How Can I Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally

Causes Of Toenail Fungus

• Onychomycosis stems from a number of fungal pathogens, primarily a certain group of fungi known as dermatophytes. Other relatively less common carriers of this infection are yeast and mold.
• Your susceptibility to this type of infection increases with age as older people tend to have increasingly brittle and dry nails that may allow the fungus to slip in through the cracks.
• Direct skin-to-skin contact with people grappling with fungal infections like athletes foot or ringworm on their hands can transmit the fungus onto you, paving the way for a toenail infection.
• A warm, moist environment such as a pool deck or a locker room provide the ideal breeding grounds for these infection-causing fungi. Therefore, people who walk barefoot in such areas tend to pick up this infection quite easily.
• Another common way of catching a fungal nail infection is by sharing an infected nail clipper or towel.
• Moreover, people who are prone to having moisture-ridden nails or often wear sweaty socks and shoes are increasingly predisposed to getting a fungal nail infection all by themselves.

+ Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is a common issue that affects up to 10 percent of American adults. It can be resistant to treatments, but there are home remedies that can banish this fungus forever and prevent it from occurring again in the future. When you have a toenail fungus, the affected nails appear thick and yellow. As the infection continues, the nails can become weak and brittle, resulting in them chipping off and falling away from the nail bed. It is important to start treating a fungal infection as soon as you notice it because early treatment tends to get rid of the fungus faster and it is easier to treat in the early stages.

Garlic As A Remedy To Treat Toenail Fungus Naturally

Garlic is another one of the most effective home remedies for toenail fungus treatment. Garlic is considered to have fine antibacterial properties. It helps effectively to get rid of toenail fungus faster. You can use the garlic remedy by both, internally and externally method. It also useful for boosting immunity.

Procedure:

• Squeeze out some garlic juice and dip a cotton ball in it.
• Dab the infected area with the soaked cotton ball.

Method 2:

• Take some garlic clove and add a few drops of olive oil in.
• Crush and mix them well to make a fine paste.
• Apply this paste on the affected area for at least 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, wash the area with soap in lukewarm water. Pat it dry well.
• Go on with this remedy for a few weeks.
• For precaution, continue this remedy for longer even after condition heals.

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Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally

Sheila is a children’s author who learned heaps as a wellness coordinator. She loves to share healthy tidbits that will benefit her readers.

Fungal toenail formulas can cost an excessive amount of money, sometimes more than $180 for a dermatological prescription. Often, these formulas do not fully cure the problem once you finish the formula, the fungus resurfaces, and you must pay for another prescription. Ouch. This cycle goes on endlessly, never truly cures your fungal nail ailment, and you end up spending an exorbitant amount of money needlessly.

Getting rid of nail fungus is not an easy task. It usually keeps coming back and doesn’t heal properly. The fungus feeds on the keratin that makes up the surface of the toenail. When you apply nail polish on your nails, your nail bed stifles, and this creates a breeding condition for nail fungal growth.

The fungus also thrives in dark, moist environments. Public showers and closed shoes are prime culprits in helping fungi bloom. It is necessary to keep your feet clean and dry.

Use antibacterial soap and wear cotton or wool socks to help absorb moisture from sweaty feet. Your shoes should allow your feet to breathe, and you should expose your feet to sunlight often. Sandals or slippers are ideal to wear when you are trying to heal this type of infection.

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Maintain The Good Hygiene

To reduce the chances of nail fungus, start taking care of your feet. Allow as much air as possible to reach your nails. You can take of simple things that will help you to prevent the symptoms of toenail fungus. You can follow simple preventative measure to get rid of nail fungus. Wearing sandal or flip flops in the public area can help. Clean and wash your feet everyday. If you want to make your nails dry all time then do not wear tight shoes, hosiery and tights that will give moisture to your skin and sweaty environment to your nails. Go for open toed shoes.

How To Treat Nail Fungus Naturally During Pregnancy

Studies have reported that the prevalence of nail fungus is approximately 23% of the population in Europe, 20% in East Asia, and 14% in North America. Symptoms of nail fungus may initially include white or yellow spots or streaks on the nail, while you may notice discoloration, thickening, and crumbling of the nail as the infection progresses. Lets discuss how to treat nail fungus naturally during pregnancy.

