Toenail fungus is unpleasant. But, for most people, the worst part is its unsightliness.
Unfortunately, any way you look at it, it isn’t visually appealing. It can cause discoloration, hard, brittle nails, and can spread to other nails. So, it’s not surprising to see why people with toenail fungus try to cover it as best they can. If you need to decide if you should use fake toenails to cover fungus, there are things you should know.
Using acrylic toenails for a fungus simply won’t help in the long run. Can it ‘cover up’ the unsightly appearance of the nail? Sure, for a short time. But, when you’re considering fake nails, you should first know how toenail fungus is typically caused. Once you do, it’s easier to see why fake nails aren’t a real solution to the problem.
Unfortunately, they’re also a temporary fix that could create more problems.
Toenail fungus is most commonly caused when moisture gets trapped underneath the toenail. When the nails aren’t given a chance to ‘breathe,’ that moisture gets locked into the nail. The causes behind it could be anything from walking barefoot in a public shower, to wearing shoes and socks that are far too tight.
Table of Contents:
Is Using Fake Toenails to Cover Fungus a Good Option?
Can you put acrylic nails over fungus? Unfortunately, you probably shouldn’t. Think again, about the cause of nail fungus. If something as ‘harmless’ as a tight-fitting shoe can cause fungus, what might an acrylic nail do to help it? Putting a fake nail on top of an infected toenail will only trap the moisture in even more.
If you already have a fungus and cover it with an object that doesn’t allow it to ‘breathe,’ it will likely continue to grow and spread. Yes, a fungus can even grow underneath a fake nail, making them hard to remove.
There is a condition called ‘acrylic toenail fungus.’ Even if you don’t currently have a fungus, it’s not all that uncommon for acrylic or fake nails to cause one. Fake nails don’t allow anything to air out, and if any moisture gets trapped beneath the nail, a fungus can spread. If you’re prone to toenail fungus, it may be a good idea to stay away from fake nails altogether. Or, use them sparingly, giving your nails time to ‘air out’ in between.
It’s understandable that you might want to make your toenail fungus look better. But, that starts by properly treating it. Once you start on a solid treatment, you can look into more surface options for ‘covering’ it or hide the appearance of your toes.
How to Make Fungus Toenails Look Better
As stated above, the best way to make infected toenails look better is by treating them. Toenail fungus needs to be treated fully before just simply ‘covering’ it with something like acrylic nails.
There are ways of covering your nails. However, that won’t be so detrimental to the healing process. Let’s cover several treatment options and several additional options for covering the fungus toenails. Combined, you can help to fix the problem, and won’t have to deal with the embarrassment of ugly nails in the process.
Treatment Options for Toenail Fungus
If your nail fungus has spread, contact a podiatrist. They’ll be able to give you antifungal medication to take care of the problem. They may also offer tips for you on how to prevent the fungus from recurring.
There are several over the counter, and natural home remedies for toenail fungus, as well. One of the most popular solutions is tea tree oil. It has antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Applying it directly to the infected area(s) every day can begin to treat the problem immediately. You should notice your fungus diminish in just a few weeks.
Over-the-counter products specifically designed for toenail fungus also can work well. Probelle’s Antifungal Gel Nail Treatment, for example, is designed to penetrate the nail bed to take care of the fungus. It has a 94% success rate when used over a six-week period.
Use some form of treatment instead of just covering it up alone. Toenail fungus won’t just go away on its own unless it’s properly treated. In fact, you risk it spreading more and more the more you just ‘ignore’ it and try to cover it.
Nail Care for Fungus Toenails
While you’re treating the fungus, it’s important to practice proper hygiene with your nails. They may become hard and brittle due to the infection. However, there are specialized clippers available, designed to cut through even the toughest of nails. Keeping your nails well-trimmed can help to reduce the risk of the fungus spreading.
Another option is antifungal nail polish. Instead of applying acrylic or fake nails of any kind, a polish can be a great way to help your nails look great, without harming them. Polishes, like Dr.’s Remedy, can give you the sense of style you’re looking for, without trapping the fungus in the nail more than it already may be.
Be careful when it comes to using traditional nail polish. It’s not much different from fake nails in that it can block the toenail from getting the air it needs. Even antifungal polishes shouldn’t be used every day. But, it’s a better option than applying acrylic nails, and ‘trapping’ the fungus.
Covering Up Your Nails
If you’re utilizing some treatment option, but want to hide your nails quickly, the best thing you can do is cover them up. But, it’s important not to compromise on the health of the nail, in the process. If you’re looking for quick cover-up options, consider the following:
- Copper socks
- Close-toed shoes (breathable)
- Get a Pedicure
It’s important to note that not all salons will perform a pedicure on fungus toenails. If you find a salon that will make sure they trim the nail back as much as possible, and avoid using polish. If you give yourself a pedicure at home, you can use all the same treatments as you would in the nail salon. Plus, you can finish it off with a coat of antifungal polish. It’s a quick and effective way to not only help cover the fungus but get a bit of pampering to feel better about your situation.
How to Hide Toenail Fungus for Men
Most men don’t wear acrylic or fake nails of any kind. Most also don’t use nail polish, so even an antifungal polish isn’t exactly the best option for men trying to cover up a toenail fungus.
But, men are just as prone to fungus as women. So, how can you cover it up, and save yourself some embarrassment? Try following the first two bullet points in our list above. Shoes and socks that are breathable, and won’t trap moisture, can be your best bet. Be sure to spray your shoes with an antifungal spray after each use. That will help to ensure any fungus left inside the shoes is removed.
Taking care of your nails as a man is equally important. So, after making sure you clip the nails short, you can apply a coat of clear antifungal polish. No one will know about the polish, and you’ll be helping to heal the fungus at the same time.
The Right Solutions for Covering Toenail Fungus
It can be tempting to use fake nails to cover toenail fungus. It makes sense on paper, and may work as a temporary ‘fix.’ But, it won’t take long for either the fungus to continue growing underneath the nail, or for it to simply not show any signs of healing. You have to get to the root of the problem before being able to cover it up at all.
You shouldn’t use acrylic toenails to cover fungus. Instead, focus on healing the fungus first. From there, you can work on different options that can cover it up, starting with antifungal nail polish. From the right treatments, down to the right shoes and socks, taking care of your toenail fungus the right way is the best solution in the long run. Leave the acrylic nails for showing off your feet once your fungus has cleared up.
