Natural Treatment For Toenail Fungus: Essential Oils
Many individuals turn to essential oils as a natural way to treat toenail fungus. While the benefits and dangers of essential oils are still being studied, some oils may have antifungal properties and may be helpful when used carefully.
Nine common essential oils that may help treat toenail fungus are:
Always use high-quality, 100% pure oils diluted with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil. Test a small amount of the solution for any adverse reactions before using it in sensitive areas.
You may also try adding a drop or two of essential oil to foot baths. Vinegar baths especially may be easier to tolerate with a few drops of oil.
Orange Oil: Remedy For Nail Fungus Infections
To get rid of toenail fungus, orange oil is also a good option. It can be applied with the help of a dropper between toes and on and under toenails, daily. Let it sit for at least one hour. Orange oil can also be used with an equal amount of any carrier oil.
Note: It is advisable to test some diluted orange oil on a small part of the skin before applying it to the infected area as it can cause allergic reactions and can have side effects.
How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally And Fast At Home
Toenail fungus, aka onychomycosis, is a very popular problem.buy veklury online no prescription The symptoms of toenail fungus include swelling, inflammation, yellowing, crumbling and thickening of the nail.buy canada propecia online healthinschools.org/wp-content/languages/new/canada/propecia.html no prescription This condition is often not painful, if the infection does not spread.
In fact, the fungus tends to thrive under some certain conditions, like a weakened immune system, skins unbalanced pH level, continuous exposure to a moist environment containing poor hygiene, sweaty shoes and socks, and diabetes.
When left untreated, this condition could result in splitting, cracking and even whole loss of toenails. However, luckily, there are some ways on how to get rid of toenail fungus naturally and fast without too much cost.buy canada strattera online healthinschools.org/wp-content/languages/new/canada/strattera.html no prescription The following at-home remedies resorting natural ingredients available in any local grocery store. Take a look from VKool.com!
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Possible Causes Of Yellow Nails
If your nails have been damaged by dyes or harsh products, new nail growth should be a healthy, clear color. If your nails continue to be yellow, there may be something else going on in your body. Sometimes having yellow nails can be an indication of something more serious. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause nails to appear yellow, and introducing a multivitamin supplement to your regiment may stop the problem.
In some cases, nails that remain yellow despite repeated treatment can be a symptom of thyroid conditions, psoriasis, or diabetes. In rare situations, yellow nails can indicate the presence of skin cancer. A condition called yellow nail syndrome is indicated by continually yellow nails and respiratory or lymphatic problems.
How To Treat Your Toenail Fungus
While not a serious issue, toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition to experience. Toenail fungus is often caused from public areas that harbor fungi and improper cleaning/drying of the foot. Once infected, the fungus grows deeper into the nail and can be very hard to get rid of.
There are different types of fungus that cause toenail fungus. Dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds are the most frequent forms of fungus to infect the toenail. Dermatophytes are the most common among the three. Symptoms associated with fungal nails include the discoloration of the toenail, brittleness, and in some circumstances, a smell. Pain is rarely a symptom caused by toenail fungus.
Diagnosis of fungal nails is generally a rather quick process. However podiatrists will make sure that the cause is not another condition such as lichen planus, psoriasis, onychogryphosis, or nail damage. Podiatrists will make use of fungal cultures and microscopy to verify that it is fungus.
While over-the-counter ointments are readily available, most are ineffective. This is due to the fact that the nail is very protective and that the fungus slips in between the nail plate and bed. Podiatrists can offer oral medication which currently provides the best results.
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What About Using Hydrogen Peroxide At Home
Hydrogen peroxide is credited with strong antifungal and antiseptic properties that can help eliminate toenail fungus, but it is very harsh at its original consistency.
Directly applying it to your skin or nail can cause extreme dryness, stinging, and irritation. So, it is recommended that you mix it with water to dilute its potency before topical use. Itâs highly recommended to consult your doctor before trying this potentially useful but somewhat risky remedy.
Home Remedies To Treat Toenail Fungus Fast
This topical ointment has a positive clinical effect. Apply a small amount of the pill to the affected area. It contains active ingredients like camphor and eucalyptus oil, which facilitate the treatment.
