In general, poor foot hygiene is a cause of nail fungus. It is important to cut the toenails and clean underneath regularly. Keeping them long creates unnecessary pressure.
Properly drying your feet is a must. Wiping your feet on the bath mat after your shower or bath is not enough. A proper drying is necessary, especially for overweight people.
Aside from poor hygiene, there are 3 major categories of nail fungus sources:
Ill-fitted shoes
Tight-fitting shoes create pressure that traumatizes the nail therefore making it vulnerable to infections.
Improper pedicures
What constitutes an improper pedicure? Examples include reusing of disposable tools, poor cleaning protocols, and cross contamination. The risk of cross contamination is high when a Service Provider jumps between two simultaneous pedicures in order to maximize the number of clients served.
People with healthy, unbroken skin won’t regularly have an issue with improper pedicures. However, someone with unhealthy feet may fall prey to a fungus infection.
Shoe humidity
Athletes are most likely to develop fungus infections due to the humidity in their shoes. In addition, they often use locker rooms which are known to provide conditions that make fungi thrive (humidity).
In addition to humidity, runners in particular create extra pressure as their feet pound the pavement. This pressure traumatizes the nail therefore making it vulnerable to infections.
Can nail fungus cure itself?
Nail fungus cannot cure itself. A nail fungus can be compared to a parasite. Unless you remove one of the ideal conditions, fungus will continue to thrive. Ideal conditions include humidity, darkness, warm temperature, and nutrients (for example, dirt or dead skin cells).
What happens when left untreated?
There are many reasons to treat a fungal infection aside from the foot not being esthetically pleasing. Firstly, it will cause embarrassing odour. If left untreated long enough it starts to mutate. The fungus starts growing roots under the nails which bury themselves in the nail bed causing it to “pump” itself up. This pumping manifests as thick nails. Once roots starts growing, the fungus can spread to other nails or other people.
Can I wear nail polish if I have a fungal infection?
We recommend that you not apply colour nail polish on an infected toenail. A clear coat is ok, but colours will create an umbrella effect giving the fungi the darkness it needs to thrive. Its like a bug living under a log.
Another reason to refrain from nail polish is to avoid contamination of your nail polish. Once a bottle of polish has been contaminated it can spread to other fingers and people who use your polish.
Prevention tips
Do not share socks or shoes.
Sock material- not all socks are made of cotton. Some are made of acrylic/nylon material which are more likely to cause feet to sweat.
Do not wear the same shoes 2 days in a row, especially closed-toed shoes made from material that builds moisture.
Do not wear poor quality shoes. Some shoes are made of plastic and the paint on the shoes is also plastic which causes sweaty feet and bacteria.
Clean and dry feet properly.
Do not cut nails so short that it breaks the seal.
Wear sandals in locker rooms.
Nail Fungus Treatment
There are different levels of nail fungus treatment.
Anti-fungal drops
This is something you can do at home. The natural toenail takes one year to replace itself. This is the amount of time it will take to care for your feet with drops.
Advanced pedicure
In an Anti-Fungal Tx, we cut the nail down to a safe point in order to cut and scoop as much fungus out. We then insert soaked therapeutic pads where the fungus was removed. As a result, there is less area for moisture to collect.
Your service provider will provide you with post care to continue to care for your infected nail at home.
An ingrown toenail is caused by an overgrowth of nail along the side of the nail. Consequently, this condition creates pressure which can lead to swelling, a lot of pain, and even infections. The extra nail growth can be caused by many factors. For example, incorrect nail cutting, trauma or injury to the nail, or genetics.
Can an ingrown toenail heal itself?
With proper nail care, cutting, and trimming, an ingrown toenail can grow out by itself. However, in certain cases, the ingrown nail will continue to come back.
For instance, ingrown toenails due to the way the shoe forms pressure on the foot will return as long as the specific shoes are in use.
In cases where its hereditary or due to the shape of the foot, ingrown toenails may have to be surgically removed or sometimes the whole toenail is surgically removed.
What happens of an ingrown toenail is left untreated?
If it’s a mild condition ingrown toenails can be treated with proper foot care and nail care.
On the other hand, they can turn into an infection which can turn sepsis. In other words, the infection makes its ways to your bloodstream and can become severe.
How do we fix ingrown toenails?
In mild cases, your service provider will clean the area and file down the sides, properly trim and monitor growth.
DIY and tips to prevent ingrown toenails
do not cut nails down too short
wear properly fitted shoes
above all, practice regular foot care including cleaning around the nails or regular pedicures
April 1, 2022 marks Dérmica’s 8th year anniversary. A passion for esthetics and a strong bond between friends created this skin and beauty haven on Whyte avenue. See below for client appreciation days.
