When To Seek A Doctor
If you follow the above home remedies and your foot returns to normal, then there is no need to see a doctor.
However, if the symptoms persist and the fungal infection does not go away, then seeing a doctor for further examination is a must.When home remedies dont work, it might be due to other infections that need professional attention and care. Seek a doctor if:
- You have been using home remedies to no avail.
- The itching persists.
How To Get Rid Of Toe Fungus
This article was co-authored by . Dr. Mark Co is a Podiatrist who runs his own private practice in San Francisco, California. Dr. Co specializes in treatments for bunions, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, warts, plantar fasciitis and other causes of foot pain. He also offers custom orthotics for the treatment and prevention of foot and ankle issues. Dr. Co completed a Master of Business Administration at New York University and an MA in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Co also completed his DPM at the California School of Podiatric Medicine and a residency and internship at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Clara, California. Dr. Co was awarded San Francisco’s “Top 3 Podiatrists” in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Dr. Co is also a member of the CPMA .There are 15 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. In this case, 96% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,481,677 times.
How To Make A Vinegar Foot Soak
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Overview
We demand a lot from our feet. They carry our bodies around all day, often from within uncomfortable shoes. Its no wonder many of us end up with blisters, pain, odor, and fungus, like athletes foot.
Fortunately, theres a simple solution to your woes, and it can be found in your kitchen.
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Natural Ways To Defeat Toenail Fungus
Dont let this sometimes painful condition sideline you. Treat it early with these easy, natural solutions.
The showers at the local gym may have left you with an unwelcome gift: onychomycosis, otherwise known as nail fungus. Or maybe its a souvenir from a barefoot run or just a sign that you arent changing your running socks often enough. Although it starts innocuously enough, as a white or yellow spot underneath your toenail, the nail can start to thicken and even crumble as the fungus penetrates deeper and deeper. And, while it can can appear on your fingers, the fungus is more likely to appear and persist in your toenails because of the warm, moist environment of your shoes, where these little buggers can thrive, and unfortunately, where its most likely to affect your running.
If you see a dermatologist, youll most likely get a prescription for an antifungal oral medication such as Lamisil or Sporanox, which tend to be expensive and carry side effects ranging from skin rashes to potentially toxic liver damage. Thats not pleasant, which is why so many people look for a drug-free alternative, says Joe Graedon, MS, a pharmacologist at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at Chapel Hill and author of The Peoples Pharmacy. There are newer topical treatments, such as Kerydin, but they also require a prescription and can take up to a year to work. Here are some of Graedons top drug-free remedies for toenail fungus.
Q: What Is Toenail Fungus
oenail fungus is a common fungal infection wherein the nail can appear thickened, yellow, or cloudy. The nail often becomes rough and crumbly and can even separate from the nail bed. This is not merely a cosmetic problem as the nail can become painful, difficult to cut, and very brittle. In addition, particles can collect under the nail and produce a bad odor.
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Apply Or Consume Garlic
A 2019 study indicates that garlic is an antifungal powerhouse, potentially making it a gem for treating toenail fungal infections. It is best to place crushed or chopped garlic on the affected area daily, Hayag says. It is important to take caution when following this remedy, as garlic has the potential to cause chemical burns to the skin. To avoid any burns, theres also the option of taking garlic supplements to see if that might help clear things up.
Wear Shoes In Communal Pools Or Showers
While youre probably not frequenting many communal showers, public pools or hot tubs at the moment, for the future its important to note that these are breeding grounds for fungus. So if you visit these communal spaces, wear flip-flops or other waterproof shoes to protect your feet and avoid contact with spots contaminated with fungus, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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Home Remedies For Foot Fungus
There are many home remedies, both proven and unproven, for athletes foot, toenail fungus, and other foot problems. Soaking the foot in a diluted vinegar or bleach solution can help cure athletes foot. Use baking soda or cornstarch and sprinkle it on the feet to keep them dry or remove odor.
