Is It Safe To Use Fake Nails To Hide Nail Fungus?

Even if you don’t live a particularly active lifestyle, a fungal infection can still find its way into your life. This can bring your typical lifestyle to a grinding halt. The appearance of your nails will usually discourage a person from living their life normally. No more pool or beach days with friends or family!

Brittle, yellow, and crumbling toenails are just some of the aggressive signs that you have a fungal infection under your nails and its understandable that this is something you would want to hide or cover up from others. Due to this, it has led you to seek the best solutions for both the appearance and treatment of your nails.

One of the most common ideas that people get is to just cover up and conceal their toes and feet with either shoes or fake (acrylic) nails. But is this actually helping and is it effective?

Acrylic nails are a common idea but one that can have severe impacts on your fungal infection. It’s like putting a bandaid on a broken bone sticking out of your skin. Did it cover up the issue? Yes, but did it fix it? No.

So, to clarify: Should you use fake nails to cover up toenail fungus?

No, if you have toenail fungus that is disrupting your quality of life, acrylic nails are not a logical solution if you want to guarantee a complete and total recovery.

Especially since men are more susceptible to get toenail fungus than women, acrylic toenails are not a realistic option even in 2019. With that being said, there are simple and straightforward treatments to cure toenail fungus which will be covered in this article.

Why Acrylic Toenails Are NOT Recommended?

Fungus thrives in moist and warm places which is no surprise why it is most common in areas such as our crotch and toes. There are a bunch of ways online to completely eradicate toenail fungus for good.

First and foremost, when battling toenail fungus, you want to allow your feet to breath. An infected toenail needs some reprieve and time to “breathe” to eliminate the conditions that are allowing fungi to grow.

And adding an acrylic nail to the situation brings a negative effect since it will be causing more dampness and trapping moisture. This will allow the fungus to grow even stronger and spread even faster.

On top of that, a fake toenail will prevent any treatments that you are putting on your nails to actually penetrate and get to the fungus. See, when a nail infection occurs, the discoloration is due to the nail bed generating fungus. It is already difficult enough for OTC treatments to penetrate fungus-ridden nails. Now imagine putting a shield (fake nail) on top of that. It would be nearly impossible to effectively treat toenail fungus.

When Can I Use Fake Nails?

Sometimes you might need a quick remedy that provides a temporary solution to your affected toenails’ less than ideal appearance. In certain instances, it is okay to use acrylic nails to cover up your fungal infection but please understand that it is not a long term solution.

In select cases, it is okay to use fake nails on your toenail fungus with the understanding that the fake nails will be removed hours later and to remain longer for a day. If you are in desperate need of covering up your toenails for a special occasion be sure to properly prep your feet and do not leave them on for very long, preferably only a few hours.

We highly advise against the use of fake nails on toenails with fungus but there will always be a select few that will disregard this or desperately need to cover their fungus. In this case, we want you to be prepared and take preventative measures.

It is of utmost importance to properly prepare your nails with some sort of anti-fungal treatment before placing on the set of fake toenails. It is recommended to allow your nails to breathe for a length of time, to use an anti-fungal foot soak, creams, or essential oils.

Also, make sure that there is no moisture left on your feet before placing on the set of acrylic nails. You can use a blow dryer on your feet to ensure that they are completely dry. After applying your fake nails, keep in mind that they will have to be removed hours later, not days.

Lastly, be sure to properly sanitize everything and wash your hands after removing your acrylic toenails.

Why Treatment Is Better Than Hiding Toenail Fungus

Most peoples’ reaction to an ailment that gives an unappealing look is to try and hide it or cover it up. This was my strategy for over 5 years of having fungus. But, at Toe Fungus Journey, we believe in treating the underlying problem and not the symptoms.

The fungus is a stubborn infection that requires constant attention and care. Also, fungus typically spreads quickly to other toes and even your skin.

Acrylic nails are basically a roadblock that will prevent healing and even promote the growth and spread of your fungal infection. This is why treatment is so important because it will actively treat your ailment.

It is important not to just follow any treatment you find online because like anything in life, there is the good, the bad, and the best. There are some treatments out there that work on managing symptoms and not the underlying problem.

If you are applying creams and ointments to your nails then you are on the right track. This is the first step to getting your nails’ functions, form, and looks back. Treatments typically work by neutralizing the harmful effects of fungi or killing the fungi causing the infection.

The best approach you can have when it comes to an unsightly and discolored nail is to have patience and be consistent with your treatment. This is obviously a challenge when you are wanting to get your nails back to normal as quickly as possible. But if you truly want to get your nails back quickly then start today. 

In summary, it’s best to treat your infected nail and let it heal instead of trying to do a basic cover-up which will actually accelerate fungi growth.

What Is the Better Solution for Hiding Toenail Fungus?

The better alternative to hiding toenail fungus is to find the best products that treat toenail fungus quickly. Some of the most common treatments include OTC ointments, essential oils, homemade foot soaks, and prescription drugs.

One of the best things to do is to pair supplements that will promote skin and nail growth with a proven treatment. I have an article where I reviewed some of the best products on the market for treating nail fungus.

Once you get your preferred remedy, it is recommended to give yourself a pedicure. Be sure to wear gloves or wash them after you perform the pedicure. The last thing you will want to do is to spread the fungi around to other nails or parts of your body.

After trimming your toenails properly, prepare an anti-fungal foot soak. Be sure to dry your feet properly after and then apply the product you chose to treat your nail fungus.

Which Socks Are Best to Cover Fungal Infections?

If you are anything like me, when I had toenail fungus you could not find me without socks on. It was my weapon of choice when trying to hide my ugly toes. I don’t recommend this and found the best results when I let my feet air out and wore flip-flops or sandals around the house.

However, if you are going to follow suit then I recommend using socks that have a “wicking component” which are some of the best socks for covering a fungal infection on your feet. This is because wicking socks are the type of socks that help reduce dampness and eliminate moisture. The glands on our feet can sweat up to half a cup of sweat in a 24 hour period which is why toenail fungus thrives there.

It is also important not to just focus on your socks but also your shoes. Ensure that you are wearing breathable shoes and spraying an antifungal disinfectant in all of your shoes. Or you could use a medicated foot powder which will help battle fungus on your feet. This is a good method to keep your feet dry especially if you are the type to struggle with sweaty feet.

Lastly, remember that the most important factor when treating toenail fungus is being consistent and patience. A cure will not come overnight but you can certainly accelerate your results with the proper guidance.