Home Remedies For 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.
Donât Miss: Does Tea Tree Oil Treat Toenail Fungus
How To Apply Apple Cider Vinegar For Toenail Fungus Infection
For good result when using apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment, you want to make sure you buy raw, unpasteurized, and organic vinegar. To use Apple cider vinegar for toenail fungi infection, all you need to do is to soak your feet in a bowl of warm water and vinegar for a between 20-30 minutes. Do this twice a day till the fungus clears from your toenail.
Application
- Step 1 Fill a bucket or basin or a foot tub with water enough to completely cover your feet. You could add the water using cups for measurement purpose.
- Step 2 If for instance 4 cups of water was used in step one, use two cups of ACV here. You want to make sure the apple cider vinegar added is at least half of the water to be used.
- Step 3 Immerse your feet in the bowl of water and leave them there for at least 20-30 minutes. Note that it is important that your feet are completely immersed in the water, if the water is not enough, you must add more water and ensure half the quantity of water added as extra is also added in form of Apple cider.
Once done you can then wipe your feet properly and repeat the process for at least two times per day in order to see better results.
What Is A Listerine Foot Soak
As the foot detox trend continues to surge, Listerine is the latest ingredient that soakers are pouring into their basins. A Listerine foot soak is a mixture of equal parts Listerine and water, and supporters claim the mixture contains antifungal, antiseptic, and cooling/calming properties. We’ll dig more into the efficacy ahead.
Also Check: What Oral Medication Is Used For Toenail Fungus
Doctors Or Pharmacists Can Prescribe Clinically Proven Medication
Toenail fungus home remedies can be effective at tackling infections. However, it is worth remembering that a doctor would prescribe a clinically proven medication to successfully treat toenail fungus.
If your infection doesnt improve or appears to get worse, you should stop using these treatments and contact your doctor for advice.
How Do You Clean Your Feet
Method 2Washing Your Feet in the Shower
Also Check: How Much Does Laser Nail Fungus Treatment Cost
What Can Be Added To An Apple Cider Vinegar Foot Soak
Using diluted apple cider vinegar on its own in a foot soak can offer great benefits when it comes to getting rid of toenail fungus. The antifungal properties and acidic nature help to make sure nail fungus doesnt ruin the health of your feet.
But, there are things you can add to a foot soak to make it even better. Some ingredients may help to speed up the healing process of a fungus. Others are good for the general health of your feet.
If you want to make the most of your ACV foot soak, consider adding one or more of the following ingredients into the basin youre using:
Who Apple Cider Vinegar Will Not Work For
If you are diabetic, chances are that your toenail fungus infection is as a result of diabetes and not a fungus per se. People who are diabetic often have the fungus infection known as onychomycosis. This infection affects their toenail. If you are in the class of these people, using ACV will amount to a total waste of your time.
Read Also: What Medicine Is Used For Toenail Fungus
How To Try It At Home
The resounding consensus when it comes to using Listerine as a foot soak is that while it might not be extremely effective, it won’t hurt you either . So if you want to try your hand at this at home, here’s how: To do a Listerine foot soak, you’re going to start by getting your hands on a foot bath or bowl thats large enough to fit your feet. Then you’ll mix equal parts of warm water and Listerine, and maybe even a bit of lemon juice. Make sure theres enough liquid so that your feet are covered. Soak your feet for somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes .
The water is important here for diluting the Listerineit’s definitely not a good idea to soak your feet in straight Listerine. And of course, if you have any medical concerns at all, its important to check with your doctor before trying something like this.
Baking Soda Foot Soak
Where would we be without this inexpensive pantry wonder? Baking soda can banish blackheads, soothe itchy and sunburned skin, and may curb fungus growth.
According to a study in Mycopathologia, lab tests revealed baking soda is effective at suppressing the growth of fungus.
Heres how to prep your foot bath:
- Fill a basin with warm water.
- Add a half cup of baking soda.
- Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Dry feet completely.
Also Check: How To Stop Toenail Fungus From Growing
What Is The Easiest Way To Get Rid Of Toe Fungus
Top 10 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Fast
- Apple Cider Vinegar. One of the best remedies for toenail fungus, apple cider vinegar can be used topically, internally, or both.
- Olive Leaf Extract. Another excellent choice for taking out toenail fungus is olive leaf extract.
- Tea Tree Oil.
