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Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Although it may be impossible to prevent onychomycosis infections in everyone, there are ways to reduce a person's chance to get infected. The following are some of the methods to avoid nail infections:

• Remember that nail infections can be passed from person to person so washing hands (and feet) after contacting another person with nail infections is a good practice.
• Do not go barefoot in public showers or locker rooms.
• Use antifungal spray or powder in shoes, especially gym shoes.
• Be sure that if a manicure or pedicure is done, instruments are sterilized before each person is exposed to them.
• Keep feet dry and clean as possible.
• Keep finger and toe nails trimmed; do not pick at or chew on fingernails or the skin around them.
• Avoid caustic skin agents by wearing protective gloves.
• Socks that wick away sweat help reduce moisture that can promote the survival and growth of nail pathogens.

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Finger Infection Finger infections can be caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses. Types of finger infections include paronychia, felon, herpetic whitlow, cellulitis, infect...learn more >>

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