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Eat To Kill Toe Nail Fungus

Once you get a toe nail fungus it might take an unusually long time to get rid of it. It could horribly take more than a year to fully heal because your nail must totally grow back. You must be diligent and mindful of your toenails.

You will need to cut back on your consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrates because sugar weakens your immune system and feeds the fungi. Make sure you eat a substantial amount of cultured products containing âfriendlyâ bacteria.

This lactobacillus helps to inhibit the growth of fungus under and around the nail bed. Eliminate foods from your diet that tend to promote secretion of mucus like pasteurized dairy and meat products.

• Avoid soda drinks, processed foods, and fatty or fried foods.
• Eat heaps of garlic because it helps to neutralize most fungi.

Is Toenail Fungus Really Such A Problem

If youre thinking you can just live with it, we dont advise letting toenail fungus go untreated. Its an insidious problem, and without treatment, you have to deal with the discomfort of the nail as well as feeling self-conscious about its unsightliness.

If you let a nail fungus infection go for too long, several problems emerge. The infected nail can become misshapen and increasingly separated from your nail bed. Itching and pain are unpleasant side effects if theyre too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.

You need to be especially attentive to treating toenail fungus if your immune system is compromised. If youre living with diabetes, its critical not to ignore the fungus. Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection.

Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athletes foot. Possibly the worst outcome of untreated nail fungus is needing to have your nail surgically removed.

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Natural Remedies For Fungal Nail Infections

Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado.

Nail fungus remedies are sometimes used to treat fungal infections in the toenails or fingernails. Also referred to as onychomycosis, nail fungus is often difficult to treat with conventional medicine. But while natural nail fungus remedies are widely used, there is very little scientific support for their effectiveness.

To date, very few studies have tested the use of natural nail fungus remedies. Here’s a look at some natural substances often recommended in the treatment of nail fungus.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND

Doctors Weigh Best Treatments

The best treatment for fungal nail infections is a prescription that your dermatologist can prescribe that you take every day for two-to-three months. The pill is not for everyone, since oral antifungals can interact with other medications and can affect the liver.

Fortunately if you dont want to or cant take a pill, there are topical solutions to treat nail fungus. Although topical medications are desirable because of the low risk of side effects and interaction with other medications, they have much longer treatment regimens. Generally, topical medications have a lower clearance rate compared to oral pills.

Newer topical antifungals including Efinaconazole and Tavaborole have better penetration of the nail plate and so they work better compared to older topical medications, says Dr. Ng. She says the topical medications work best if you only have partial nail involvement.

Lasers are approved by the FDA to temporarily increase the amount of clear nail. However, the cure rates are lower than oral medications and topical solutions.

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Remedy Apple Cider Vinegar

This is one of the most popular remedies for getting rid of nail fungus because of its natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. As such, it is able to fight off the bacteria or fungus that causes the infection and even prevent it from reoccurring.

Although acidic, it does not damage the nail and the surrounding skin making it safe for use by both adults and children.

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:

• Amorolfine

• Efinaconazole

• 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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Prevention Of Toenail Fungus

Adopting a few preventive measures can mitigate your chances of getting infected by nail fungus or reinfections as well as athletes foot :

• Keep your hands and feet clean by washing them regularly. Be especially mindful of avoiding contact with an infected nail, and in case you do, wash your hands thoroughly. Moisturize your nails after washing.
• Keep your nails properly trimmed, file the rough edges to make them smooth, and file down thickened areas. Make a habit of disinfecting your nail clippers thereafter.
• Wear socks that absorb perspiration or change your socks throughout the day.
• Wear shoes made of materials that breathe.
• Let go of any old shoes or treat them with disinfectants or antifungal powders. Alternatively, consider using a medicated shoe spray after every use.
• Either carry your own manicure tools when visiting a nail salon or opt for a salon that uses sterilized tools for each customer.
• Abstain from using nail polish and artificial nails.
• Wearing shower footwear in hotels, gyms, public pools, and showers is essential to prevent reinfection.

Beware Of Nail Salons

Nail salons are the leading culprit in spreading toenail fungus. Many do not meet health codes, and theyâre often cited for uncleanliness. If you must have a professional pedicure, insist on making sure your nail technician does sterilize the instruments. Or, you may bring your own clean nail tools that are free of fungal bacteria. You can boil your nail scissors in boiling water to sterilize them or soak them in rubbing alcohol.

