Reprinted by permission Marti Preuss

Mold - Greenie - Pseudomonas Bacteria
Click HERE for a quick lesson..

Pseudomonas (sue-dough-no-mus) bacterial spores can become trapped between the nail plate and the overlay if the nail plate is not properly cleansed and dehydrated prior to application. It can also become trapped if an infected or 'dirty' file is used. This generally happens if one uses the same files on every client rather than individual files for each one, and if the files are not sanitized between uses. The green stain is a by-product of the infection and is mostly composed of iron compounds. Pseudomonas can also invade the nail plate if lifting is present and the client has been 'digging in the dirt' as pseudomonas thrive in the moist soil.

To rid the nail plate of the infection, simply remove the enhancement, lightly buff the stain to open up the nail plate cells, scrub the nails with a lint-free wipe saturated with Scrub Fresh ! (Creative). This will remove all moisture and some of the surface oils, and leave behind pathogen fighters to keep the spores from breeding. Then, depending on the depth of the color, you can safely reapply product. If the stain is very dark, I would suggest leaving the product off for a period of time to allow the nail plate to 'harden' before applying any more product. Instruct the client to keep the plate clean and dry at all times, and wear gloves when having her hands in water or using household cleaning solutions.

True fungus is actually very rare (less than 2%) on fingernails. Fungus spores invade the space between the nail plate and the nail bed through a tear, cut or break in the seal surrounding the nail unit. Fungus 'feeds' off the proteins in the nail plate and is evidenced by a white to yellowish discoloration, nail plate lifting, and evident debris between the nail plate and the nail bed.

If the client has a fungus infection, we are not allowed by law to treat  it, or to suggest any means of treating it. Doing so can lead to a lawsuit if the client loses the nail plate. Remove the enhancement, and send the client to her physician or to a dermatologist. True fungus infection can take up to a year to 'kill' even with prescription medications, and it is highly contagious

Link: Hooked on Nails - Nail Diseases and Disorders

Link:  Reference Articles by Samual Sweet