How To Kill Toenail Fungus

How To Treat Fungal Toenails

Posted on 05.30.17|Yuko Miyazaki, DPM|

There are many places to go and things to do in Berkeley all year long, and especially in our summer months. No matter if you enjoy visiting the Berkeley Rose Garden or revisiting your childhood with a ride on the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round, its always a little better when youre wearing sandals or open-toed shoes to air out your feet and keep them cool. You may disagree, though, if you have a case of fungal toenails!

Whereas some people are quite comfortable sporting open-toed shoes, others feel the need to keep discolored, distorted toenails hidden from the world. If you are one of those individuals, you should know there are fungal toenail treatment options that can help.

When it comes to treatment for fungal toenails, the best place to start is with methods you can try on your own at home. We will certainly provide professional treatment if you need it, but you may want to try any of the following remedies first:

• Apple cider vinegar. This particular type of vinegar has a mild acidity, which both prevents the fungal infection from spreading and eradicates the offensive fungus . To correctly perform this form of treatment, mix apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water in a basin. Soak the affected foot in the solution for about thirty minutes.

Home care is a good starting point, but there is certainly a chance you will benefit from professional treatment. In these cases, you may need:

Natural Toenail Fungus Treatment How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

If you have been there, done that and yet havent got the results you want, I mean youve tried ointments, antifungal creams, and oral medications, and still havent been able to get the results you always wanted, maybe it is time you took matters into your own hands and tried natural toenail fungus treatments, which dont have the side effects of conventional treatments. There is also laser treatment to remove nail fungus, but it is sure to make a deep dent in your pocket. It is expensive, and not covered by insurance, now are you sure you want to go for it?

So, now you can try the home remedies listed below to get rid of toenail fungus.

Other Options For Toenail Fungus Infections

Removal of the toenail is only used when just one nail is infected, but it does work. Light therapy and lasers are also being studied as possible toenail fungus treatments. Laser therapy has shown promise when combined with oral or topical antifungals. A multicenter trial investigating the efficacy of a device, the Pinpointe FootLaser, is currently underway, so stay tuned to that.

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Toenail Fungus Treatment Complications

Here are some things to think about when deciding on a nail fungus treatment.

If you have a disease like diabetes, your doctor will make sure you treat nail fungus. This illness often makes you more likely to have other problems from minor foot issues.

You may not be able to take antifungal pills because of side effects or because they donât work well with other drugs you take. If that’s the case, try a product that goes onto your nail. Your doctor will call this a topical treatment.

Be patient. Your nails may not look “normal” after treatment. It can take as long as a year to 18 months for your nail to grow out a fungus.

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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How Can Clorox Help

Bleach is a harsh water solution that can kill 99.99% of bacteria and fungi. As most bleach concentrates are really harsh, they can wipe out the surface of the toenail and ensure no fungi survives.

Clorox bleach is often diluted before using. Since bleach is a good home remedy to treat toenail fungus, Clorox is used the same way. It can help clear signs of toenail fungus when you dip your feet in the Clorox solution.

What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Nail Fungus

A podiatrist is your best ally when it comes to determining the best and most effective treatment for toenail fungus. By seeking a podiatrists professional help, youre much more likely to get rid of toenail fungus and avoid possible irritation and infection to the area. Before providing a recommended treatment plan, your doctor will first evaluate the infected area. Treatment options include:

• Topical or oral antifungal medications and removal of debris from the infected nail. Common oral medications for toenail fungus treatment are Lamisil and Sporanox. A common topical medication is Penlac.
• Temporary removal of the infected nail.
• Permanent removal of the infected nail. In more severe casesand if the infection is resisting topical and/or oral medicationsyour podiatrist may recommend laser toenail fungus removal. Laser toenail fungus removal is a safe and painless procedure that takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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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.

Nail Fungi Prescription Drugs

In some cases prescription drugs are required to deal with a nail infection that simply will not disappear with all-natural treatments or non-prescription medicine in a couple of months. In this instance, prescription-strength antifungal medicine can get rid of persistent onychomycosis.

Topical drugs usually work in dealing with light to modest toe nail fungi. Topical services might consist of medicated nail gloss or fluid drugs. Loprox , Penlac , Kerydin , and also Jublia are amongst the leading prescription medicines for toe nail fungi.

Dental drugs can be available in pills, tablet computers, or fluid. Some typical prescriptions are Diflucan , Lamisil , Onmel , and also Sporanox .

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How To Prevent Both Foot And Toenail Fungus

While toenail fungus and foot fungus arent the same condition, the following tips can help you prevent both, says Sundling:

• Practice good hygiene, such as keeping your feet clean.
• Alternate your shoes during the week. Your feet sweat all day long. Alternating your shoes allows them to dry out, so the fungus cant survive.
• Wear moisture-wicking socks that help dry out shoes and kill fungus. You can find these at running stores and athletic stores. If your socks are exceptionally sweaty, changing them more than once per day can help.
• Wear shoes in public places like locker rooms, pools, and gyms to limit exposure to fungus.

Why Trust Verywell Health

As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.

Additional reporting for this story by Jennifer Nied

For over 10 years, Jennifer Nied has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.

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How To Use Lemongrass Essential Oil For Treating Toenail Fungus

Another essential oil which comes in the list of natural remedies for treating toenail fungus is Lemongrass Essential Oil. It is highly effective in fighting the white toenail fungus.

How to use?

• Mix a few drops of lemongrass Essential Oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil
• Apply this blend on the affected area with a cotton swab
• Use this remedy daily until the infection clears.

Benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass Essential oil can effectively treat the toenail fungus owing to its strong antifungal and antibacterial properties. Application of the oil not only kills the fungus but also prevents other symptoms of the infection like fragile and crumbly nails.

Precautions

Using Lemongrass Essential oil in undiluted form can harm your skin. Hence you must dilute it with a carrier oil.

How Do You Stop Shoes From Getting Fungus

Spray your shoes with an antibacterial spray, especially if youve worn them without socks, and wash all socks in hot water with bleach to kill any fungi. Also wash your feet daily, making sure to thoroughly dry them afterward, especially between the toes where moisture can get trapped. 7. Sprinkle your shoes.

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Nail Fungus: Polish Cream Or Tablets

Nail fungus can be very persistent. Topical treatment with nail polish may take up to one year. Tablets for treating fungal nail infections usually have to be taken for several weeks or months. They are much more effective than topical treatments, but they have more side effects.

Brittle nails and a whitish-yellowish or brownish discoloration are typical signs of nail fungus. The nails may also become thicker and change shape. The affected part of the nail sometimes detaches from the nail bed. The treatment options for nail fungus include nail polishes and creams as well as tablets. Nail polishes and creams are available in pharmacies without a prescription.

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.

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How To Use Them

A person interested in trying a blend of essential oils can buy the oils online or from a health food store. Mix the oil with a carrier oil before applying the mixture to the affected nails.

Ozonized oils are oils infused with ozone gas. Examples of oils that are available in ozonized form include sunflower oil and olive oil.

According to , ozonized oils show positive effects similar to a traditional medication called terbinafine cream in treating one type of fungus. In this study, the researchers used rabbits to test the effectiveness of the treatment.

Another study carried out on 400 people tested how ozonized oils affected fungal infections. In this 2011 study , researchers used ozonized sunflower oil to treat toenail fungus.

Their results indicated that ozonized oils cured up to 90.5 percent of the total infections with only a 2.8 percent relapse rate after 1 year. The researchers concluded the ozonized sunflower oil works more effectively than ketoconazole cream, which is an antifungal medication.

The Dangers Of Using Bleach On Your Body

Bleach is a common household cleaning product. Its often used to remove color from fabrics, remove mold or mildew, or to sanitize dirty surfaces. When used on your body or skin, however, it can cause serious problems. According to the Asian Journal of Research in Dermatological Science, using bleach on toenail fungus can actually cause infection and irritation to the skin and nail. Irritation, such as a rash or burning sensation, is especially common if you have sensitive skin. Other common complications include:

• Burns: If bleach is applied to the skin, it can cause a chemical burn. The burn can appear as red welts, and the skin may be irritated and painful.
• Allergic reactions: Similar to irritation, an allergic reaction can be triggered by applying bleach to the skin.

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Combination Of Vinegar And Hydrogen Peroxide For Nail Fungus

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Coconut oil

Apart from using hydrogen peroxide for nail fungus treatment, you can also use essential oils one of which is the coconut oil. Coconut oil is a carrier oil with myriads of benefits. It has abundant antioxidant and antifungal properties. Coconut oil relieves the pain associated with nail fungus, destroys the fungus, and a new healthy nail will replace the infected one. This oil can be used both topically and internally without any side effects. When using coconut oil for treating nail fungus, especially internal usage, it is imperative to get one that is organic, unrefined, and cold-pressed, as well as 100% pure.

Treating nail fungus with coconut oil

how to use baking soda to kill nail fungus

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.

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Toenail Fungus Additional Complications

When you have a severe case of toenail fungus, it becomes excruciating, and there is a probability of it causing some permanent damage to your nails.

Also, it has the likelihood to lead to some other serious infections that can go way beyond your feet

People with diabetes usually have reduced blood circulation and lower supply of nerves in their feet. These people have a much higher risk of bacterial skin infections, and this means that any little injury in their feet is more likely to lead to something much more severe.

So, people who have diabetes and who are seeing symptoms of toenail fungus outlined above are advised to see their doctor

Potential Risks And Complications

If untreated, athletes foot can result in a bacterial infection if skin is broken. This can happen due to scratching or when blisters pop or ulcers become infected. Any type of infection can be very serious and requires prompt treatment.

Athletes foot is also very contagious. It can easily spread to your hands, especially if youre scratching at the affected area. This fungus can also infect the area under your nails, which can be more difficult to treat, or the groin area.

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How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus With Bleach

One constant question people who have toenail fungus ask is how to get rid of it using bleach. About one out of four Europeans suffer from toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis. It does not only leave the toenail looking ugly but also feels uncomfortable.

A great deal of money is spent on treating nail fungus, in general, each year. Toenail fungus has a high recurrence rate despite the fact that much is invested in treating it. The nail fungus develops as a result of improper nail care.

Additionally, a health issue may be the cause. Is bleach effective against toenail fungus & does One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus? The article will answer this question.

Bleach, One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus

Toenail fungus is often treated with bleach, and simply One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus. Despite a lack of concrete research to support the practice. Bleach sterilizes the nail by killing the fungus that causes infection.

Bleach has been reported to be effective by numerous individuals all over the world. Using bleach to remove toenail fungus can be done safely if a few precautions are taken.

Heres what you need

• Bleach

Warnings

Neither ammonia nor vinegar should be mixed with bleach or a dangerous chlorine gas will result from this process. Toenail bleach should not be applied undiluted. It can irritate your foots skin.

Other Toenail fungus treatment

Hydrogen peroxide

Black Tea

Wrapping Up