Toenail fungus risk from pedicures is common. In our last blog post, we talked about the risks of going to nail salons. Taking the time to check the nail salons and the technician’s credentials helps you prevent fungal infections. However, you are still not completely safe from infections when you get pedicures done. Nothing will make you 100% safe from fungal infections. If your feet or toes hurt after a pedicure, something is definitely wrong. 

There’s nothing like a fresh pedicure to help your feet feel pampered and ready for sandals, especially in sunny Orlando, where open-toe weather is year-round. But have you ever wondered, “Can a pedicure cause or make toenail fungus worse?”

The reality is that improper salon practices or bad at-home pedicure habits can contribute to fungal nail infections or make an existing infection worse. Here’s what you need to know to keep your nails healthy while still enjoying the self-care you deserve in Florida’s warm climate.

How Pedicures Can Lead to Nail Fungus

Nail fungus thrives in warm, moist environments, making salons and foot baths potential hotspots if they aren’t properly cleaned. Here are common ways nail fungus can spread:

  • Unsanitized Foot Baths
    If foot baths aren’t cleaned thoroughly between clients, fungal spores can live in the water and transfer to your feet.

  • Shared Tools
    Nail clippers, nail files, and buffers can spread fungus from one person to another if they aren’t properly sterilized between uses.

  • Aggressive Cuticle Cutting
    Cuticles protect the nail bed. Cutting or pushing them back too harshly can create tiny openings for fungus to enter.

  • Polish Bottles Used on Multiple Clients
    The brush from a shared polish bottle can pick up fungal spores from one person and transfer them to the next.

  • At-Home Pedicure Risks
    Even at home, using dirty tools, soaking feet in reused water, or cutting cuticles too closely can increase your risk.

Once fungus enters the nail, it can be stubborn. A fungus infection leads to brittle, discolored nails that are difficult to treat without professional help.

An individual sitting by the waterfront, inspecting their foot.

How to Enjoy Pedicures Safely

You don’t have to give up pedicures forever to protect your nail health. Here’s how to reduce your risk:

  • Choose a Clean, Licensed Salon
    Look for salons that use hospital-grade sterilization and disposable liners in foot baths.

  • Avoid Shaving Before Pedicures
    Shaving can create tiny cuts on your legs, making it easier for fungus to enter.

  • Say No to Aggressive Cuticle Cutting
    Ask your technician to gently push back cuticles rather than cutting them.

  • Use Flip-Flops in the Salon
    Avoid letting your bare feet touch communal surfaces.

  • Consider Skipping Polish During Treatment
    If you’re dealing with a fungal infection or undergoing treatment, keeping nails bare helps you monitor progress and keeps the area clean.

Pedicure

Pedicures During Laser Nail Therapy

If you’re undergoing laser nail therapy, it’s best to keep nails clean and free of polish during treatment. This ensures the laser light can effectively reach the fungus under the nail. At our clinics, we use the PinPointe™ FootLaser® because it is a safe, effective, and medication-free option that targets the fungus right where it lives: underneath the nail plate. The laser can do all of this without harming the surrounding skin or tissue. Many patients find that laser treatment is the most convenient and reliable alternative treatment compared to oral medications. Especially if you want to avoid harmful side effects or interactions with other medications.

We also recommend:

  • Continue good foot hygiene, including drying your feet thoroughly and using antifungal sprays or powders in your shoes.

  • Wearing moisture-wicking socks and breathable shoes to prevent reinfection.

A Podiatrist Uses A Specialized Tool To Treat A Foot Ailment after a pedicure

Step-by-Step Pedicures at Salons Protocol

  1. Technicians remove old nail polish with nail remover. Then soften the nails and cuticles with a foot bath.
  2. Technicians use a metal or orange stick to clean the hyponychium to get rid of any debris.
  3. Technicians use cuticle remover or other instruments to remove cuticles.
  4. If there are any stains on the nail, they may apply a bleaching agent. And if there is any ridging on the nail plate, they may buff the nail.
  5. Then, nail technicians apply a base coat, nail polish, and topcoat to the nails.

