Nail polish and onychomycosis

[Simone Lee]

Just wondering if there is any evidence that links heavy use of toenail polish and fungal nails?
I have treated a few ladies who use nail polish and complain of recurrent infections after using Lamisil oral.
Thanks
Simone

[Admin]

Not aware of any evidence (dosen't mean there is none), but it pretty standard advice:
Give up nail polish and artificial nails. Although it may be tempting to hide nail fungal infections under a coat of pretty pink polish, this can trap unwanted moisture and worsen the infection.http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00084.html
Moisture collecting underneath the surface of the toenail would ordinarily evaporate, passing through the porous structure of the nail. The presence of an artificial nail or a polish impedes that, and the water trapped below can become stagnant and unhealthy, ideal for fungi and similar organisms to thrive.http://www.foothealthfdn.org/fungalnails.htm

[John Spina]

Well,I have at least one patient who had nail salon syndrome after she had her nail "mangled" by a nail tech.SHE WILL NOT TAKE LAMISIL!I gave her a topical w/osuccess. I also told her do not apply nail polish.

[dsfeet]

ive had lots of patients get fungal finger nails from nail techs , seems to be more from sharing the use of nail files from one patient to the next.
nail polish although dont know of any empirical evidence base studies but from a propositional knowledge viewpoint, i feel nail polish (when continuing used) does encourage fungal elements and nail discoloration

[tracyd]

Hi

One question I would ask the patients is if they used that same nail polish on their nails when they actually had the infection.

It could be possible fungal elements are living in the brush of the nail polish and therefore reinfecting the nail???

[Scorpio622]

ive had lots of patients get fungal finger nails from nail techs , seems to be more from sharing the use of nail files from one patient to the next.

I tell my patients who wish to continue with pedicures to purchase their own set of instruments and take them to the salon. Sterilization is then never an issue.

[R.E.G]

A few years ago a company called LCN was promoting a synthetic nail system to Pods in the UK.

They claimed it would cure fungal nails. I never saw the evidence for the claim and in line with the arguments above thought the opposite.

Anyone use it or have an update?

Another recent post was for the Klenz 'nano silver' machine. Tried it it did work. One of the sales pitches is it is effective against fungal spores. My understanding is that nanosilver is not active against fungus, but the machine also generates ozone and ozone is. Would this be a useful tool for pedicurists?

Bob

[footsiegirl]

the main problem with nail polish , and more specifically acrylic nails, is that is weakens the nail and also creates a space between the acrylic and the weakened nail, to harbour moisture, thus providing a good environment for fungal growth

[cornmerchant]

tracyd


Logically, could a fungal spore survive in a nail brush on a diet of nail varnish? I dont know, but what I do know that is women who wear their nail varnish for extended periods of time seem to develop disclouration that is not necessarily fungal, but sometimes a very superficial white mycosis which often left without treatment seems to grow out by itself. Just my own observations.Is it more a case of the occlusive nature of the nail varnish trapping the fungal spores underneath allowing them to get to work in secret?
Cornmerchant

[hamish dow]

Here is a suggestion; advise a rest period from the varnish and debridement of the nail with tungsten carbide burs instead of grit types. the TC bur shaves the nail rather than chew up the surface, then advocate extensive use of surface applications. If there is a huge urge to paint again suggest that it is removed after 24-48 hours and allowed to rest again and never reapply immediately after a bath or showe, allow time to thoroughly dry out defore reapplication