Women get so used to them that they forget to give their own nails a rest. Many women are allergic to the glue or acrylic used to cement the nails in place, says Elizabeth Abel, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Some women are also allergic to the formalin in nail polish. Symptoms include redness, scaling, swelling and pain in the nail folds or adjacent tissue. Complications include bacterial infections and such bothersome reactions as oozing and drainage from around the nail.
Fungi can travel back and forth between hands and feet.
Usually, what happens is that people develop a break in their cuticles, and that's the entering point. If you think that you have a nail infection, consult a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and proper medical treatment. BEST Women doctors say that nail fungus is easier to avoid than to treat. Here's what they advise. Avoid artificial nails.