Pedicure with Toe Fungus: Precautions for Safe Salon Visits

Pedicure with Toe Fungus: Safe Precautions to Take

Toenail fungus is an unsightly and often embarrassing issue that around 10% of people will experience at some point in their lives. The temptation for those with fungal toenail infections to get a pedicure is understandable. After all, pedicures clean up the appearance of the feet and toenails.

However, having a pedicure when you have active toenail fungus does require some special precautions. Getting a pedicure with toenail fungus can be done safely as long as steps are taken to prevent spreading the infection and to properly care for your feet afterward.

Dangers of Spreading Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is primarily caused by dermatophyte fungi of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum. It can spread via:

• Direct contact with an infected nail
• Contact with pieces of infected nail or skin
• Contact with objects contaminated with fungus

Pedicure tools such as clippers, files, foot baths, and foot stools can all harbor fungal spores and contribute to transmission. Some risks include:

• Spreading the infection to your healthy nails
• Spreading the infection to other clients via shared tools
• Exacerbating the fungal infection by damaging or irritating nails

Finding a Pedicure Salon that Uses Proper Protocols

The first step to safely getting a pedicure with toenail fungus is finding a reputable salon that follows proper sanitization and disinfection techniques. Look for a salon that:

• Disinfects all tools and Foot baths between clients
• Uses autoclave sterilization for metal tools like clippers and files
• Requires staff to wash hands between clients
• Does not re-use buffers, stones, or flip flops between clients
• Uses single-dose creams, lotions, and scrubs

Reading online reviews can help identify salons known for stellar sanitation practices. Avoid any salons with reports of nail infections post-pedicure.

Disclosing Your Toenail Fungus Before Booking

Once you find a promising pedicure salon, call them in advance to disclose that you have contagious toenail fungus. Responsible salons will appreciate this transparency so they can take appropriate precautions.

The salon may ask you to come at the very end of the day and may charge an extra sanitization fee. They may even recommend rescheduling your appointment until the toenail fungus has been treated and resolved.

Precautions to Use at the Beginning of Your Pedicure

When you arrive for your pedicure with toenail fungus, remind the staff again about your condition. Suggest the following precautions be taken:

• Provide you with fully disinfected tools only used on you
• Skip the foot bath soak to avoid possible contamination
• Give you fresh disposable foam toe separators
• Sanitize the pedicure chair and footstool thoroughly

For extra protection, bring your own pedicure kit including files, clippers, lotions etc. to avoid any risk from shared supplies.

Request Limited Filing and Clipping

Request very minimal filing or clipping of your infected toenails during your pedicure. The goal should be tidying up and polishing the toenails, not aggressively thinning or trimming them.

Removing too much infected toenail can injure the nail bed and lead to bleeding. This provides an entry point for the fungus to worsen. Filing also produces flying nail particles that disperse fungal spores into the air.

Ask the pedicurist to leave your toenails a little longer to avoid cutting into infected parts. Light surface filing is okay if needed to even out rough edges before polishing.

Skipping the Cuticle Cutting

Have the pedicurist avoid cutting or pushing back your toenail cuticles. The cuticle area harbors fungal spores and manipulating them risks spreading the infection from one toe to another.

If your cuticles are very overgrown, just trimming off hangnails is better than a full cuticle cut and push. Leaving cuticles intact also helps avoid opening a portal for bacteria to enter.

Be Selective About Scrubs, Lotions and Polish

When it comes to pedicure scrubs, lotions, masks and polish, the products used on infected nails matter:

• Scrubs: Avoid - may damage fragile nails
• Lotions: Choose antifungal formulas
• Paraffin dips: Skip - moist heat encourages fungal growth
• Polish: Opt for antibacterial, UV-protectant formulas

Applying an antifungal polish is ideal for helping prevent worsening of the infection after the pedicure.

Care at Home After Your Pedicure

Once your pedicure is completed, maintain diligent at-home care of your toenail fungus:

• Wash feet twice daily using antibacterial soap
• Apply topical antifungal lacquers or oils daily
• Use an antifungal or tea tree oil foot powder inside shoes
• Disinfect bathroom surfaces and pedicure tools
• Avoid picking at nails, even if new polish chips
• See your doctor if the infection seems to worsen

Staying on top of treatment and hygiene will help prevent exacerbating the fungal infection after your pedicure.

Medical Treatments for Recurring Toenail Fungus

While adopting sound hygiene practices is key after a pedicure with toenail fungus, medical intervention is often needed to fully eradicate a fungal nail infection.

Some prescription and professional treatments options include:

Oral Antifungal Medication

Pills like terbinafine or itraconazole are the most effective way to cure fungal nail infections from the inside out. Oral medication carries a risk of side effects like nausea or liver problems.

Laser Therapy

Laser treatments applied in a podiatrist's office use focused light beams to target and eliminate fungal cells in the nail.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

This combines laser application with a photosensitizing chemical applied to the nails to enhance the anti-fungal effects of the light therapy.

Medicated Nail Polish or Lacquers

Antifungal polish and lacquers contain amorolfine or ciclopirox and work by penetrating the nail to get directly at the infection.

Nail Removal

As a last resort, severely infected toenails may need to be partially or completely removed surgically to eradicate the stubborn fungal infection.

Discuss these options with your dermatologist or podiatrist to determine the best treatment plan for your type and severity of toenail fungus.

Preventing Reinfection After Pedicure

Preventing recurrence of toenail fungus after getting a pedicure involves good hygienic practices, including:

• Wear shower shoes in public areas
• Disinfect home pedicure tools between uses
• Throw out old pumice stones, nail files, buffers

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.