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See A Dermatologist To Pinpoint The Problem

Foot fungus wont just go away on its own, Dr. Ng says. If you think you have foot or toenail fungus, see your dermatologist, she says. There are several tests that your dermatologist can perform to identify exactly whats going on.

Its important to be aware that there are other diseases which can cause nail changes, she says. For example, we do see things like squamous cell skin cancers in the nail beds and even melanomas, which have a brownish or blackish discoloration.

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

One of the most dreaded and, lets face it, a disgusting ailment is toenail fungus . As most who read my blogs know, I usually write about topics that I have experienced personally and/or observed in patients. Well, for this one, it is both. For years, one of my toes would become afflicted, Id treat it, and then a year or two later, it would return.

The truth is that fungus is among us! You may view yourself as one with good hygiene, but even you are loaded with fungus on your skin. Fungus does not need much to overgrow and is exceedingly difficult to get rid of when it does. The three changes in our local skin environment that cause it to grow are 1. A decrease in good bacteria , since bacteria can suppress its growth 2. Excessive water/moisture 3. Sugar.

But to get fungus on your nail, a few things must happen. Diabetics, because of elevated sugar, are at higher risk. However, many, like myself, who dont have diabetes, are still prime targets. Thats because of what I call the blotter effect. To understand this effect, imagine the following scenario. You are sitting behind a wooden desk with a glass blotter on top to protect the surface. You place a cup of water on the blotter and turn to work on your computer. As you turn, your elbow knocks over youre cup, and the water spills over the edge of the desk. You then see some water track itself under the blotter.

The following natural approaches will work whether you have taken a medication or not .

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Top 5 Myths About Toenail Fungus

Many people think toenail fungus is just a cosmetic issue. However, toenail fungus can kill you when left untreated. Its one of several common myths about toenail fungus.

• Myth #1: Toenail Fungus is Ugly But Harmless: Toenail fungus is unpleasant to look at, but it can also be harmful. If your immune system cant fight off the infection, then it could persist, spread throughout your body, and get worse over time. In severe cases, it could even kill you.
• Myth #2: You Cant Get Toenail Fungus If You Wear Nail Polish: Nail polish may seem like it would protect your toenails. However, it creates a perfect spot for toenail fungus to grow, wrapping your nails up and creating a warm and wet layer where bacteria can thrive.
• Myth #3: Toenail Fungus Is Not Contagious: Toenail fungus is very contagious, and you can easily catch it from other people, shared surfaces, bathrooms, pools, dirty nail salons, and other environments.
• Myth #4: Its Hard to Spot a Toenail Fungus Infection: The first sign of a toenail fungus infection is a yellow toenail. If you notice your toenails start to turn yellow, white, or brown, then you could have a toenail fungus infection.
• Myth #5: Fingernail Fungus is Equally as Common: Toenail fungus is more common than fingernail fungus. Your feet are trapped in warm spaces most of the day. This can increase the likelihood of developing a fungal infection.

Affects Ears Fingers Nails Toes And Genitals

Fungal infections are some of the most common infections, affecting various parts of the body like, ears, fingers, nails, toes, genitals etc. Nail fungus is one such infection.

Onychomycosis is the name of the type of fungus that causes infection on nails both toenails and fingernails. This infection takes time to develop so you might not notice is initially.

Fungi are always present in your body alongside bacteria. The nail becomes infected when there is an overgrowth of fungus on or under the nail.

This infection is communicable and can spread via direct or indirect contact. For example, if you borrow an infected persons shoes or gloves, you too might catch the infection.

The fungus develops in warm, moist environment. This is why it usually affects toenails rather than fingernails as your feet are mostly covered while you wear shoes which provide the fungus an ideal environment to grow.

Causes and Risk Factors for Nail Fungus

Living or working in a hot, humid environment

Constantly covered feet

Diabetic patients, who have reduced blood circulation in their feet

Direct contact with someone who has nail fungus

Minor cuts or injuries around the nail

Using communal showers or public swimming pools

Sweating a lot, especially in your feet and on your hands

A weak immune system

Medications used to treat toenail fungus include terbinafine and itraconazole . Laser treatment is also available but it is expensive and doesnt guarantee results.

Tea Tree Oil

Vicks

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