What To Look For
Tea tree oil is most commonly found as a pure essential oil. It is also an ingredient in creams, ointments, lotions, soaps, and shampoos.
As with any supplement, the NIH recommends that you check the Supplement Facts label on the product that you buy. This label will contain information about the concentration of the product and any ingredients that have been added.
In addition, the organization suggests that you look for a product that contains a seal of approval from a third party organization that provides quality testing. These organizations include U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International. A seal of approval from one of these organizations does not guarantee the product’s safety or effectiveness but it does provide assurance that the product was properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label, and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
Lastly, tea tree oil should not be confused with Chinese tea oil, cajeput oil, kanuka oil, manuka oil, ti tree oil, and niaouli oil.
Using Tea Tree Oil On Your Nails
Before using tea tree oil for toenail fungus, make an appointment and talk to your doctor about your infection. You may need to take a prescription medication to deal with the problem if you have any other illnesses or health conditions. Your doctor can let you know if tea tree oil is likely to work safely for you. Once you have talked to your doctor, return to Walgreens, where youll find many tea tree oil products. Choosing a liquid extract will likely be best for your needs. Typically, tree oil soaps and skin care creams do not have a high enough concentration of the herb to fully address the fungal infection, which can be difficult to treat. Use a disposable cotton swab to spread the oil onto your toenail. It can take several months for nail fungus to respond to any type of treatment, so be sure to continue to use the product as recommended by your doctor for as long as he or she suggests. Tea tree oil may cause swelling of the skin or redness around your nail. Be sure to keep the cap on the bottle of your extract, as the oil is more likely to cause reactions when it is exposed to the air. It may not be safe for young boys to use tea tree oil to address toenail fungus due to concerns about how the herb affects hormone levels in the body.
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Tea Tree Oil And Vicks
Vicks contains three main ingredients â menthol, camphor and eucalyptus. They are effective in combating infection caused by fungus, mold and bacteria.
- Gently massage diluted tea tree oil on the clean infected nail.
- Let it dry for few minutes.
- Gently rub the Vicks vaporub on that affected nail.
- Leave the application for few minutes and wipe it off thoroughly.
- Repeat the process once in a day.
Note: It may cause slight irritation but it will eventually clear the infection.
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Applying Tea Tree Oil For Nail Fungus
So how do you use tea tree oil for nail fungus effectively?
Proper preparations are required. Begin by trimming your nails carefully, remove all the dead nail but take care to avoid clipping the skin around your nails. Next utilize a coarse nail file to whittle down the thickened areas over your nail bed. A medium grade file is perfect for this task. Finally soak your nails to ensue both cleanliness and soften the nail for application of the treatment.
You can apply tea tree oil for nail fungus directly on the nail or use a cotton ball to thoroughly coat the area. If you want to make sure the oil gets deep in the nail bed a toothbrush can be quite helpful.
Some will soak their feet and nails in a water/ tea tree oil 4-5 drops in warm water. From start to finish this entire application process should take approximately 15-20 minutes. Start and end your day with a good foot soak and tea tree oil treatment! Keep in mind you will need to do this several days per week, preferably daily, and over an extended period of time if you want to see positive results.
Toenail Fungus Treatment Using Tea Tree Oil
Toenail fungus can be treated naturally without going to the hospital. Using essential oils is the best way to treat toenail fungus. Tea tree oil can be used for treating fungus as long as you use it correctly and maintain consistency.
When you decide to use tea tree oil, make sure that you buy pure and organic oil. You need to buy good quality oil so that you can gain the maximum health benefits from the oil. Since tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties, it has healing abilities to get rid of nail fungus over time.
How does tea tree oil work for toenail fungus treatment?
Before trying any toenail fungus treatment, it is essential to understand how it works. The method of treatment should be backed by scientific proof so that you can know whether it will work or not. Using tea tree oil is of the natural fungal therapies that work.
Tea tree oil works by killing fungus on your nails, but that is not the only role of the oil. Apart from destroying the fungus, tea tree oil forms a barrier on the skin and prevents the growth of fungus. The oil can penetrate the nail, and this is important when treating fungus. Since tea tree oil forms a bond with your skin, it becomes impossible for the fungus to penetrate further into your skin. The oil has a sweet fragrance, and it will keep your nails smelling fresh.
