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| Mold
- pseudomonas bacteria Although this is commonly called nail fungus…it is not one. Caused by the pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, the infection results in a yellow-green, green or green black stain. Advanced symptoms are pus and separation of the nail plate This is a water borne bacteria, which means it is transmitted through water and thrives in a warm moist environment. It occurs so commonly with artificial nails because when artificial product lifts, moisture can seep in between the product and the natural nail bed. On top of the nail this is a primary infection caused by the moist pocket At other times, it occurs under the natural nail and is considered a secondary infection, which means the bacteria did not cause the separation, it just took advantage of it. |
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| Treatments Bacteria infections can be treated very easily. A commonly used home remedy is a vinegar soak. Mix clear apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water (straight vinegar works as well) Soak the affected fingers a couple times a day for 5 minutes or more. The vinegar soak is good for your cuticles and a good preventive medicine so you may soak all your nails whether they are affected or not with no harm to your artificial nails. Once the bacteria or fungus infection clears up you should continue the soaks if you are prone to these infections If the infection is a true fungal infection (which is different than what is listed above) this normally requires a doctors care... however the vinegar soaks combined with one or two over the counter fungal remedies may do the trick. Listed below are a few of the choices we have for remedies in the professional nail care market. The products are available at your local salon. |
| Fungus
Infections A New Era in the Fight Against Fungus a partial reprint from Nails Magazine 1/96 Fungal infections of the nails have always been tough to treat, with available medications that were either too weak or too toxic. A new generation of treatments may finally turn the tide. At least 50% of all nail disorders are related to fungus infections and an estimated 25%-40% of the elderly population have some form of nail fungus infection. Though not life-threatening, this disorder is a major problem. Antibiotics, illness, injury and cortisone preparations increase a persons risk of fungal infections. A fungus is a microorganism derived from the plant family; it is a relative of the mushroom. Fungal infections differ from bacterial and viral infections that can affect the nails in that fungal infections are chronic, not tender, slow-growing, and localized. Bacterial and viral infections, on the other hand, are acute, tender, grow rapidly, and are blood borne, meaning they can affect more than one part of the body. (This is not to be confused with the Superficial Bacterial Infection that occurs on top of the nail plate surface between an artificial nail coating and the nail, see mold or bacterial infections). |
| Fungus Fungus - A true fungal infection of the nail is called onychomycosis. The most common type of fungal infection of the nail begins with a small separation between the end of the nail and the nail bed. Many fungus infections start as an innocent bang and separation. It is very important to keep this clean and dry. Do not poke things under your nail to clean it. You should not apply product to a fungal nail until it is healed. When the infection begins at the cuticle it is called proximal subungual onychomycosis. Soft yellow material gradually builds up in the separation and the nail will thicken and yellow. Untreated the disease will progress toward the matrix resulting in a partially destroyed nail. There are approx. 100,000 identified species of fungi, but only about 100 of them infect humans and animals, and only about 8 of those infect the nails. |
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Fungus - Dermatophytes Are a highly specialized group of fungi that break down keratin and absorb its nutrients. Just one dermatophyte (trichophyton rubrum), is responsible for most of the fungal infections of the nails. |
| Fungus - Yeast Are another specialized segment of the fungi kingdom that survive on sugar rather than keratin. Yeast infections can develop under the proximal nail fold and as a secondary infection between artificial product and the nail bed This condition is called paronychia. |
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Fungus - Yeast - Paronychia I have seen many of these in one form or another in my career, you will recognize it as slightly red or puffy cuticles. This is diagnosed primarily in people that have their hands in water: Housewives, Doctors, Nurses Bartenders, Dishwashers etc… It can also be caused by the use of unsanitary implements or by aggressive pushing or cutting of the cuticle. Chronic cases of paronychia, that occur continually over a long period of time cause permanent damage to the nail plate. The infection to the left is extreme |
| Yeast infections and pseudomonas bacterial infections are closely associated with artificial nails, but artificial nails don’t cause fungal infections » Richard K. Scher, M.D. Remember... Fungal spores are present everywhere in the environment including on the skin. To infect nails they must have a portal of entry. The portal is normally caused by a trauma, injury or allergic reaction to nail products, which causes a small separation of the nail plate from the nail bed and allows fungus to move in under the nail. Fungal infections are not very contagious. They can be transmitted but it is not easily done. We do recommend that when working on any nail disorder that the nail technician dispose of any files or non sanitizable implements for piece of mind |
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| See products that are used to cure fungus and bacteria infections |