Anti-fungal products can do wonders for toenail fungus. Olive leaf extract is not only anti-fungal but also antibacterial. Orange oil, another anti-fungal ingredient, can be applied to the affected nails to cure toenail fungus. Lavender or oregano oil can also be used.
To treat ingrown toenails at home that are not infected or just barely affected, soak the foot in warm water and Epsom salts, wedge cotton or something else soft underneath the nail to prop it up, and add antibacterial cream.
What Kills Toenail Fungus On Clippers
One way to keep your toenails from having fungusinfections is to simply keep them trimmed using clippers. Unfortunately, thatmeans your clippers could now carry the spores, themselves! You must wash yourhands and sterilize your nail clippers following use.
Place your clippers in a bowl of boiling hot waterand scrub with a toothbrush. Be careful to use protection so as to not burnyour hands with the water. Dry the clippers by using rubbing alcohol and atowel and then dry again with a totally dry towel.
Barbicide is another option. This is a solution usedin many barber shops to disinfect tools. Bleach is often used in place ofrubbing alcohol/boiling water. In fact, the Columbia Laser Skin Centerrecommends bleach for sterilization. If you really want to ensure you aregetting your clippers as sterile as possible, you can always use a hospitalgrade disinfectant but remember, there is likely instructions to follow toensure disinfection is complete including time to soak.
UV light is the best way to sterilize. In fact, manyswimming pools actually take the chlorinated water and pass it through UV lightto further kill contaminants. If you have the ability to have UV light , this is theultimate option for sanitation of your nail clippers.
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Symptoms Of Athletes Foot
Athletes foot can infect one or both of your feet. Although its primarily an infection of the foot, it can spread to your hands if you scratch or pick at the infected areas on your feet. Symptoms of athletes foot include:
- A red or white scaly rash
- A rash that starts between your toes
- Itching, especially right after removing footwear
- Blisters or ulcers
- Chronic dryness and scaling on the soles of the feet, which can also extend up the side of your foot. This is caused by the moccasin variety of athletes foot.
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When To See Your Doctor
If you think you have athletes foot and it hasnt subsided after a week of home treatment, make an appointment to see your doctor. You may need prescription antifungals to get rid of the infection.
You should also make an appointment to see your doctor if you have athletes foot and diabetes. This is especially true if you have signs of a secondary bacterial infection, which can be more dangerous in those with diabetes due to their nerve damage.
Signs of infection include redness, pus, swelling, drainage, and fever. If you have diabetes, you may not feel pain in your feet due to nerve damage.
Your doctor will likely be able to diagnose athletes foot just by looking at it.
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What Does Foot Fungus Look Like
Foot fungus causes slightly dry skin that is often noticeable. In more severe cases, you may see red and peeling dry skin on the soles. Spaces between the toes may also have moisture and peeling, usually producing a foul smell.
Knowing these symptoms is important so that you can apply the correct home remedies. There are three common types of foot fungus:
- Fungus on the soles of the feet
- Fungus on the toes
- The blistering type
The blisters may appear large, with redness and infection. Rashes on the bottom of one or both feet may also be present.
Q How To Cure Really Bad Toenail Fungus
Ans- Antifungal supplements are the traditional ways to cure toenails fungus. Moreover, some of the home remedies can also help, and some of the popular remedies are:-
- Apply tea tree oil to the affected part with a cotton ball twice daily.
- Apply oregano oil twice a day, or you can mix it with tea tree oil.
- Apply freshly chopped or crushed garlic to the affected area twice a day.
- Consult your doctor regularly and continue the medication.
- Maintain foot hygiene, trim the nails on the edges.
- Always wash your hands properly after touching your feet.
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Use Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
The best way to do this is to use an unused toothbrush, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will be a 1:1 ratio.
Get about 4 tablespoons of baking soda and put it in the bowl and mix with about 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and add a splash of water.
