Nail fungus and nail clippers go hand in hand. If you are getting treated for nail fungus, the last thing you want is to get reinfected. Or infect your family members with your used nail clippers. Because of this reason, you should always make sure to properly sterilize your tools after every use. In fact, it is even possible to have a fungal infection but be unaware of it. You should be sterilizing your clippers regardless.
How Can I Sterilize My Nail Clippers?
- Water and rubbing alcohol: First, soak your clippers in a bowl specifically reserved for this purpose, with some boiling hot water and dish soap for about 30 minutes. For a thorough clean, scrub the tools with an old toothbrush to scrape off any lingering fungus or bacteria. Then soak a paper towel in rubbing alcohol (at least 70% concentration) and wipe down the instruments. If you would like to opt for 90% alcohol, use gloves as they can be hard on your skin. Finish by drying off with a fresh paper towel. Alternatively, you can even opt to soak your tools in 70% alcohol instead of water and dish soap.
- Bleach: Bleach is incredibly effective at killing pathogens, and as such works well as a disinfectant against fungi and bacteria. Make a 9:1 dilution of bleach with water, and soak your tools in this solution, making sure that the tools are completely covered with the solution. After soaking for about 30 minutes, use the toothbrush as instructed above and wipe off any remaining liquid with a paper towel. (Note: handle bleach with care, since it is very corrosive to the skin!).
Other methods that are not so common
- Barbicide: Barbicide is a type of disinfectant that is used by professional barbers and nail salons to disinfect their hair and nail tools, and you can use them in a similar fashion to disinfect your nail clippers. Barbicide is available at different concentrations, so follow the instructions on the packaging for the particular concentration that you purchase. Hospital-grade disinfectants can be a substitute for Barbicide.
- UV Lights: UV lights can be a worthwhile purchase for long-term use in disinfecting your nail tools. Expose your tools to the UV light for about 45 minutes to kill any existing fungus or fungal spores, as well as bacteria.
Once you have sterilized your nail tools, make sure they are completely dry and store them in a sealed container or ziplock bag until the next use.
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed. This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication.
Our nail doctor in Gainesville, FL recommends this treatment for Toenail Fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, it is not painful.
If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
