Your fingernails might look harmless, but they can harbor a surprising amount of bacteria, dirt, and even viruses under the surface. If you’re skipping regular nail cleaning, you could be giving germs a free ride to everything you touch—your phone, your face, your food.
The area under your fingernails is a perfect hiding spot for microbes. Studies have found that even after handwashing, bacteria can linger beneath the nails, especially if they’re long or artificial. One study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that more pathogens live under fingernails than on the hands themselves. That includes nasty bugs like E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus—the same bacteria linked to food poisoning and skin infections.
Dirty nails aren’t just a hygiene issue—they can also impact your overall health. If you bite your nails or frequently touch your face, those pathogens can enter your body and increase your risk of illness. The risk is even higher for kids, who often put their hands in their mouths.
Keeping your nails clean is simple but powerful. Trim them regularly, scrub underneath with soap and a nail brush, and avoid using your nails as tools (they’re not meant for prying or scraping). If you wear nail polish or artificial nails, be extra diligent—dirt and bacteria can get trapped underneath.
And don’t forget about your cuticles. Keeping the skin around your nails clean and moisturized helps prevent hangnails and tiny breaks in the skin where germs can sneak in.
Takeaway: Clean nails aren’t just about looking neat—they’re about protecting your health, preventing infection, and keeping the unseen world of germs right where it belongs: far away from you.