- Snakeroot Extract
This is an extract from the sunflower family. The study has shown its effectiveness in its prescription.
Oregano oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help treat fingernail fungus. Apply this ingredient to the affected area twice a day for faster treatment. The product may irritate and may have some allergic reactions, which increases the risk.
Another name for the tea tree is melaleuca, an essential oil with antifungal and antiseptic abilities. NCCIH offers clinical research on tea tree oil, showing its practical impact on fingernail fungus. Some patients prefer mixing tea tree oil and oregano oil for faster results.
Another home remedy for the treatment of fingernail fungus is ozonated oils. These are olive and sunflower oils, which are injected with ozone gas. Research published by National Center for Biotechnology for Information in 2011 showed that oils exposed to ozone in low concentration for a short time could inactivate organisms like yeast, fungi, and bacteria. Rub these oils on the affected area twice a day.
Vinegar treats fingernail fungus at home. It features anecdotal evidence, which requires you to soak the affected hand in warm water with vinegar for up to 20 minutes daily.
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Check If It’s A Fungal Nail Infection
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can get them on your fingernails, too.
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How Are Thick Toenails Treated
Although not all cases of toenail fungus need treatment, thick toenails may be a symptom of worsening fungus.
Several methods are available to treat your toenails. You can try some home-based treatments first and then talk with your doctor about prescription-based options. Topical and oral medications are the mainstays of therapy.
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Common Symptoms Of Fungal Nail Infection
According to the fungal nail infection, the symptoms will come out differently. They start mild and later severe if not attended to.
- You first notice a white or yellow spot beneath your nail. Later, the whole nail part becomes white or yellow. The entire nail may also turn white, nail, black or green.
- The nail may thicken and become hard to trim.
- See a dermatologist if your finger starts to curl up or down. Check whether your nail becomes loose on the nail bed.
- Brittle and crumbled nails are symptoms of fungus.
- Fungal infection is evident with a bad smell.
Fungal infection has no pain at first. Consequently, many people ignore it. If untreated, it may cause severe pain, and you may end up losing your fingernail.
Why Does Vinegar Soak Work
The idea behind taking a vinegar foot soak for toenail fungus is relatively simple: vinegar is acidic, which gives it antifungal and antibacterial properties.
To explain a bit further, vinegar is a diluted form of acetic acid . As a result, it is an antifungal agent meaning it slows down the growth of some types of foot fungus and may kill fungus entirely.
It might also make your body less hospitable to fungus because the acidity affects the pH level of your skin. This makes fungal overgrowth and infection much more unlikely.
Its worth noting though, that there is no scientific evidence that shows vinegar soaks is a reliable method for treating toenail fungus.
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Best Ways To Treat A Nail Fungus
Nail fungus can cause thick, discolored nails, and, for some patients, it can even be painful. An Internet search will bring up plenty of ways to treat the condition, but which ones are best? Dermatologist Dr. Christopher Hull discusses what nail fungus actually is, why its so hard to get rid of, and which treatments work best.
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Dr. Hull:
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Can I Wear Nail Polish If I Have Toenail Fungus
Although the nail will grow with or without polish, its best to skip the pedicures for a while. While it can be tempting to hide the condition, nail polish can trap moisture from the nail bed, making it a welcoming environment for fungi. Nail polish can also interfere with topical treatments. Switch to socks and sneakers for a more comfortable way to hide toenail fungus.
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Unsafe Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
Although there are many effective home remedies for toenail fungus, there are still some natural and household products that can cause more harm than good. For example, you should never use bleach to get rid of toenail fungus. Its use may be toxic to the skin and cause severe skin irritation when not used properly.
Additionally, you should never use overly hot water when performing the variety of foot soaks mentioned above. Excessive heat to the nails and skin will not kill fungusand extreme temperatures may injure the skin causing burns, blisters, and sometimes permanent skin damage. Always use lukewarm water for soaking.
Urine is another home remedy that should be avoided. Previously, it had been believed to be effective against fungal infections due to its urea contents. While urea can help soften the nail bed to make it easier for antifungal medication to be absorbed, urine does not contain enough urea to be effective.