- Baking Soda and Sodium Borate.
- Coconut Oil.
Making A Foot Soak With Epsom Salt For Toenail Fungus
Making Epsom foot soak is rather easy. Here is the step-by-step process:
You May Like: Who Do You See About Toenail Fungus
How Do You Make A Vinegar Foot Soak
If you would like to try out a vinegar foot bath at home, you can follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Get a bottle of vinegar. The type of vinegar you use doesnt necessarily matter most people either take a white vinegar foot soak or an apple cider vinegar foot soak. The important thing is the pH of the vinegar, which should typically be 2-3. So, its not a question of what is better for toenail fungus , its a question of whether youve selected vinegar with a pH of 2-3.
Step 2: Fill a sink or bowl with 1 part vinegar and 2 parts warm water .
Top tip: if youre finding the smell of vinegar too strong or unpleasant, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the mixture, such as lavender oil.
Step 3: Soak foot for 15-30 minutes daily in the mixture. Do not soak for longer than 30 minutes.
Step 4: Make sure that you dry your foot/feet thoroughly after your soak. The fungus grows best in a moist environment, so leaving feet damp encourages fungal growth especially if you are putting on socks or shoes next.
Step 5: Repeat this process daily until you can see that your infection has disappeared.
If you have particularly sensitive skin, you may find that vinegar causes some skin irritation. If this is the case, you can try decreasing the time you spend soaking your feet to 10-15 minutes or diluting the mixture with more water. You could also try reducing the amount of foot soaks you try to a few times a week instead.
How Much Can Vinegar Help
In a nutshell, toenail fungus and vinegar are a match made in heaven!
As you might know, our grandmas used vinegar for basically everything. Among others, it makes a great impact on the fungus. All you need to do is soak your feet in it. Keep in mind that toenail fungus vinegar treatment takes time, so you need to be really persistent!
Although many people swear this can work, there is no substantial medical evidence to support it. Nevertheless, there are lots of cases in practices where vinegar worked on mild infections.
As previously mentioned, unlike drugs, there are no side effects to worry about. Antifungal drugs are especially troublesome for people with a bad liver, so this would be a great alternative.
In most cases, doctors recommend regular pharmaceuticals. Even if you cannot use oral drugs, there are lots of topical creams for fungus. You can either get tablets, nail polish, or cream.
No matter what, patients are required to do blood tests before they can use these drugs, which speaks volumes regarding their volatility.
Read Also: What Will Kill Foot Fungus
Apple Cider Vinegar Drops On Toenail Fungus
Aside from foot soak, you can use apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment by applying drops of the apple cider vinegar directly to your toenail bed. Once applied, you should allow the ACV to sit on your toenail bed for about 10-15 minutes undisturbed.
This method works perfectly for those who do not have 30 minutes two times daily to soak their feet in Apple cider vinegar. For quicker results, those who want can combine this method with the foot soak method.
Whichever of these two methods you intend to use to treat your toenail fungus, should be used for several months or until the fungus toenail is restored back to it normal state.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus Home Remedy Have Any Side Effects
Home remedies generally have no side effects and thats not different with Apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment. ACV is used as preservative we eat them in our foods at home and cause us no harm. They are only harmful to fungi. However, in everything moderation is important. You should not overuse ACV foot soak simply because you want to get rid of your toenail fungus infection overnight.
How Long Does It Take For Apple Cider Vinegar To Cure or Kill Toenail Fungus
Read Also: Which Medicine Is Best For Nail Fungus
Ditch The Expensive Medications Of Podiatrists By Reading This Article About Using Apple Cider Vinegar And Baking Soda For Toenail Fungus Treatment
Toenail fungus, alias onychomycosis, is a contagious fungal infection that happens when the harmful fungi infiltrate the toenails via cuts or open wounds in your nails or surrounding skin. This is not only an aesthetic issue but also a painful condition as well. People with diabetes, depleted immune system, athletes foot, toenail trauma, and who frequently spend time in the water are at higher risk of getting toenail fungus. Various conventional treatments are present, but they all are expensive. If you dont want a costly approach, then apple cider vinegar and baking soda are common household staples thatll do the trick.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of White Toenail Fungus
Advantages Of Apple Cider Vinegar In Treating Toenail Fungus
Apple cider vinegar is now one of the most used edible vinegars. It is available in every household. People love its taste, and there are several other benefits of having apple cider vinegar with you.
