Nail Care Tip: What you need to know about long nails and infections

Long, well manicured nails are considered sexy in many cultures. However, if long nails are a part of your beauty arsenal, you need to know that keyboard difficulties may not be the only price to pay. Research indicates that long nails may increase the risk of spreading infections. This is a particularly serious concern if you work in a hospital or interact with people whose immune system has been weakened by disease, old age or other causes.

Any nail longer that a quarter of an inch increases the risk of spreading infection. The longer the nail, the higher the risk. An inch-long natural nail increases the risk of spreading infection five times.

Long artificial nails are the worst culprits of all. Infections microorganisms sneak easily under any long nails, but they attach and thrive much better under artificial nails. There are many reports in scientific literature where artificial nails of hospital workers were implicated in serious infectious outbreaks. The microbes lodged under artificial nails are resistant to hand washing and have been reported to even survive a 5-minute surgical scrub. FYI: artificial nails include anything applied to the natural nail other than polish; such as artificial tips, wraps, appliques, acrylics and gels.