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How to Prevent Toenail Fungus: A Practical Guide

Toenail fungus is much easier to prevent than to treat. These everyday habits, from socks and boots to nail clippers and change rooms, make your feet a less welcoming place for fungi.

· 5 min read · By the FungalNailTest.com team

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) puts it simply: nail fungus is better prevented than treated. Treatment can take about a year and often needs prescription medication, and even after successful treatment, nail fungus often comes back. The good news is that a handful of everyday habits can make a real difference, whether you've never had toenail fungus or you're trying to keep it from returning.

Why prevention works

The fungi that cause most toenail infections thrive in warm, damp, dark places, and they get into a nail through small openings in the nail or surrounding skin. Prevention comes down to three things: keeping your feet dry, limiting contact with fungi, and protecting your nails from damage. (For more on where the fungus comes from, see what causes toenail fungus.)

1. Keep your feet clean and dry

  • Wash your feet daily and dry thoroughly, especially between the toes.
  • Wear moisture-wicking socks and put on a clean pair every day. Change them sooner if they get sweaty.
  • Pack a spare pair of socks for after sports, the gym or a long day on your feet.
  • If your feet sweat a lot, ask a pharmacist about antifungal or drying foot powders. The AAD notes that antifungal powders or sprays in shoes and on socks can't treat nail fungus, but can help prevent fungi growing in footwear.

2. Choose and care for your shoes wisely

  • Give shoes time to dry. The AAD suggests giving shoes 24 hours to dry before wearing them again, so rotating between two pairs helps.
  • Pick breathable materials, such as canvas or mesh, when you can.
  • Make sure shoes fit well, with enough room in the toe box. The NHS advises avoiding shoes with high heels or narrow toes. Tight shoes also cause repeated small injuries to nails, which can open the door to fungus (see toenail fungus or nail trauma?).
  • Throw out old shoes, which the NHS recommends, or disinfect them.

Winter boots, skates and work boots

Canadian winters mean long hours in insulated boots, which can leave feet warm and damp all day. Take boots off indoors when you can, pull out removable liners to dry overnight, and change into dry socks when you get to work or school. The same goes for hockey skates, ski boots and steel-toed work boots: let them air out fully between uses.

3. Protect your feet in shared spaces

  • Wear flip-flops or shower sandals in public showers, gym and rink change rooms, spas and on pool decks.
  • Don't share towels, socks, shoes or nail tools.
  • At home, if someone has athlete's foot or nail fungus, keep bath mats and towels separate and wear slippers rather than going barefoot. See is toenail fungus contagious?

4. Look after your nails

  • Keep toenails short and trimmed straight across. The AAD recommends keeping them shorter than the end of your toes.
  • Clean and disinfect clippers after each use. The AAD recommends washing them with soap and water first, then disinfecting them.
  • Use a separate clipper or file for any nail that might be infected.
  • Don't use polish to hide a nail that's changing. Check your bare nails regularly.

5. Choose salons carefully

Before a pedicure, look for signs that tools and foot baths are cleaned and disinfected between clients, and don't be shy about asking. Mayo Clinic suggests asking staff to leave cuticles alone or push them back gently rather than cutting them, because the cuticle acts as a protective seal. You can also bring your own tools.

6. Treat athlete's foot promptly

Athlete's foot (itchy, peeling, cracked or stinging skin, often between the toes) is caused by fungi that can spread to the nails. The NHS and the AAD both advise treating it as soon as possible. A pharmacist can help you choose a product for skin.

7. Extra care if you're at higher risk

Older adults, people with diabetes or poor circulation, people with a weakened immune system and those who've had nail fungus before are more likely to develop it. If that's you, check your feet regularly and involve a healthcare provider early. If you have diabetes, read toenail fungus and diabetes for safe foot-care tips.

Preventing it from coming back after treatment

Reinfection is common, so prevention matters most after you've cleared an infection:

  • The AAD suggests throwing out or disinfecting shoes you wore before treatment, and washing socks in hot water and detergent.
  • Keep treating athlete's foot if it returns.
  • Ask your healthcare provider whether ongoing preventive treatment makes sense for you. The AAD notes that some people are prescribed maintenance treatment after an infection clears.
  • Watch for early signs so you can act quickly (see early signs of toenail fungus).

When prevention isn't enough: find out early

Even with great habits, nail changes can happen. When they do, the most useful thing is to find out quickly whether fungus is involved, because many changes turn out to be something else, and early fungal infections are generally easier to treat. Our at-home kit checks a nail clipping for fungal DNA using qPCR testing, with every result reviewed by a licensed Canadian podiatrist with over 50 years of experience. Your report arrives 4–14 days after your sample reaches us. See a sample report or read understanding your results.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to prevent toenail fungus?

There's no single trick, but the most effective habits are keeping feet clean and dry, wearing clean moisture-wicking socks, letting shoes dry between wears, wearing sandals in shared showers and change rooms, not sharing nail tools, and treating athlete's foot promptly.

Can toenail fungus come back after treatment?

Yes, reinfection is common. Disinfecting or replacing old shoes, washing socks well, treating athlete's foot and keeping up good foot habits all help. Ask your healthcare provider whether preventive treatment is right for you.

Do antifungal powders prevent toenail fungus?

They can help. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that antifungal powders or sprays used in shoes and on socks can help prevent fungi from growing in footwear, although they can't treat an existing nail infection.

Is it safe to get pedicures?

Most salons clean tools properly, but it's worth checking. Look for clean, disinfected tools and foot baths, ask staff not to cut your cuticles, or bring your own tools.

How do I know if prevention isn't working and I have nail fungus?

Watch for white or yellow patches, thickening, crumbling or lifting. If a change persists or spreads, a nail test can confirm whether fungus is present, and a healthcare provider can advise on next steps.

Sources

Important

This article is general information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a healthcare provider. Nail changes can have many causes. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, pain, swelling or signs of infection, see a healthcare provider promptly.

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