Can You Scrape Out Toenail Fungus?

If you develop fungus on the toenails, your nails will look unappealing, which is why some people are tempted to scrape it. But the question is – can you scrape out toenail fungus? And is it safe to do so?

Toenail fungus is a type of fungal infection that will get into the cracks of your nails, leading to the discoloration and thickening of your nails. Sometimes it can cause some pain. Since toes are often damp and warm, fungus thrives well there. Different types of fungi strains can cause fungal infections on the nails. If left untreated, it could spread to other parts of your toes.

Removing toenail fungus can be difficult and is not often advised by doctors. If you develop toenail fungus, the nails can grow thicker, crumbly, brittle, and generally unwieldy. Since it looks very unattractive, people start to wonder, can you scrape out toenail fungus?

Scraping Thick Nails

Before you learn the proper way of scraping toenail fungus, it’s important to note that fungal infections are not the only reason your toenails have become thickened. Other conditions, such as psoriasis or diabetes, may also cause the nails to thicken. Sometimes, trauma or injury can thicken your nails. Wearing tight-fitting shoes can also lead to the thickening of your nails. Heredity is also among the reasons why your nails grow thicker.

To determine the exact reason why your nails have thickened, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your doctor can check if you have toenail fungus. If it is, your doctor can offer some tips about proper nail fungus removal. But if your nails have thickened due to other reasons, your doctor can advise what would be the best way to trim or cut your nails.

Keep Your Nail Trimming Equipment Separate

When scraping your thick nails, make sure to separate the trimming equipment you have used. Since it has come into contact with the fungal areas, you should avoid using the same trimmer in cutting your other nails. Otherwise, the fungus will spread and make the other nails thicken as well. As mentioned, the fungus could spread to other areas of your skin if left untreated.

Try to avoid sharing nail trimmers between family members as well. You must also not use the same trimmers for your toenails and fingernails. Because if one of you has developed a toenail fungus, there’s a chance that it will spread to others. Fungal infections are contagious and can easily spread from one person to another.

When cutting fungal toenail, use proper trimming equipment. Avoid using the smaller fingernail clippers that are only intended for fingernails. These clippers may not be strong enough to trim your thick toenails.

Even if you have toenail fungus or not, make it a habit to regularly disinfect your equipment. Soak the clippers in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes after every use. You can also soak them in diluted bleach. Just make sure to dry them completely before storage to avoid rusting. Also, make sure that all the nail debris has been cleaned off.

Consider Using Heavy Duty Equipment

Sometimes, the toenails have become so thickened and toughened by fungal infections that a standard pair of clippers may not do the work. In this case, consider using heavy-duty equipment for cutting the nails.

If the pair of nail clippers or trimmers you are using is not doing the job well, don’t force it. Scraping your toenails like this will only cause damage to the nails even more by ripping or tearing them and will make them look even more unappealing. What’s more, the clippers or trimmers can get broken.

So, how to cut toenails with fungus properly? Use a pair of toenail nippers. It’s a more suitable choice when it comes to scraping your toenail fungus. These clippers look somewhat like pliers, and you can buy them from drugstores. Also, these are sharper compared to the standard toenail clippers.

The toenail nippers are not recommended for patients who have diabetes and other conditions that could affect the ability to sense pain, blood circulation, or the ability for the feet to heal. If you want to know the safest equipment to use to scrape your toenail fungus, ask your doctor about it.

Soften Your Toenails with a Foot Soak

Can you scrape out toenail fungus? The answer will depend on the severity of your fungal infection. If you feel like the symptoms are mild and don’t feel any pain, you can consider trimming the toenails yourself. But scraping your thickened nails requires a bit of preparation to make the job safer and easier.

Consider soaking your toenails to soften them a bit. It can be as simple as taking a shower to make the toenails wet and soft enough to be more easily clipped. It’s a good idea to schedule your trimming time just after you have dried off.

A foot soak is a more effective way of making your toenails soft enough for trimming. It could be as simple as soaking your feet in warm water for 10, 20, or 30 minutes. Dry off your feet thoroughly after soaking, and then you can start to clip them. You can also add antifungal products to your foot soaks, such as Epsom salts or essential oils. These products can help kill the fungus that causes the infection on your toenails.

Take It Slow and Steady

Thickened fungal nails tend to crumble easily, so be careful when trimming them. Avoid taking off too much at once. Otherwise, the nails will split and fracture in ways you did not intend them to.

Trim only a small part of your toenails at a time, beginning at one corner and slowly moving straight along the nail. Ensure the nails are relatively straight and uniform to prevent any jagged edges from snagging against socks.

Don’t round the nails off at the corners, as this could increase the risk of ingrown toenails. Having inflamed, painful, and open skin is not something you want after already developing toenail fungus.