In this section, we will mention all those advantages that a person will experience if he has apple cider vinegar as the only option to treat toenail fungus.
Dries the skin
Moisture is the best friend of a growing toenail fungus. You cannot even think of killing the toenail fungus without keeping the toe dry.
Even though the apple cider vinegar is a liquid, but it is acidic nature will dry the skin, eventually disturbing the moisture ratio for the fungus.
Balances the pH
Highly alkaline skin pH is a major reason for toenail fungus growth. To inhibit it, an acidic solution such as hydrogen peroxide, or apple cider vinegar is required.
The apple cider vinegar solution will decrease the pH level. This will not only stop the growth of toenail fungus, but also kill the already existing fungus.
Reduces itchiness
To get rid of itchiness and burning, mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda. It will reduce the redness, soothing the skin, with a neutralizing effect.
Antibacterial
Apple cider vinegar is healthy for skin, as it creates an anti-bacterial film around the effected area. This film will help in minimizing the risk of worsen bacterial infections.
It exfoliates
A thin layer of apple cider vinegar can clean the layers of dead skin cells making it immune to further reactions.
Can You Put Apple Cider Vinegar On Your Toenails
Soaking your feet in an apple cider vinegar solution is a popular treatment for yellow toenail fungus. But, there are other ways you can use ACV to help with toenail fungus, too. The other way in which people use this vinegar for treating nail fungus is to apply it directly to the affected area.
Whether you dont have the time for a daily foot soak or you need something stronger to treat your toenail fungus, you can apply ACV to the affected nail. But, there are some precautions to take along with this method.
Add ACV to the affected toenails and let it completely dry. You dont need to worry about rinsing it away. If you notice any adverse side effects, you should rinse your feet and dilute the ACV with some water before trying it again. The precautions you should take have to do with the fact that this is still an acidic solution. Someone with sensitive skin may experience slight irritation if theyre using vinegar directly on their toes or skin.
Applying ACV directly to your toes can either be used as a standalone treatment, or as a complement to an ACV foot soak.
People have discovered many different home remedies for treating toenail fungus. Using ACV is one of the most popular because it works so well. The natural antifungal properties of ACV make it an excellent solution for getting rid of a fungal infection. Plus, it makes it difficult for a fungus to grow and spread.
Also Check: How Do I Get Rid Of Toe Nail Fungus
How Long Does It Take For Vinegar To Kill Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a fungal infection of your toenail or fingernail. Though it is rarely seen in fingers, it is quite commonly seen in toes. It is also known as onychomycosis. It makes your toenail discoloured, distorted, thickened and brittle. If left untreated, it may lead to pain upon pressure. Toenail fungus is difficult to cure. Repeat episodes are quite common.
White Vinegar Vs Apple Cider Vinegar The Differences
There is a lot of differences and its not just the names and the colors. Both are great for curing fungus but there are stark differences between the two.
White vinegar also is known as distilled or spirit vinegar is clear. Standard white vinegar contains roughly 4-7% acetic acid and 93-96% water. White vinegar is made from the fermentation of grain alcohol and contains antimicrobial properties which make it useful against fungi.
Apple cider vinegar , in contrast, is a brown color and typically has something called the mother. The mother is basically a colony of beneficial bacteria that are best utilized when ingested internally. ACV typically has 5-6% acetic acid and 94-95% water. It is made by crushing apples, extracting the liquid, and then going through a two-step fermentation process. Apple cider vinegar has more nutritional value than standard white vinegar due to the mother and the fact that it is derived from apples.
Read Also: Does Vicks Work On Nail Fungus
What Does Soaking Your Feet In Apple Cider Vinegar Do
First, it is important to note that you have toenail fungus infection as a result of the pH of the surrounding skin and nail becoming very basic, or alkaline. It is proven that fungus of any kind thrives in an alkaline environment. This means to get rid of toenail fungus, you need to ensure the surrounding skin and or nail turns from basic or alkaline to acidic as fungi dont survive in acidic environments.
This is why apple cider vinegar is useful. ACV is acidic enough to get rid of fungi but not acidic enough to cause harm to humans hence it is used as a preservative. Researches show ACV has antifungual qualities that help in slowing down the growth of all types of foot fungus which makes it ideal for toenail fungus infection treatment