NAIL FUNGUS vs PSEUDOMONAS BACTERIAL INFECTION

By Anita Ray,

Licensed Esthetician, Managing Manicurist

Do you know the difference between the “greenies” and nail fungus?  Most women who wear artificial nail enhancements believe that a dark spot on their nails, under the artificial overlay is a fungus.  The “greenies” start out as a faint yellowish discoloration under a gel or acrylic overlay.  Over time the yellowish discoloration gives way to a darker yellowish gold and eventually green all the way to black if left untreated.  If you, or your manicurist, have been told this is “fungus,” you have been misinformed. 

The light yellow to dark green discoloration is evidence of a pseudomonas bacterial infection localized under your artificial nail enhancement.  The good news about this pseudomonas infection is that it is an anaerobic bacterium.  As ugly as the infection appears, it is easily killed by removing the nail enhancement, and exposing the area to the air.

If this type of infection has been hidden under dark nail polish and has gone undetected until your “fill” appointment, it may be a dark enough green that it will leave a stain until that part of your nail grows out.  After removing the artificial nail enhancement, the nail should be cleansed with a product such as CND’s Scrub Fresh, or a mixture of acetone and 99% alcohol. The nail should then be lightly buffed with a fine grit file to gently remove the worst of the stain.  Even though some discoloration may remain, the bacteria have been killed by exposure to air.  It is safe to reapply your artificial nail product.

Nail fungus is a completely different story.  Nail fungal infection occurs when an injury or chronic irritation has led to a break in the hyponychium, i.e., the membrane which forms a seal between the underside of the nail and the nail bed.  Nail fungus first appears as a slightly yellowish discoloration beneath the nail.  If detected early it can sometimes be arrested by application of antifungal creams or oils applied directly to the end of the nail and under the free edge of the nail. If it goes undetected, or is ignored, gradual thickening of the nail, with a fibrous degradation in the integrity of the nail will occur over time, as well as a release of the nail from the nail bed.  Advanced fungal infection is very difficult to treat without oral antifungal medications, which can be hard on the liver, and in fact, the infection will often recur even with medicinal treatment.

In my experience as a manicurist I have only seen one case of a true nail fungal infection under a client’s fingernails.  She had never worn artificial product on her fingernails.  Her fungal infection occurred after an injury that damaged the hyponychium.  It was not treated at the time and once the fungus took hold under the nail, it could not be cleared up.

I have, however, seen many cases of fungus under toenails.  Most of the cases I have seen occur in the elderly.  The elderly often cannot reach their toenails to trim them and keep them smooth.  Also, the elderly often have no one to trim their nails for them.  As the toenails go uncut they become so long they begin to bump against the toebox in their shoes, the toes become sore and tender.  After time, the nail begins to lift away from the nail bed.  There you have the perfect recipe for fungal infection, i.e., chronic irritation, injury, and a dark damp environment.

If you have, or know of, an elder in need of help with their toenails, and you feel unable to take care of the toenails for them there are options to consider.  You can take your elder to a podiatrist’s office and they will cut their toenails without benefit of soaking and softening the nail, and without the TLC they would receive in a pedicure.  Radiant Day Spa’s manicurist has experience caring for the toenails of the elderly.  Give us a call and schedule an appointment for someone you know needs help.  They will appreciate you for it!

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