Here we see a possible problem. The hyponychium and cuticle that are removed in steps 2 and 3 provide waterproof protection, which seals the nail from infection and the outside world. Removing these barriers could cause inflammation, Toenail fungus/bacteria/virus infection, and separation of the nail plate and nail bed.

Additionally, we also have to be careful with the infection from the multi-use instruments, such as nail clippers and cuticle nippers. The CDC considers these instruments as “critical items” that are associated with a high risk of infection.

Although the sterilization of these instruments is crucial, not all nail salons follow a recommended protocol. Also, there are not enough state inspectors to monitor the numerous salons across the US to make sure they are following sanitation guidelines.

For these reasons, it is important for people, especially those who are prone to getting nail infections or other conditions, to purchase and bring their own instruments to their salon so that the risk of infection decreases.

“Medi-Pedi”

These days, many physicians are opening up medical-based pedicure salons. Those salons are safer infection-wise and are preferable for those with a higher risk of nail infection, such as people with diabetes, thin blood, or immunocompromised patients etc.

Choose your salon wisely and keep yourself from nail infections.

Pedicure Break?

When you get a keratin granulation, the best thing to do is to take a “pedicure break” before the symptom gets worse. Usually, you should keep yourself from getting a pedicure for at least three weeks, depending on how bad your condition is. If you keep wearing pedicures despite the condition, you may experience excessive dryness, discoloration, or ridging on your toenail.

Taking pedicure breaks has other bright sides as well. When you apply a pedicure, you have to remove it. And when you remove a pedicure, you usually use nail remover instead of using just water and soap. The overuse of a nail remover, which often contains acetone, can damage your nails by causing them to crack, dry, and peel.

Unhealthy Nails

These unhealthy toenails could be more susceptible to the outside environment, where there are thousands of fungi and bacteria. In order to keep our toenails healthy, pay good attention to them. To do that, don’t leave the pedicure for a long time, and consider taking a pedicure break once in a while.

We Offer Free Consultations to Help You Protect Your Nail Health

If you’re unsure whether your nail changes are due to fungus or if you want to explore safe and effective treatment options, we’re here to help. At our clinics in the Orlando metropolitan area, we offer free consultations with our foot doctors, who can:

  • Examine your nails to confirm whether you have a fungal infection.

  • Discuss your pedicure habits and how to adjust them for healthier nails.

  • Explain the benefits of laser nail therapy and provide treatment with the PinPointe™ FootLaser® for clear, healthy nails.

Why did I get infected?

Because pedicures can be invasive, you might get some cuts or grazes on your feet. If you get a cut or graze during your pedicure, the technician should stop immediately because this makes you vulnerable to infections. The wound should be cleaned with a saline solution, patted dry, and covered with a sterile bandage.

If the bottoms of your feet are sore, tender, or itchy, you might be developing athlete’s foot. You should treat this immediately before it gets worse and spreads. This can spread to the nails and cause toenail fungus. 

Early Signs of Toenail Fungus

After a pedicure, look out for ridges on your toenails. This is an early sign of developing toenail fungus. You wouldn’t be able to tell right away if you pick up an infection from a pedicure. Symptoms of toenail fungus don’t show up immediately upon contact.

If you want to avoid getting toenail fungus from pedicures, you can bring your own tools and polish to prevent contamination from other customers. You can also do your own pedicure at home. This is not only safer for your feet but also more affordable. Doing your own pedicure gives you control over how much pressure you put on your nails, lowering the risk of damage and infections.

If you have toenail fungus or its symptoms, contact us to schedule a FREE consultation with one of our doctors. We have over 150 clinics nationwide.

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 one 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 Orlando, 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, there’s no pain.

Don’t let nail fungus keep you from enjoying sandal season with confidence.

Contact us today at 800-672-0625 to schedule your free consultation and learn how to safely manage nail care while treating or preventing toenail fungus.