It’s not technically spring yet, but it is just around the corner, which means many people are starting to think about their spring cleaning. Most people use this opportunity to clean out and donate stuff they no longer use. After all, “sharing is caring.” Of course, sharing infections like fungal toenails is not caring! Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to spread fungus to people you care about.
The pathogen that causes toenail fungus is contagious. It thrives in warm, damp, enclosed environments and passes easily from contaminated surfaces to your feet—and back again. This means if you have fungal nails, your socks and shoes do, too, along with any other surface where you may have walked barefoot. Bathroom floors, tubs, and showers in your own home are particularly likely to be contaminated. Your sheets and any towels you use to dry your feet have a high risk as well. This makes the infection all too easy to pass on to loved ones.
Some simple preventative habits, however, can help keep your family members healthy. Here are a few ways you can prevent the spread of fungus while you work on eliminating your own infection:
Don’t share footwear – Don’t let others borrow your shoes or socks. The pathogen that causes the infection may be festering in them.
Don’t walk barefoot – Avoid walking barefoot around your home. This way the infection is less likely to transfer to other surfaces.
Clean contaminated surfaces – Clean at-risk places like bathrooms and showers frequently. This helps eliminate any potential problems that could be passed on to your loved ones.
Use anti-fungal spray or powder – It’s important to treat your own feet to eliminate the problem, but encouraging your family, particularly any children, to pre-treat with anti-fungal spray or powder can stop the spread of fungus as well.
These simple steps can limit the likelihood that you will pass the pathogen on to your loved ones. That way, as you get help for your own toenail fungus, you don’t have to worry that someone else in your family will catch it. Let Absolute Foot Care Specialists in Las Vegas help you both eliminate the problem for your own toes, as well as prevent the spread of fungus around your home. Call (702) 839-2010 or use the website to make an appointment with us.
