Softening and grooming fungal nails is an essential part of toenail maintenance when your nails are infected. Toenail infections can manifest in a variety of ways, which can have both functional and aesthetic consequences. It is important to understand these signs and symptoms for a few reasons. One, identifying toenail fungus early can help aid in the sometimes frustrating treatment process. Because fungus grows quickly, the earlier you receive treatment for it, the better. Additionally, understanding the cause of your concerns can help maintain the condition of your nails while you are waiting to receive treatment or see results. 

Nail hygiene is an important part of general hygiene practices. Toenail hygiene includes regularly washing the toes to remove dirt, grime, and other things from underneath the nail. Trimming the nails is also an essential part of nail hygiene. When the toenails aren’t trimmed regularly, they can become excessively long. Long toenails can become uncomfortable and unsightly. The nails can start to push up against your shoes as you walk, which can be a cause of pain and discomfort. Additionally, the nails can start to curl underneath your toe, causing more issues. When the nails get excessively long, they can start to irritate the skin of the toe. The nails are also more prone to breakage, potentially creating sharp edges that could form an ingrown toenail. 

When nail grooming tools are used on fungal nails, microscopic fungal spores can attach to the surface of the tool. They can then infect anybody who uses the tools afterward. Toenail fungus is very contagious, so once this contamination occurs, it will spread quickly to anyone sharing the tools.

The best way to avoid this is to have individual nail grooming tools for each person and not share them at all. Since the fungus can be invisible under the nails, this is the most cautious way to avoid ever-spreading fungus. If you must share nail tools, you should disinfect them between each use. There are a few ways to do this. One way is to carefully boil the nail tools and then disinfect them with rubbing alcohol. Another method involves soaking the tools in a dilute solution of bleach (at least 9 parts water to 1 part bleach). This method should be done carefully, since inhaling bleach fumes can be damaging.

Professional salons use a few different methods to sterilize nail tools between uses. Barbicide is a liquid disinfectant that can be used to clean nail tools. UV Light can also be used to eliminate fungi and bacteria on the surface of tools. Any nail salon you go to should clearly sanitize its tools between customers.

Trimming fungal toenails is essential for their maintenance. However, this is often impossible for people to do because of the condition of their toes. This is because the symptoms of toenail fungus can make trimming the nails difficult. When nails become excessively thick, it can be hard to even get your nail clippers to fit around the nail. Thickened nails are also mechanically more difficult to cut since the nail clippers have to slice through more nail material. Finally, the nail fungus can actually cause the toenails to become more hardened than normal. This means that even if the toenail is the same thickness as normal, the nail can still be more difficult to cut.

Softening fungal toenails is, therefore, an important step in their maintenance. The good news is that this isn’t hard to do at home. In fact, some of the most effective nail softening techniques can be done very easily with just a few basic ingredients. The best thing to do if you have hardened or thickened toenails is to soak them regularly in a bath of warm water. The purpose of this is for the toenails to absorb the water and become easier to cut. Simply fill a bathtub or other container with enough warm water to submerge your feet, and let them sit for 20-40 minutes. To enhance the experience, you can add Epsom salts to the water. If you would like to make the experience even more enjoyable, try lighting a candle or reading a book in the meantime. This will make the softening process something you can even learn to enjoy!

Proper grooming and softening play a critical role in managing toenail fungus. Fungal infections affect more than appearance; they often change the structure, thickness, and strength of the nail. As the infection progresses, nails can become thick, hard, brittle, and difficult to trim. These changes create both cosmetic concerns and functional problems.

Early identification and consistent maintenance make a significant difference. When you recognize symptoms such as thickening or hardening early, you can begin appropriate care sooner and prevent the condition from worsening. Regular grooming also helps control excessive nail growth while you pursue treatment.

Thickened fungal nails present unique challenges. Standard nail clippers may not fit around the nail, and cutting through hardened nail material requires more force. In some cases, the nail becomes dense and rigid even without dramatic thickening, making trimming uncomfortable or nearly impossible.

Allowing nails to grow too long creates additional problems. Overgrown nails can press against shoes, cause pain while walking, irritate surrounding skin, and increase the risk of breakage or ingrown toenails. Long, brittle nails may also crack or develop sharp edges.

Softening the nail before trimming makes maintenance safer and easier. Regularly soaking your feet in warm water helps loosen and hydrate the nail plate, reducing resistance during clipping. Consistent hygiene, including washing, drying thoroughly, and trimming nails straight across, supports overall nail health and prevents secondary issues.

Maintaining thick fungal nails requires patience, but proper grooming significantly reduces discomfort and complications.

Softening fungal toenails can only be permanently done with an FDA-approved treatment administered by a licensed podiatrist. To avoid needing to soak your feet every time you trim them for the rest of your life, you will need to eliminate the root cause of the hardening and thickening. The best treatment available is the PinPointe laser, which typically requires only one treatment to eliminate the fungus. After this treatment, a new healthy nail will grow behind the old damaged one. This new nail will be softer and easier to cut. To schedule a consultation with a licensed podiatrist for the PinPointe laser, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.