How To Cure Nail Fungus
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 331,808 times.
Onychomycosis, or nail fungus, is a common infection that affects toenails and, less frequently, fingernails. It is caused by a group of fungus called dermatophytes, which thrives in warm, moist environments, like your shoes. If you suspect you have a nail infection, try to treat it quickly and routinely, as the fungus will continue to come back if allowed to take hold.
Hydrogen Peroxide With Vinegar
- On the first day, soak the infected nail in enough amounts of 5% vinegar for 5 minutes. During soaking, press and release the nail few times to ensure the vinegar gets under the nail. Now, rinse with water and pat dry completely.
- On the second day, soak the infected nail in enough amounts of 2% hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes. During soaking, press and release the nail few times to ensure the vinegar gets under the nail. Now, rinse with water and pat dry completely.
- On the third day repeat the first step. On the fourth day, repeat the second step. Repeat the same process for 3 weeks.
Note: Dont combine both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide as it forms peracetic acid which has different properties.
Treating The Fungus With Prescription Drugs
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Treatments For Fungal Nail Infections
Treatment isn’t always needed for a mild fungal nail infection because it’s unlikely to cause any further problems and you may feel it’s not worth treating.
Whether you decide to have treatment or not, you should still practise good foot hygiene to stop the infection getting worse or spreading to others.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you’re bothered by the appearance of the affected nail, or it’s causing problems such as pain and discomfort. They’ll probably recommend:
- antifungal tablets tablets taken once or twice a day for several months
- antifungal nail paints special paints applied directly to the nail over several months
- nail softening kits where a paste is used to soften infected parts of the nail, before they’re removed with a scraping device
A procedure to remove the nail completely may be recommended in severe cases. Laser treatment, where a high-energy laser is used to destroy the fungus, is also an option. But this is only available privately and can be expensive.
You can reduce your risk of developing a fungal nail infection by:
Nail salon equipment can sometimes be the source of fungal nail infections. If you regularly visit a salon, make sure any equipment used is properly sterilised between uses.
Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
Risk factors | Diagnosis | Home remedies | Over-the-counter medicine | Prescription drugs | When to see a doctor
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, is a common nail condition affecting millions of people in the United States. Fungal nail infections can develop on the nail from various organisms such as molds, yeasts, and fungi. This usually occurs after these organisms come into contact with a cracked nail or skin surrounding the nail as the opening provides a portal of entry for these organisms.
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How To Naturally Treat Nail Fungus 12 Solutions
November 17, 2020 by Robin
Nail Fungus is a common complaint, it usually starts as a small spot under the nail and without treatment it can spread. Weve put together a list of 12 natural remedies that will help treat the fungus and keep your nail from thickening and becoming discolored.
Nail fungus is not fun to deal with, its usually caused by moisture being trapped under the nail in just the right conditions. Before purchasing an expensive treatment from the pharmacy, give one of these natural remedies a try.
Are you dealing with Nail fungus? Its not fun! Its caused by moisture getting trapped in a warm, dark place, like a wet shoe. It usually begins with a yellow or white spot just under the tip of the nail. As it spreads you may notice the nail becoming thick and brittle and in some cases become darker in color. If left untreated it can go on indefinitely.
There are several treatments for nail fungus, many can be purchased over the counter. However, before making a wasted a trip to the store, you owe it to yourself to try some of these remedies that our grandmothers used, they are just as effective and much cheaper.
NATURAL NAIL FUNGUS REMEDIESAlways consult a doctor before using any home treatments.
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Treating Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment may not be necessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome cases, antifungal medication may be recommended.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment, but if you’re not bothered by it you might decide it’s not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, may cause side effects, and isn’t always effective.
Whether or not you decide to have treatment, you should still follow the self-help advice below to help stop the condition getting worse or spreading to others.
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Complications Regarding Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungal infections are typically painless or at least start off that way. But without proper self-care and treatment, the condition can spiral into a more severe case of nail fungus, which can be painful and may cause irretrievable damage to your nails.
Moreover, the toenail infection can sprout other serious infections that can spread beyond your feet, particularly if you have a suppressed immune system due to certain medications, diabetes, or other conditions.
Because people with diabetes are already predisposed to reduced blood circulation and nerve supply in their feet, their odds for catching toenail infections as well as bacterial skin infection are quite high.
Thus, it is imperative for people with diabetes to seek professional medical help for any seemingly minor foot injury including a nail fungal infection to avoid any future complications.
How To Cure Toenail Fungus: Can Vinegar Help
This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 19 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,091,339 times.
Nail fungus refers to a fungal infection that starts underneath your toenails. It could cause discoloration, thickening, or crumbling on one or more of your nails. This is a frustrating problem, so youll naturally want to get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible. One remedy you may have heard of is soaking your foot in vinegar to clear the infection. Vinegar is acidic, so it will kill bacteria and fungus.XResearch source However, this remedy has very limited success because the vinegar cant penetrate under the nail. You can try it if you want to, but visit a podiatrist for further treatment if you dont see any results in 2 weeks.
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Home Remedies For Nail Fungus
Nail fungus is a common infection and many people suffer from the fungus without doing anything about it. This further aggravates the problem. Treatments available in hospitals cannot cure the infection completely and often the infection returns. Also, these treatments are expensive and take long to show any results.Therefore, many people resort to home remedies as they are cheap and quite effective in curing nail fungus infection.
