Best Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
A variety of treatment options for toenail fungus are available, including drug-free alternatives, over-the-counter medicine, prescription drugs, laser treatment, or even surgical removal for those severe cases. Many people would rather start with items they have around the house before purchasing medication or visiting their doctors office. These treatments are most effective in mild fungal cases.
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes when it comes to treating nail fungus. This is because a new toenail must grow to replace the old, damaged toenail. This can take up to 18 months to regrow the toenail. This time frame varies on how fast or slow your toenails grow and how severe the fungal infection is. Many home remedies quickly improve the appearance of the nail, but the actual fungus is not gone until the new, healthy nail has replaced the old, damaged one.
Try some of these effective home remedies for toenail fungus:
Do Podiatrists Treat Toenail Fungus
Any people dealing with the self-consciousness caused by the problem of unsightly toenails probably ask themselves whether or not podiatrists do, in fact, treat toenail fungus. Because this is an issue which many people avoid talking about, for whatever reason, they often do not know which course of action to take with regards to treatment.
This particular type of foot problem is not detrimental to ones health but it can have a debilitating effect on a persons sense of self-worth and confidence. Many of us take for granted the fact that we can walk barefoot or wear open-toed shoes without a second thought. There are those who do not have the same luxury and if you are one of those people you may wish to continue reading on.
Toenail Fungus Home Care
Sometimes itâs possible to treat your toenail fungus at home. You can try:
- Over the counter antifungal creams or ointments. File or cut off any white markings on your nails. Soak your nails in water and dry off before you put on the medicated cream.
- Special nail care. If you keep your nails trimmed, it can reduce the pressure and pain you feel. You can also thin your nail bed by filing it down. This can help antifungal creams get to the problem easier.
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Side Effects Of Toenail Fungus Medication
One of the many benefits of using a homeopathic remedy is that there are little to no adverse side effects. Topical treatments often prescribed to treat toenail fungus can potentially burn or blister the skin. Oral medications for treating onychomycosis can cause liver or gastrointestinal damage. Be sure to read your medications list of potential side effects. Consult your pharmacist, healthcare provider, or specialist if you are concerned about side effects of prescription drugs.
Why Is Onychomycosis Difficult To Treat
While specialists quickly diagnose mycosis, most people fail to recognise onychomycosis early-stage symptoms on their own. The infection often takes a chronic form that is challenging to cure due to a lack of effective treatments. The quick spread of disease also hinders the healing process.
Its better to prevent the nail fungus condition rather than treat it later.
Preventative measures include maintaining hygiene, keeping your skin clean, and changing socks daily. It is recommended to wear shoes that allow air circulation to reduce the risk of infection.
But if your finger or toenails are already infected, our clinic offers naturally-derived onychomycosis topical treatment from The Foot Practice.
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What Are The Symptoms
Symptoms often develop slowly over time. A nail with a fungal infection may:
- Turn yellow, white, or brown.
- Crumble or split and may separate from the skin.
A fungal nail infection usually isn’t painful. But over time, you may be uncomfortable or even have pain when you wear shoes, walk, or stand for a long time. The fungus could also spread to other nails or your skin.
How Can I Prevent Fungal Nail Infections
Since so many factors facilitate onychomycosis development and spread like poor hygiene, increased sweating, and damp environments we are all at risk. However, people with diabetes, psoriasis or other immune system disorders that decrease the blood flow to the limbs are more vulnerable to the disease.
Adults, particularly men, have more chances to develop nail fungus than children and females. It is worth noting that onychomycosis quickly spreads between those who live under the same roof. If a person has the infection, its generally transmitted to other family members.
Another essential fact about onychomycosis is that other fungal illnesses can easily mimic it. Thats why the best way to detect and treat this infection early is to visit a qualified specialist like your podiatrist.
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Is There A Natural Treatment For Nail Fungus Infections
If youre looking for a natural cure for fungal nail infections, visit The Foot Practice. We offer our patients safe and natural onychomycosis topical treatment that is highly effective.
Our skin and nail care treatment is uniquely derived a natural cure for fungal nail infections harnessing Spirulinas fungicidal power to start killing nail fungus instantly and once and for all. The solution also uses the same natural antifungal properties to repair damaged nails by recovering the infected nail bed.
The Foot Practices nailKALM® remedy, combined with the expert advice from our lead podiatrist, improves the healing process of nail fungus infections, quickly relieving the diseases symptoms.
The antifungal activity of AMYCOT® thats found in The Foot Practices fungal nail treatment in Singapore produces a putative enzymatic action that kills nail fungus fast and has little-to-no side effects in most patients. It can be used daily without irritation.
So What Kills Nail Fungus Fast
A dedicated foot doctor or specialist may prescribe oral medications like antibiotics or remedies for external use. However, the treatment plan may take several months.
New remedies for toenail fungus include topical antifungal medications like creams, sprays, and gels. These medications should be applied for at least 48 weeks and may result in irritation in the area around the finger and toenails.
Even more disappointing beyond the long treatment timeframe is the relatively low efficacy when treating toenail fungus, as only around 20 percent of patients fully recover from the disease.
Thus, you may wonder if any treatment approaches available on the market show more successful results, or how to kill nail fungus naturally.
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How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Nail Fungus
To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. Its important to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a skin infection caused by fungus like athletes foot.
To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out whats causing the problem.
Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?
Be sure to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.
How Can You Avoid Fungal Nail Infections
There are things you can do to avoid getting a fungal nail infection or having it come back.
- Before bed, wash and dry your feet carefully.
Applying a topical antifungal medicine may help prevent repeat infections.
- Keep your feet and hands dry.
Dry skin and nails are less likely to get infected. Put powder on your dry feet or hands after you take a shower or bath.