And, finally, do not remove or excessively trim toenails at home. Fungal toenails should be properly trimmed and maintained on a regular basis, but do not remove too much nail. If toenail clipping or removal is not done properly, damage to the nail bed may cause additional injury to the nail, which can be irreversible. There also is the risk of causing bacterial infections when the damaged nail is not removed properly.
Cure Nail Fungus Infections With Garlic
Use garlic oil, mixed with an equal amount of white vinegar, to cure toenail fungus, naturally. Apply it to the affected area and cover the toe with an elastic bandage. This mixture slows down the activities of the fungus because of the anti-fungal properties of allicin, present in garlic. In case, garlic oil is not available, you can mix some olive oil with crushed garlic. Eating a clove of garlic on a daily basis also helps a lot.
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Natural Treatment For Toenail Fungus: Apple Cider Vinegar
A common household cleaning/cooking substance that is also an antifungal is apple cider vinegar . You can prepare a foot soak of ACV by adding two parts warm water to one part vinegar in a large bowl or foot bath. Soak your feet for 20 minutes every day. This treatment can also help whiten your nails and prevent the fungus from spreading to other toes.
Making A Vinegar Soak
If you want to try treating your nail fungus with vinegar, then the best thing to do is soak your foot in a vinegar-water mixture. Diluting the vinegar is important to prevent it from irritating your skin. Try a daily soak and see if it helps clear the infection. If not, then don’t panic. You can still use more conventional treatments.
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Does Topical Treatment For Toenail Fungus Work
Topical treatment works, although it takes time.
One issue is that topical treatment alone is only a good idea for minor infections. In severe ones, where the nail is very thick, yellow and deformed, it may be impossible to treat fully. Avulsion surgery would be a better option.
It may also take a long time to work in these circumstances. The deeper the infection, the longer it takes. This can be frustrating, and causes many people to give up.
While you may fully intend to see treatment through, its possible to make mistakes or miss days. The more days you miss and errors that you make, the less effective the treatment. Thats especially frustrating if you did perfectly well for six months.
It also wont work if you dont follow preventative steps. You could do everything right when applying the cream. But if you wear infected socks that spread the infection to the new nail, theres no point. We recommend wearing antifungal socks in the future.
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Cutting And Filing Toenail Fungus
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Toenail Fungus Prescription Medication Treatments
Sometimes prescription medications are needed to treat a toenail infection that just wont go away with natural remedies or over-the-counter medication in a few months. In this case, prescription-strength antifungal medication can eradicate stubborn onychomycosis.
Topical antifungal medications often are effective in treating mild to moderate toenail fungus. Topical solutions may include medicated nail polishes or liquid medications. Penlac , Kerydin , and Jublia are among the top prescription drugs for toenail fungus. Some topical treatments require you to file down the surface of the nail to help the treatment get through to the nail bed. If your healthcare provider prescribes a topical medication, follow the instructions carefully for application and removal.
Oral antifungal medications can come in capsules, tablets, or liquid. Some common prescriptions are Diflucan , Lamisil , Onmel , and Sporanox .
How Long Does It Take To Recover
You need to be consistent with the treatment in order to see results. It usually takes a few months for the nail to heal completely. Healing time depends on how severe the infection is and how quickly your body responds to the treatment.
The fungal infection is cured when youve grown an entirely new nail thats free from infection.
You can continue the tea tree oil treatment after the nail has healed to ensure that the nail fungus doesnt return.
Its important that you use a high-quality tea tree oil for best results. Here are some things to look for when buying tea tree oil:
- The oil needs to be 100 percent pure.
- Buy an organic oil, if possible.
- Look for a tea tree oil that has a 10 to 40 percent concentration of terpinen. This is one of the main antiseptic and antifungal components of tea tree oil.
You can buy tea tree oil online or at a local health store. Always buy from a brand that you trust. The supplier should be able to answer any questions you have about their product.
Research your brands and manufacturers. Essential oils can have issues with purity, contamination, and strength. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt regulate essential oils, so its important to purchase from a supplier you trust.
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