How does one get a fungus infection of the nails?

How does one acquire a fungal infection of the nails?

Fungus infections of the nails usually develop when the nails are continuously exposed to warm moist environments such as bathroom floors, gym areas, sweaty sneakers or exercise rooms. The fungus that affects the nails is very distinct from athlete’s foot virus. The athlete's foot virus will not infect nails.  Even though fungal nail infection can be recognized very easily, it is quite difficult to treat.

 Fungi that cause infections of the nails are very durable organisms. They do not require a lot of nutrients or sunlight to survive. The fungus has only one preference- the environment is moist and humid. Such environments are present in your dirty constrictive shoes, swimming pools shower rooms gyms. The fungi usually enter the skin through small cracks on the skin alongside the nail. In the majority of cases, the fungi simply die if one maintains good hygiene and nail care. However, if one continues to provide a warm and humid environment, the fungi will start to grow.

Nail fungus can affect either the hand toes nails or the foot toe nails. But because the feet are always covered with shoes and exposed to more humid environment, the fungi usually are commonly seen on the toenails. It is also believed that fungi also thrive in conditions where blood supply is less. And this is more commonly seen in the feet as compared to the hands.