How to use tea tree oil for toenail fungus treatment
Clean your feet
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Dosage And Toxicity Levels:
Topical tea tree oil is not recommended for oral use however, in rat models, a 50% lethal dose occurred within a range of 1.9 2.6 ml/kg. Tea tree oil lethal toxicity levels have not been tested in humans, of course, but human poisoning has occurred with full recovery.
For lowering the risk of dermal toxicity, it is widely recommended to use tea tree oil at a diluted dosage of 10% or less. During a patch-test study involving human participants, the results revealed dermal irritation at a mean score of 0.25, indicating that tea tree oil should never constitute 25% of a dilution formulation. Allergic reactions occur mostly due to oxidated oil from either natural age factors or a lack of proper storage precautions.
How To Apply Tea Tree Oil On Your Nails
Tea tree oil is an extremely active and potent ingredient. Remember to dilute the tea tree oil in a suitable carrier oil such as coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil or jojoba oil in the ratio of 5-10% tea tree oil in the rest of carrier oil.
After preparing the nails, it is time to apply the oil treatment.
Method
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Tea Tree Oil And Pau Darco
Pau dâArco contains various napthaquinones, lapachol, xyloidone and other compounds which inhibit the fungal growth by restricting its ability to reproduce or replicate.
- Mix 8 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of Pau dâArco tincture, ¼ teaspoon of tea tree oil, ¼ teaspoon of lavender oil, and 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint oil.
- Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and hold it against the affected nail for up to 20 minutes.
- Remove the cotton ball and pat it dry completely.
- Repeat the process 3 times in a day.
When Should You Go To The Doctor For Toenail Fungus
When to See a Doctor About Toenail Fungus
A doctor should also be seen if the symptoms worsen. The toe swells, turns red, remains hotter than the rest of the body, or becomes tender. The infected toe and the surrounding area begins to leak pus. The area surrounding the infected toe develops red streaks.
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How To Know If You Have Been Cured For Nail Fungus
How to know if you have been cured for toenail fungus? If you are like most people, you probably have been told at some point that you have nail fungus and youve been given some prescription medications to take care of it. The reason that you have been told you have nail fungus is because that is the most common symptom that people experience when they have it. So what really happens if you get to the bottom of how to know if you have been cured for nail fungus?
When we think about nail fungus, we think about it as a disgusting problem. The reality of the situation is that toenail fungus is not that disgusting. If you have a toenail fungus, then you dont have to worry about it being disgusting because youre probably going to feel some embarrassment. What happens when you come down with a toenail fungus, is that your skin under your nail grows into a hardened state. This is where you have the potential for fungal infections to happen and it is not pretty.
So the question becomes, how to know if you have been cured for a toenail fungus? The answer in most cases is that there is not a sure way of telling if you have been cured or not. You can go to your doctor and find out, but even then, there is not a guarantee that you will have nail growth come back. However, if you do have a sign of a fungus infection, then you can go find out if you have been cured for a toenail fungus before taking medication that might further damage your nails.
Tea Tree Oil For Nail Fungus: Does It Work
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Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, can affect the nails on the hands or feet. Toenail fungus is particularly common.
Most treatments for nail fungus do not clear the fungus entirely but can help prevent it from spreading. However, these conventional medications can cause skin irritation and other symptoms, such as ingrown nails.
As a result, some people have turned to natural products, such as tea tree oil, to treat nail fungus.
While tea tree oil does appear to have antifungal properties, its efficacy in treating nail fungus is unclear. As with conventional treatments, tea tree oil can also cause some unpleasant side effects.
This article outlines research on the antifungal properties of tea tree oil. We discuss whether tea tree oil is effective against nail fungus, how to use it, and its potential side effects.
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Tea Tree Oil And Neem Oil
Neem oil contains potent antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties which help to kill the fungus. This combination is effective for treating severe nail fungus.
- Combine 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and 2 drops each of tea tree oil and neem oil.
- Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture on the infected nail.
- Leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat the process 2 times in a day.
