The Dangers of Using Someone Else's Nail Clipper

Sharing certain ordinary products with a friend, roommate, or lover may appear innocuous, but science tells us that nail clippers are not one of these items. We already know that sharing personal grooming products like makeup brushes or shower loofahs might result in germ-swapping. Nail clippers, believe it or not, can do the same thing.

"If you have any type of fungal infection or wart, they can spread," dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara tells Good Housekeeping. According to the professionals at St. Augustine Foot, Ankle, and Vein, this can also involve an athlete's foot. Fungal infections can cause the infected nail or nails to thicken, become brittle, and become yellow or white in color. However, fungal diseases aren't the only danger we face when we share our nail clippers. If you accidentally nick your skin, you allow blood-borne germs into your body, which can lead to illnesses like hepatitis C, according to MDLinx.

Sharing personal hygiene tools, including nail clippers, should be avoided wherever feasible. Although it may appear innocuous, there are various nail problems that can be transferred through the shared use of nail clippers. It just takes a minor cut or scrape to make the body more sensitive to infection, and this is readily accomplished while using nail clippers.

Infections caused by fungi

Athletes Foot is a common fungal infection that causes redness, cracking, and itching in the region between the toes. Another fungal illness that affects the toes and causes thickness and discoloration of the nails is onychomycosis. Always use your own clean nail clippers.

Infections caused by bacteria

Paronychia is an infection of the nail fold (the area where the nail meets the skin of the finger or toe), resulting in redness, swelling, and, in rare cases, blisters. Paronychia can be an acute bacterial infection that clears up rapidly with medications, or it can be persistent and harm the nail itself. This illness can be spread by using dirty nail tools, notably nail clippers.

Infections caused by viruses

Hepatitis is caused by a virus that inflames the liver. One of the preventative steps against transmitting Hepatitis C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is not sharing nail clippers.

Warts are a more prevalent ailment caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and they most typically appear on the hands and feet. Warts can also form on the fingers near the nail.

Salons for women's beauty

There is an element of trust required when borrowing a nail clipper from a friend since you know who has used it before you. When compared to getting a manicure in a beauty salon, where the same equipment is used on hundreds of different people over the course of a year, this is a huge savings. A professional institution must sanitize equipment to prevent illness from spreading between clients. Make sure that your salon does just that.