Hand hygiene involves washing and clipping fingernails, which may trap dirt and bacteria and contribute to the development of certain illnesses, such as pinworms. Fingernails should be maintained short, and the undersides should be washed with soap and water on a regular basis. Longer fingernails may hold more dirt and germs than shorter nails, thus contributing to the development of illness.
All tools (for example, nail clippers and files) should be well cleaned before trimming or grooming nails. When manicure instruments are shared among a lot of individuals, as is frequent in professional nail salons, sterilizing equipment before use is very crucial.
Infections of the fingernails or toes are often accompanied by swelling of the surrounding skin, discomfort, or thickness of the nail. These infections may be dangerous in certain situations and must be treated by a doctor.

To aid in the prevention of germs and nail infections:
Keep your nails short and trim them often.
Every time you wash your hands, scrub the bottom of your nails with soap and water (or a nail brush).
Before using any nail grooming equipment, make sure they are clean.
Sterilize nail grooming instruments before usage in professional environments such as the nail salonsexternal symbols.
Avoid biting or chewing on your nails.
Cuticles serve as infection-prevention barriers, so don’t cut them.
Never bite or tear a hangnail. Instead, use a clean, disinfected nail trimmer to cut it.