Did you know?
Dérmica MedEsthetics was in the making for over 6 years before its founders took the plunge. The pair of friends mulled over all the risks and possibilities of enterprising together. Believing their joys would double and their disappointments be cut in half, they dove head first into the world of spa business.
Each friend brings their strengths to the business. While they take their business very seriously, neither of them take themselves too seriously, as evident in the fact they chose April Fool’s Day to open their spa in Edmonton, Alberta.
Every year on April Fool’s day, they toast to their business and ask themselves, “What did we ever talk about before starting our business?” They think for a moment before they both remember, “Oh yes, boys!”
Client Appreciation Days- April 1 & 2, 2022
Thank you for trusting Dérmica with your skincare and beauty needs. We are thankful to have clients like you and to show our appreciation, we’d like to offer you some deals!
👉BOGO Photofacials
Combine any 2 photofacials for the price of 1. This special is limited to full face photofacials and is delivered in the same session. Not valid with any other promotion.
Booking instructions: Book one photofacial only. Advise your technician during your appointment of your second selection.
👉FREE brow microliner with Brow Lamination
Brow Lamination promises plush volume and coverage, and tames unruly strands.
The process involves securing the hair in an upward stroke pattern, then setting them into place with a gentle brow perming solution. Once complete, the brows appear fuller, bolder, and the strands remain in position.
👉Lash Package
The Lash Package includes a Lash Lift and EyEnvy conditioner (2.0 ml.) for $140. Upgrade your Lash Package to a Lash Lift with Tint! Upgraded Lash Package can be purchased for $160.
Proven to work, EyEnvy® feeds hair follicles with a vitamin-peptide combo for longer and thicker growth after just 4 to 6 weeks!
👉Free Boost with Facial or Dermaplane
Receive a complimentary boost with any facial our a full face dermaplane treatment. BOOSTS are great for seasonal maintenance and anti-aging.
A medical history form is the first step in your laser treatment consultation with our experts.
Dérmica offers what is commonly known as a laser treatment in Edmonton, specifically, IPL Phototherapy.
TREATMENT CONSIDERATIONS for IPL Hair Removal
When predicting the before and after results of your IPL Hair Removal, we take the following factors into careful consideration: your hair type, skin tone, and treatment area. These key points help us set realistic expectations for your treatment course and keep your skin safe.
To help you better understand how these points come into play when predicting your before and after results, allow us to dissect the consult.
Hair growth is present in most areas of the human body. It can range from thick/coarse textures to peach fuzz. Some hair becomes more evident with hormones during puberty and, some hair is only present in our fetal stage. The purpose of hair is to protect us from the elements, a means of skin lubrication. In other words, it aids in temperature regulation, and other bodily functions.
Different IPL/ Laser hair removal treatment areas see varying degrees of success.
Bikini | Underarms | Face | Chest | Back
The pubic, underarm, lower facial region, chest, and back grow what is known as terminal hair. Terminal hair is present at birth and grows throughout the years. Some hair starts as vellus hair (fine hair) during childhood and develops into coarser hair during puberty.
Because of the colour content and thickness of the bulb, these areas tend to get quick and dramatic results within the first couple of sessions. The downside is that these areas are hormonally influenced and may require touch-ups sooner than other areas.
Hairline | Scalp | Arms | Legs
These regions of the body also contain terminal hair growth. Because these areas are not as affected by hormones in our adult years, they typically require fewer sessions and, the results last longer before touch-ups are necessary.
Although results vary depending on your hair and skin type, proper aftercare and scheduling are vital to ensuring your treatments are successful.
How are IPL/ LASER Hair Removal and Hair Color related?
HAIR TONE
Let’s review IPL/ laser hair removal and hair color: Your hair tone/type plays an important role when predicting the results of your IPL Hair Removal treatments. This is because the energy emitted into the root of your hair is attracted to and absorbed by the melanin cells. Melanin cells are responsible for adding colour to our hair, skin, and eyes. So, the higher the content, the darker the colour.
Therefore, we understand that the higher the melanin content and thickness of the hair shaft, the more energy is absorbed and the higher predictability of destroying the bulb of the hair. As a result, it can be predicted that darker hair tones will see higher success rates.
Can light hair be removed with IPL/ LASER?
Advanced IPL / LASER operating systems can now effectively treat lighter hair tones.
The light energy pulsed by the operating system targets pigment cells found in the hair bulb. As a result, the more pigment cells present, the more energy is absorbed.
Light natural hair tones usually contain enough base pigment to properly absorb the energy into the hair bulb.
