, you’ll be able to paint them and show them off. Here are some ways to clear up toenail fungus permanently.