Tea Tree Oil For Athletes Foot
Jessica J. Krant also said that tea tree oil might be effective for athletes foot in milder cases. In fact, a study in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology has shown that solution with 25- 30 percent tea tree could clear up athletes foot within 4 weeks. However, 4 percent of study participants developed an itchy rash.
Tea tree oil can fight against fungi that cause athletes foot. In particular, the ingredient can relieve the itching and soothe burns. To deal with athletes foot, you can:
- Soak a cotton ball in water
- Then, add two or three drops of tea tree to it
- Apply the mixture of water and tea tree oil on your foot
- Let your nails dry, then wash it off
Many studies have found that tea tree oil can be less effective at treating athletes foot than antifungal medications. Tea tree oil cannot work best if used alone. So, experts recommend antifungal treatments that include other associated substances. For example, Fugacil is one of the best treatments for skin fungal infection. It contains Garlic, Tea tree oil, Vinegar and Coconut oil that can powerfully fight against fungi. Most people apply Fugacil and observe the result in less than 6 days.
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Tea Tree Oil For Athlete’s Foot
Tea tree oil may be effective for milder cases of athlete’s foot, says Jessica J. Krant, M.D., M.P.H., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a member of Consumer Reports medical advisory board. Thats because it is known to be antiseptic, mildly antifungal, and mildly antibacterial, she says.
In fact, a study published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology in 2002 found that twice-daily use of a 25 or 50 percent tea tree solution for four weeks cleared up athletes foot for more than half the people who used italthough nearly four percent of study participants who used the tea tree oil solution also developed an itchy rash.
While these results seem encouraging, theres no guarantee that consumers will get the same results from the tea tree oil products they buy. Thats because study researchers use ingredients that are purified and analyzed to ensure that they contain exact concentrations of high-quality tea tree oil. But tea tree oil products arent regulated in the way that medications are, so theres no way to be sure that a product from the drugstore contains the ingredients that will have the desired effect, says Krant.
Its also important to note that other studies have found tea tree oil to be less effective at treating athletes foot than over-the-counter antifungal medications such as tolnaftate .
When Should You Consider Visiting A Doctor For Toenail Fungus
If it is a mild fungal infection, tea tree oil can arrest the fungal growth and heal it completely. If the treatment is not improving the infection and your nails and surrounding skin become inflamed and painful, consult your doctor immediately.
Also, if you are developing an allergic reaction to the essential oil, discontinue its use immediately. If the reaction persists or becomes worse, visit your doctor.
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Tea Tree Oil And Camphor Oil
The combination of tea tree oil and camphor oil is very effective in treating moderate to severe nail fungus infections. This blend shows a strong antifungal effect on the infection which helps to cure it quickly.
- Mix 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 drops of tea tree oil, and 2 drops of camphor oil.
- Pour into bottle, close lid, shake vigorously until the ingredients incorporate well.
- Apply the solution directly on infected finger or toe nail.
- Repeat the application 4 times in a day. Make sure to shake the bottle before use.
How Can You Maximize The Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil
Apart from the oil application, you can follow a few tips that can help improve the condition of your toenails and resolve the fungal infection faster.
- Trim your nails regularly. It will prevent the underlying healthy nail from getting infected and allow the oil to penetrate the nail bed better.
- Always wash your nails clean with soap and water. Remember to pat your nails and the skin around them dry to prevent any moisture from entering the nail bed.
- Use footwear in public places such as washrooms, locker rooms, and pools to prevent spreading it to others.
- Opt for footwear that has ample space for your toes. A narrow toebox will cramp your toes together and apply pressure on your toenails. The repetitive trauma can make them susceptible to fungal growth. Choose sandals instead. Alternately, you can apply an antifungal spray to the inside of your shoes to prevent fungal growth.
- If you must wear socks, invest in ones made of natural fibers as they absorb moisture and sweat, unlike their synthetic counterparts. Change and wash your socks regularly.
- Always sterilize your nail tools such as nail clippers, nail file, etc. Avoid sharing them with others as they can spread toenail fungus.
- Lastly, check your nails regularly for any change in color, pain, or irritation. If you notice any such changes, get treatment immediately to prevent the fungal infection from spreading further.
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