How To Heal Your Toenail Fungus At Home
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HOW TO HEAL YOUR TOENAIL FUNGUS AT HOME
If you have mild toenail fungus, theres a very good chance that a home remedy can help you get rid of it. Though you can definitely try these with moderate to severe toenail fungus, too, as long as youre healthy, it is recommended that you see a specialist if its a bad case of fungus.
As always, if your immune system is compromised or you have diabetes, its always best to see a podiatrist so you dont risk making things worse or needing surgery.
Without further ado, here are several home remedies you can try to heal your toenail fungus.
Toenail Fungus Treatment: 3 Steps To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Fast
Fungal infections that appear on the skin are one of the most common infections in humans. Many people are curious about natural toenail fungus treatment, as this is an issue that many folks struggle with. Few are aware that toenail fungus symptoms can actually be a sign of candida virus or yeast within your system.
Onychomycosis or tinea unguium is the name for the type of infection that causes the fungi to appear on the nails. This is caused by underlying fungal growth from dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte molds and yeasts .
With dietary changes, supplements and certain essential oils, you can treat and eliminate the root cause of the toenail fungus, even when youve been struggling with it for years. I will take you through the exact steps of how to get rid of toenail fungus fast and for good.
I can tell you my own mother struggled with toenail fungus on her big toe for over 10 years, and the reason why she originally got it and then continued to struggle with this fungus was the chemotherapy she went through when diagnosed with breast cancer years ago. After going through chemo, she had systemic yeast and candida issues and then developed the toenail fungus. The exact treatment I detail below is what we used with her to successfully erase her fungus.
What Is Toenail Fungus Exactly
Toenail fungus happens when tiny microscopic organisms called fungi get underneath your toenails, causing an infection, according the American Academy of Dermatology .
Not-so-fun fact: The same fungus that causes jock itch and athletes foot can also cause toenail fungus, which can infect your nails and the skin underneath, says Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Depending on the type of fungus youre dealing with, an infection can cause a slew of unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Nail discoloration
- Debris buildup underneath the nail
- Lifting of the nail from the skin
- Nail thickening or crumbling
- Nail thinning or splitting
Toenail fungus is highly contagious and, if you have a fungal infection on your foot, the fungus can spread to one or more of your nails.
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Keep Your Feet Dry And Clean
Its important to prevent athletes foot. Fungus can grow in dark, moist areas, making your feet an ideal place for athletes feet to develop. If you have athletes foot , keep your feet as dry and clean as possible.
Change your socks regularly. As soon as youre done working out, clean your feet and put on a fresh pair of socks. Dry the space between your toes. Dont go barefoot in public pool or gym areas.
You should also use shoes that are well ventilated and allow your feet to breathe to help athletes foot resolve more quickly.
Home Remedies For Nail Fungus
Treating nail fungus doesnt have to mean relying on a doctors prescription. Instead, patients can take control of their health with these easy home remedies for toenail fungus.
This pantry staple can help cure nail fungus and is also a wonderful home remedy for foot rot when applied topically or taken internally.
Apple Cider Vinegar Antifungal Recipe
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 1 part Epsom salts
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Cellulitis Vs Venous Stasis
Venous stasis, or venous stasis dermatitis, is a condition commonly misdiagnosed as cellulitis.
This condition causes swelling, discoloration, and can develop into skin ulcers. It is the result of poor circulation in the lower limbs and typically affects the lower legs and ankles.
Unlike cellulitis, this condition can affect both sides of the body and is not the result of bacterial infection. However, should you develop sores or ulcers as a result of venous stasis, your risk of a skin infection will increase.
Try To Wear Gloves For Nail Infection
Same goes for hands. While washing dishes or cleaning product, always wear gloves to avoid the nail infection. This helps to you get away from the contact of bacteria while performing chores around the house and keep your hand dry. As bacteria like to live in warm and moist places so always try to avoid that environment around your nails whenever possible.
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Can I Use Bleach To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
Bleach can burn the skin and shouldnt be applied unless a doctor recommends it.Bleach can quickly kill fungus on nonporous surfaces, like shower tiles.Bleach is a potent antibacterial and antifungal product.Bleach is commonly used to treat toenail fungus.
Bleach is the best home remedy for toenail fungus and readily available and that too at a lower cost.Bleach isnt a good method for treating or preventing toenail fungus.Bleach kills the fungus that causes the infection and treats the nail.Bleach makes for an effective remedy to get rid of toenail fungus, as it not only kills the fungus but also removes the possibility of persistent infection.