- Wear sandals or roomy shoes made of materials that allow moisture to escape.
Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
- Wear socks.
Change them if your feet get damp or sweaty.
- Wear shower sandals in wet public areas, such as locker rooms or showers.
Let them dry between uses.
- Do not share nail files or clippers, socks, towels, or other personal items.
- Avoid injuring your nail.
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Common Home Remedies For Fungal Toenails
With any home remedy, its important to continue treatment for at least two weeks after the infection appears to be gone. This helps ensure that all the fungus is killed and prevents reinfection. You should also avoid sharing towels, shoes, socks, or other personal items with someone who has a fungal infection. If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation, see your doctor before using any home remedies for fungal infections.
Here are a few of the most common home remedies:
What Is Toenail Fungus
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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When Do Podiatrists Help With Toenails
So when might it be a time to get professional podiatry help for your toenails? If your toenails are healthy and in good condition but you dont like cutting them on your own, then you might be better off asking a friend or relative for help, or visiting a pedicurist.
However, if you have any condition making it difficult to deal with your nails, then a visit to your nearest podiatry clinic is definitely recommended. Here are some common nail conditions that require podiatry care:
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Foot Soaks & Toenail Fungus Treatment Options
Listerine Soak:- Yes, some will claim that this is helpful. It is thought that Listerine has some antifungal properties, but more research is needed to understand how effective it is for toenail fungus. The suggested treatment is to mix 30-50 ml of Listerine in 2 cups of warm water and soak for 30 minutes once a day. If you have dry scaly skin, it may also be effective in improving this. People with sensitive skin may react to Listerine so its advised to apply some to your skin and see if you have any redness after a few hours before you soak.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Use the following mixture 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, and 1/3 cup Epsom salt. Make sure to soak your entire foot for 30 minutes once a day. Taking apple cider vinegar orally may also have some beneficial health effects by working against the fungus from the inside out. The acid in vinegar from the acetic acid it contains is thought to kill the fungus.Additional Topical Treatments To Include
Tea Tree Oil: This is a type of essential oil you can buy over the counter. Other options might include cinnamon oil and peppermint oil. Some claim that this will have a positive effect. You dont need to use a lot to go a long way. Simply clean the nail, or nails with alcohol then rub the tea tree oil in.
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What Are Treatments For Toenail Fungus
Do you need to treat your nail fungus? Maybe it doesn’t hurt, and the yellow, thick nails don’t bother you.
But nail fungus doesn’t go away by itself. And if you don’t treat it, there’s a chance it could get worse. It could spread to other nails or through your body. It could cause pain when you walk.
There are a number of ways to take care of it, including:
Nonprescription options. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn’t look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract — but studies show mixed results.
Prescription polish and creams. Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. They may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure itâs really a fungus and to find out what type it is.
The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or they may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
Prescription medications. One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell them about any other meds youâre taking — some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
Foot Soak Toenail Options As Home Remedies Do They Work
Toenail fungus is a very common foot complaint. It is thought that by the age of 80, a high percentage of patients will have had this problem. Toenail fungus is referred to as onychomycosis. It typically presents as yellow discoloration in the nail, and the nail may also become thickened and crumbly. Although less common, there may also be a white discoloration. It is frequently accompanied by athletes foot on the skin which is the same fungal organism. Fungus is all around us, so its hard to avoid. It may be on the floor, in showers, in your shoes. Many may think that it is very contagious but in fact, whether you get toenail fungus or not may be more based upon your immune system. There is evidence to suggest that patients with diabetes may have an immune system that is compromised, and therefore fungal nails are more common. Also, one spouse may have fungal nails and the other never has the problem!
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How Do You Get A Fungal Nail Infection
Most fungal nail infections occur as a result of the fungi that cause athlete’s foot infecting the nails.
These fungi often live harmlessly on your skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places like the feet.
You’re more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you:
- don’t keep your feet clean and dry
- wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
- walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms
- have damaged your nails
- have a weakened immune system
- have certain other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease
Fungal nail infections can be spread to other people, so you should take steps to avoid this if you have an infection.
When To See A Doctor
In most cases, toenail fungus is considered a cosmetic problem. Still, it may cause serious complications for some people.
If you have diabetes, toenail fungus may lead to foot ulcers or other foot problems. According to a 2012 study, chronic toenail fungus is a significant risk factor for bacterial cellulitis of the leg.
You shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.
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Laser Treatment For Fungal Nail Infections
Laser Treatment for fungal nail infections is now available at Podiatry Care. The team at Podiatry Care are the first to incorporate leading German laser technology to deal with fungus affecting toe nails and have over 5 years experience in administering laser treatment.
You may have spoken with your Podiatrist in the past about treating fungal nail infections. Without doubt it is one of the more difficult conditions to successfully treat. Until now messy and ineffective topical creams and ointments along with hazardous oral anti-fungal medications have been the only treatment available.
Often the side effects of the drugs and the inability of the medication to penetrate the nail and nail beds have meant poor compliance and subsequently very poor outcomes. The introduction of the 1064 Diode laser has meant we can now treat this embarrassing and often extremely stubborn condition with a success rate of up to 80%.
The treatment is safe, requires no anesthesia, there are no side effects and is a walk in, walk out procedure.
The patients love the ease of the procedure. The technology is so advanced that the only perceivable sensation is a slight warming effect. Even the most affected nails can be treated, with a great improvement in the appearance of the nails in 3 to 4 months following laser treatment.
Call Podiatry Care and ask about our special GAP FREE* assessment to see if you qualify for Laser treatment of your toe nail fungus.
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Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women’s Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.
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Verywell Health / Peter Ardito
Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails. When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. If left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.
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