Use the toothbrush and mix the ingredients. Then, use the toothbrush and scoop up some of the baking soda mixtures on the bottom and scrub in a circular motion on the shoes that need to be cleaned.
This needs to be a deep scrub. Start on the inside and make sure it is fully saturated, then go to the front, then to the sides, and then to the rest of the shoes.
Let sit for about 15 minutes and use ONLY hydrogen peroxide and water to clean the baking soda residue off of the shoes. Then let sit for another 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, get water and rinse off the shoes using the toothbrush to ensure they have no chemicals on them.
At this point, the shoes should be completely cleared of any fungal spores and they should be whiter too! This process can be done to clean dirty shoes, carpet stains, pet odors, teeth whitening, and more!
Garlic For Toenail Fungus
Allicin and ajoene are the main compounds of garlic and will help to get rid of toenail fungus fast and naturally. These compounds make garlic anti-fungal and antiseptic in properties. You can use the garlic both in the form of a paste or oil. Take some garlic cloves and fry them in three teaspoons of olive oil. Strain the oil and apply to your affected toenail. Cover your toe with a bandage and rest it for a few hours. Repeat the method two times a day for a few days. Apply the paste to your toe and cover it with bandage for one hour.
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How To Get Rid Of Mold In The Shower
Before we get to the various ways toclean a moldy shower, I want to provide you with links to posts that I have writtenabout some of the specific mold removal products. This will give you a betteridea about why I am recommending them.
How to remove mold with:
I think it is also important for you to know why I do NOT recommend cleaning mold with bleach. You need to read that post but in short, it causes MORE mold growth and doesnt actually kill mold.
Ready? Lets go area by area.
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When Are Tablets Considered
Athlete’s foot is nearly always treated topically. Tablets are only considered if topical treatment isn’t successful. It may also be a good idea if the infection has spread to one or more toenails, or if the infection is very severe.
The tablets taken to treat athlete’s foot generally contain the active ingredients itraconazole or terbinafine. Itraconazole is usually taken once daily for four weeks . Terbinafine is typically taken once daily for two weeks . The treatment lasts longer if you also have a fungal nail infection. This is true for both medications.
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Sprinkle On Talcum Powder
Talcum powder wont cure foot fungus, but it could help by keeping your feet clean and dry. This, in turn, could keep the fungus from growing and spreading. Sprinkle talcum powder on your feet or in your shoes daily for a week and see if it helps. Baby powder or even corn starch may have similar effects.
Choose Proper Shoes And Socks
Avoid plastic shoes and footwear that has been treated to be waterproof, says Dr. Levine. They trap perspiration and create a warm, moist spot for the fungus to grow. Natural materials such as cotton and leather provide the best environment for feet, while rubber and even wool may induce sweating and hold moisture.
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Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus
If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.
Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Wash With Antifungal Cleanser
Antifungal washes, such as Nizoral, can help dry, scaly moccasin type foot fungus, Rodney says. Gently lather it onto the entire feet, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse off with water, she adds. As it is a wash, the medication can penetrate through all the dry, scaly skin and easily get to the fungus.
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The Danger Of Waiting To Treat The Fungus
The greatest danger of not treating the foot or toenail fungus is that it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the hands and groin.
If for some reason you cant treat your toenails or your feet right away, at least use an antifungal topical cream on the surrounding skin, Dr. Ng says. That will help keep it from spreading and keep the skin intact.
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.
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A Pharmacist Can Help With Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work.
Athlete’s foot treatments are available as:
- creams
- sprays
- powders
They’re not all suitable for everyone for example, some are only for adults. Always check the packet or ask a pharmacist.
You might need to try a few treatments to find one that works best for you.
The Importance Of Hygiene
When treating a fungal nail, always wash your hands after applying a treatment and remember to use a separate towel for your feet when youre drying them. Its a good idea to tell those close to you about your fungal nail infection so they can take precautions too. Dont share shoes or socks with them as it can be contagious.
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