Bleach pen for toenail fungus reviews.Can you apply bleach directly?Creams can be used to counter toe fungus.Depending on the severity of the infection, getting rid of the funagl infection can take several weeks to a few months.
Despite lacking concrete researches, bleach is widely used to get rid of toenail fungus.Do you know toenail fungus is contagious?Does bleach work for toenail fungus?Emuaid© defeats severe nail fungus.
Even though bleach pen is made to remove stains from clothing by rubbing it over stains before washing the clothing, many people are sharing positive views online about using bleach pen successfully to get rid of nail fungusFoot soak is one of the common ways to treat nail fungal infections because it targets the fungi head on.Given the strength of bleach, you will have to dilute it before you can apply it.
Are Oral Medications For Nail Fungus Toxic
The newer drugs are unlikely to cause any liver problems in patients without known liver disease. Blood tests are not needed for once-weekly treatment with fluconazole however, people taking longer courses often have their liver function tested before starting the medicine and then retested during the course of treatment. It is important to notify the doctor of all side effects while on the medication. You should tell your doctor of all current medications to prevent potential serious drug interactions.
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/6toenail Infection Is A Contagious Disease
Toenail fungus also known as onychomycosis is a common infection of the toenail. This contagious disease can be very painful and can even spread to other parts of the body, if not treated immediately.
The most common symptom of the toenail infection is a white, brown or yellow discoloration of one or more toenails. It may spread and even cause the nails to thicken and crack.
Traditionally, anti-fungal treatments such as terbinafine or fluconazole are used to cure toenail fungus, but these treatments have some serious side effects like upset stomach, dizziness, and jaundice. Most people opt for home remedies to cure this disease.
You can also try these popular home remedies, if your toenail is troubling you.
Toenail Fungus Prescription Medications
Sometimes prescription medications are needed to treat a toenail infection that just wont go away with natural remedies or over-the-counter medication in a few months. In this case, prescription-strength antifungal medication can eradicate stubborn onychomycosis.
Topical medications often are effective in treating mild to moderate toenail fungus. Topical solutions may include medicated nail polishes or liquid medications. Loprox , Penlac , Kerydin , and Jublia are among the top prescription drugs for toenail fungus.
Oral medications can come in capsules, tablets, or liquid. Some common prescriptions are Diflucan , Lamisil , Onmel , and Sporanox .
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Coconut Oil For Toenail Fungus
The high content of caprylic acid in coconut oil is one of the medium-chain fatty acids. It has the ability to go through the tough cell wall of toenail fungus . When the protective coating of the cells is ruptured the fungus dissolve, removing the infection fast. Apply some coconut oil thin layer to toenail fungus and let it absorb the oil in for at least 10-15 minutes. Coconut oil is highly beneficial for skin health, so there is no limit to how often you can follow this treatment. Make sure you arent allergic to coconuts, before using coconut oil to sensitive tissue. Read article on uses and benefits of coconut oil for skin.
How To Treat Fungus In The Toenail Il
Clients who have been lucky enough to be in a position to afford laser cure attest to its effectiveness and strongly imply it.
As a result, you will not have to be anxious in regards to the gel running far and wide or leaving a residue after it has dried.
For the main part, oral treatments are valuable in doing away with fungus.
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Erase Discoloration With A Clorox Soak
Sounds wacky, but soaking your feet in diluted bleach packs a one-two punch that brightens fungus-yellowed toenails while stopping an infection in its tracks. Credit goes to hypochlorous acid, a natural antibacterial compound found in bleach, reveals Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. It eradicates fungus spores as it gently lightens darkened keratin proteins in toenails. To do: Stir no more than one tablespoon of bleach into eight cups of warm water, then soak feet in the mixture for 10 minutes a day for two weeks.
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Making The Vinegar Foot Soak
Vinegar will not hurt your feet, but you should still dilute it for a foot soak. Generally, using 1-part vinegar to 2-parts water is a good ratio. If youre tolerating the diluted vinegar soaks, and not noticing any difference, you can use a stronger soak.
While the soak will smell strong, the odor will dissipate after the vinegar dries from your feet. You can also use essential oils to change the scent slightly.
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Soak In Listerine And White Vinegar
The combination of Listerines antifungal ingredients and vinegars acidity makes an inhospitable environment for fungi. This treatment is effective for green nails which may have whats called atypical organisms, says Dr. Goldenberg. If you have true toenail fungus, its less likely to work, though.
