Fingernail fungus, also known as onychomicosis is not as common as toenail fungus, but a large number of cases involve a history of nail biting. Why is this?

Let’s take a look at some of the causes of fungus appearance:

• Warm environments
• Finger injuries
• Poor nail health
• Moisture
• Lack of protection

Do you start seeing the connections? People who bite their nails multiply exponentially their chances to contract a fungal infection. The habit of constantly biting your nails not only does shorten them, but also will create from little to medium injuries in the skin surrounding the nail that leaves your skin unprotected and makes way for the fungus to enter freely into the nail bed area (the skin directly beneath the nail plate).

After leaving your skin natural protections so low, now it’s just a matter of just having the minimal contact with an infected surface to allow the fungus to spread as rapidly as it can. And you know what?

Nail fungus doesn’t go away easily!

In fact, it takes up to a year to recover fully from a nail fungus infection, even with the most potent (and possibly harmful) medicines available out there! Healing from nail fungus first involves the process of eliminating the fungus and then re-growing the entire nail - during these steps you must not skip a single day of treatment, whichever one you are using or you risk that the infection start spreading again. Not so fun huh?

So, how can you start preventing infections now?

First, you should start stopping nail biting. It’s a process that may take some time and learning new behaviours and ways to cope with stress and anxiety – the sooner you start, the better. While you are in your way for that goal here are some tips that might help you preventing coming in contact with an infected surface:

• Don’t keep your hands wet and moist a lot of time – these are places where the fungus LOVES to live in.
• If you work with water, wear protective gloves, they are a cheap solution to an expensive condition.
• Keep your hands and nails clean.
• Don’t share nail tools (nail clippers, nail files, etc.), and also if you go to a nail salon check that all the tools are properly cleaned.
• Don’t’ share hand towels or washcloths.

These are simple tips that may save you a lot of suffering, but remember always that the key component is to have a healthy nail, and that is not possible unless you stop hurting the skin by biting it. Also keep in mind that if you contract a nail fungus infections, the first step should be going to a professional that will give you the guidance to start a successful treatment.

Paolo Basauri invites you to learn more about Nail Biting Treatments and other information that will help you get rid of nail biting and understand this condition better. Remember that this is about changing habits and there is no quick solution to this.