Treating The Fungus With Over
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Tea Tree Oil Has Soothing Properties That Can Help In Pain Management
- Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a natural oil that comes from Australias Melaleuca alternifolia plant. Not only does tea tree oil possess antifungal properties, it also relieves itchiness, discomfort, and inflammation. There are many topical anti-fungal solutions that carry this natural ingredient in their product. An example is EmoniNail, which is an FDA-approved effective treatment for onychomycosis. If you choose tea tree oil and remedy it on your own, one must be reminded that it needs to be diluted. Direct application of tea tree oil is not ideal. This can easily be fixed by diluting it with coconut oil.
Cover The Affected Area In Oregano Oil
Believe it or not, the tasty herb can also work wonders for treating toenail fungus at home. According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Skin Appendage Disorders, researchers found that oreganos antibacterial properties are able to inhibit fungal growth in nails when included in an essential oil blend.
While the effectiveness of oregano oil has only been known anecdotally, thymola common component of oregano oilhas been reviewed to be an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent, Hayag says. People with toenail fungus can apply the product to affected areas twice daily and can expect no improvement, partial improvement, or complete improvement of their toenail fungus after using oregano oil. That said, she mentioned that oregano oil is quite potent and can cause an adverse reaction if you have particularly sensitive skin. For this reason, she recommends starting with a patch test. Additionally, to prevent an adverse reaction, consider mixing oregano oil with a carrier oil, such as olive or avocado oils, to dilute its potency.
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Secrets Of How To Treat Nail Fungus Naturally
It has been found that using conventional medication for any treatment has some sort of side effect. Some are mild and some are not. But to avoid such side effects many people would rather go the more natural route and use the products that are currently on the market today. If you are a person that suffers from the affects of a fungus on your toenails then you are probably looking for products that you can use for treating foot fungus naturally.
In most of these products the active ingredients are herbal products that have been in use for many years for treating foot fungus. Now they are manufactured with high quality ingredients for the masses so that everyone can easy use them on whatever area they need their fungus treated. If you have asked yourself, how to treat toenail fungus then read further to see all the great natural products that can help you to reclaim your toenails.
The Skin and Nail Energizer
This Skin & Nail Energizer product is entirely natural and comes in the form of a cream for treating toenail fungus. The active ingredients in this product are Emu Oil and Tolfanate. The Emu oil used penetrates deeper into the nail and that helps it eradicate the nail fungus. You can find this product in a handy 4-ounce bottle and it usually costs around $17.
The Nail Fungus Treatment & Toenail Fungus Treatment Cream
Anti-Fungal Treatments
Futspa Nail Drops
Tea Tree Oil
How Do Dermatologists Treat A Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail, cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.
To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:
Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months.
Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, its essential that you apply these medicines exactly as directed.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the following medicines that you apply to the nail to treat nail fungus:
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Amorolfine
-
Efinaconazole
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Tavaborole
Side effects from these medicines are generally mild. Possible side effects include redness and swelling, an ingrown toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment.
The FDA has approved the following systemic medicines to treat nail fungus:
-
Fluconazole
-
Itraconazole
-
Terbinafine
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Ways To Safely Treat Toenail Fungus At Home
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Toenail fungus sounds funky, but believe it or not, its much more common than you think. Thats because the pesky foot issuewhich most often presents as yellowing, cracking, and thickening of the nailscan be caused by everything from slower-growing nails and excessive sweating to athletes foot and walking barefoot in communal areas such as pools, shower rooms, gyms, and the like.
Most infections are caused by tinea species, but can involve harder-to-treat species of dermatophytes,” says Francisco Oliva, DPM. He adds that infections usually occur when theres a combination of issues affecting the toenail. Sometimes there is an injury to the nail at some point, he explains. The effects can be delayed for months and years. Once the fungus invades the nail, the keratin layer of the nail becomes a difficult barrier to penetrate.
Apple Cider Vinegar And Listerine
The combination of apple cider vinegar and Listerine heals the infection faster. Apple cider vinegar contains antifungal properties. It also balances the pH levels of the nail and skin.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar and Listerine for Nail Fungus?
- Combine equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and Listerine.
- Apply the mixture on the nail and leave it to dry for 30 minutes.
- Repeat the process few times in a day to get relief from the fungal infection.
Alternative Methods:
- You can add the mixture into a sterilized nail polish bottle and paint the mixture on the infected nail as you would like a normal nail polish.
- You can soak a cotton ball into the solution, place it on the infected nail and secure it with a tape or Band-Aid.
- You can apply apple cider vinegar directly on the affected nail, if you can handle the strong nature of it.
Baking soda contains fungicidal properties which prevent the fungus from growing and spreading.
How to Use Baking Soda for Nail Fungus?
Method 1:
- Combine 2 parts of baking soda and 1 part of water .
- Using a cotton swab or paint brush, apply the paste on the affected nails.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile do your best to get the application beneath the nail by scrubbing or using a Q-tip.
- Rinse off the paste and pat them completely dry. Repeat the process 2 times in a day until you notice the results.
Method 2: with Apple Cider Vinegar
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