How to use it: Combine the two in equal portions and soak your toes in the solution, ideally for 45 to 60 minutes daily.
Remedies To Fight Toenail Fungus At Home
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is perhaps one of the most common nail disorders. It is a fungal infection that penetrates through chinks in your toenail, cuts in the surrounding skin, or the separation between the nail and the toe, and affects the material below the toenail.
The fungus tends to thrive in certain conditions, such as abnormal body pH, a weakened immune system, continuous exposure to a moist environment including sweaty shoes and socks, poor hygiene, and diabetes.
As embarrassing as this condition may be, simply camouflaging your unsightly toenail, such as painting your nails, without tending to it properly would do you more harm than good. If the infection goes untreated long enough, it could spread to the adjoining skin, to the other toenails, and even perhaps to your fingernails.
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How Do I Know If I Have Toenail Or Foot Fungus
Toenail fungus, also know as onychomcosis, is characterized by inflammation, thickening, swelling, yellowing, and pain of the toenail and toe. Another symptom is crumbling of the toenail. Its caused by an abnormal PH of the skin, which can happen because of poor hygiene, a bad immune system, exposure to high levels of moisture, and/or poor circulation. These toenail fungus treatments will prevent or get rid of the problem.
How To Treat Toenail Fungus
Despite what you may hear, covering your infection with nail polish or artificial nails will not get rid of toenail fungus, says the AAD.
There are a few different ways to get rid of toenail fungus, whether youre looking for home remedies or stronger prescribed treatments. Just know this, per Dr. Goldenberg: Treating toenail fungus is extremely difficult.
But the earlier you treat the nail infection, the more likely you are to cure it, explains, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York Citybased board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Treatment can take several months, even up to a year, as you need to wait for healthy nail to grow out, which is a slow process, he says.
If you prefer to go the natural route first, these are the home remedies worth tryingplus, stronger prescription options to ask about if the infection persists. It usually takes three months of treatment to cure a toenail fungal infection.
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Soak Your Feet In Vinegar
Heres another pantry item that can deliver optimal results for toenail fungal infections. According to Hayag, applying white vinegar to the fungal-infected areas can prove worthwhile, thanks to its antibacterial properties.
Similar to oregano oil, applying white vinegar topically on fungus-infected toenails has some anecdotal evidence that supports its antibacterial benefits. Soak your foot in one part vinegar to two parts warm water for up to 20 minutes daily, she suggests, saying that this can help with the fungus, help with just the discoloration, or it may not help at all, depending on how your toes react.
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Q How To Cure Toenail Fungus With Bleach
Ans-However, bleach isnt a good idea. It can irritate the skin, especially people with sensitive skin tone though some people appreciate the positive results of bleach to treat toenail fungus.
Add one tbsp. bleach in some water and soak the feet for 5-7 minutes. Repeat once a day for a few weeks.
You must ask an expert before using bleach powder.
When To See A Doctor About Toenail Fungus
If you are experiencing persistent toenail fungus or pain is present, you may need to see a specialist. A dermatologist or podiatrist may be able to assess your symptoms and send a small sample of the affected toenail or flesh to a laboratory to be analyzed as there are various types of fungi and yeasts that cause onychomycosis. Knowing the specific cause of your foot fungus can help identify what route to take to treat your condition.
Nail changes can also be caused by underlying conditions, like psoriasis and diabetes, so its important to seek professional medical advice if your condition persists or worsens. Bacterial and fungal infection of skin in diabetes patients often result in hospital admissions, and in severe cases, can result in amputations. If you are at a higher risk for infection, you should skip home remedies and seek professional medical treatment.
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How To Prevent Fungal Infections Of The Feet
- Dry your feet thoroughly after showering, bathing or swimming.
- Wear sandals or breathable shoes as often as possible. Let shoes dry overnight before you wear them again.
- Take your own pedicure tools when going to a salon, or visit a salon that keeps separate tools for each client.
- Do not share nail files, clippers, or other nail care tools.
- Wear socks inside your shoes.
- Wear flip-flops in walking areas of water parks, pools and other wet public areas, such as locker rooms or showers.
When Should I Call The Doctor
In rare cases, toenail fungus can cause an infection called cellulitis. Without prompt treatment, cellulitis may pose a serious danger to your health.
You should seek treatment guidance from a trusted healthcare provider if you have:
- Circulation problems.
- Redness, pain or pus near the toenail.
- Weakened immune system.
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