The Podiatrists Take On Home Remedies
While home remedies are unlikely to cause any harm in themselves, Dr. Hinkes urges caution when relying on them when looking for how to get rid of toenail fungus.
Resorting to folk remedies can be dangerous because it could keep the patient from getting a legitimate diagnosis and treatment, he says. Now in some people, this could be a critical thing, because it can be contagiousyou can pass it to other people and you can pass it to other parts of your body. So its really not something you want to fool with.
Dr. Hinkes advice is clear: Visit a foot care specialist. This could be a podiatrist, but foot care nurses also offer an excellent and affordable service as an alternative. And if neither of those is available, try a dermatologist. Your family care practitioner can also identify and treat many fungal conditions.
Left untreated, this condition wont go away on its own and can cause serious pain, deformity, and even lead to further complications. Podiatrists recommend seeking expert helpyoure better safe than sorry. If youre desperate, though, try these DIY foot and toenail fungus treatments.
How Are Thick Toenails Diagnosed
See a doctor if you notice a change in the appearance of your nails. Treating a fungal infection in its early stages will help prevent the condition from worsening.
Your doctor will look at your nails to diagnose the condition. The doctor may also take a swab underneath the nail or take a toenail clipping to diagnose the condition.
How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
Toenail fungus is notoriously tricky to treat. You may need to treat the condition for several months to get rid of the fungus. Still, toenail fungus often comes back.
A dermatologist or podiatrist can explain your treatment options. If you have a mild case that doesnt bother you, your provider may recommend no treatment.
Toenail fungus treatment options include:
- Oral antifungal medication: You take prescribed medication, such terbinafine , itraconazole and fluconazole , to treat the fungi. You will need to take this medication every day for several months . Your provider may use blood tests to check for potential medication side effects. These medications can affect the liver and interact with other medications, so oral antifungals are not for everyone.
- Topical medication: You regularly apply a medication right on the nail. The medication treats the fungi over time. Topical medications are most effective when paired with oral medications.
- Laser treatments: Your provider directs a high-tech laser beam and special lights at the toenail to treat the fungus. Lasers are FDA approved for temporary increase of clear nail in nail fungus but is not a cure. Cure rates for laser treatment are lower than oral and topical mediations so they are not typically used as first-line treatments for nail fungus.
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Remedies And Treatments For Thick Yellow Toenails
Itâs common for yeasts, molds, and other fungi can enter toenails and cause infection. Itâs important to practice habits that prevent toenail infection and reinfection.
The following measures can help you prevent thick yellow toenails caused by infection:
- Wear sweat-absorbing socks to prevent fungi from forming in the fabric.
- Wear shoes in pool areas and locker rooms where you could come in contact with nail fungus.
- Shoes offer a dark, moist environment that helps fungi grow. Treat old shoes with antifungal powders or disinfectants.
- Wash your hands and feet regularly. Fungal infections are more common in toenails since your feet are in warm, moist environments more often.
- Trim your toenails and smooth the edges with a file. This will make it easier for topical treatments to reach deeper layers of the nail.
Topical treatments administer antifungal agents on your toenails to stop fungal growth. A healthy toenail can then grow back. It takes time for thick yellow toenail treatments to work. You may not see results for months.
Remedies
How To Trim Even The Thickest Toenails
One of the questions we get asked a lot in our Seattle podiatry clinic is how to trim thick nails. The very best way to clip thick toenails to help the nails look normal and thin is explained below.
By following the instructions in our podiatrists guide to cutting thick and / or fungal nails you can have a nearly normal thickness toenail. Please read this important disclosure about the products recommended in this article.
If you have diabetes, poor circulation or are prone to not healing or bleeding see a medical professional to have your nails debrided.
If you have nail problems not relieved by the suggestions below, call or use our Patient Portal to schedule an appointment to get conservative treatment options that will relieve your pain.
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Pros And Cons Of Home Remedies
- Can take longer for severe nail infections
- Many different creams to choose from – hard to know which ones are good
What Works?
Creams such as tolnaftate have proven to be very effective in the treatment of toenail fungus. I write about them in more detail on my blog which you can view by clicking on best toenail fungus treatment.
What you are about to see
Are the best products for thickened and discolored nails caused from a nail infection. They are personally vetted by Toe Fungus Journey and are products that have been highly rated or personally used by my family and I to get rid of our fungus for good.
Most are:
- Designed specifically for thicker toenails
- Helps in getting healthy and supple nails.
Treating Toenail Fungus Medically
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How To Use Bleach For Treating Toenail Fungus
Bleach is known as the most powerful element to healing your nail fungus . Many people are confused about how exactly they need to use the same. There are a good number of options available in the market for the treatment of a nail fungus. The majority choose bleach because it is very effective and inexpensive.
They are still searching for possible ways to get rid of toenail fungus. People can choose either of the two ways of using bleach for toenail fungus. Here they are:
How Do You Get Rid Of Thick Yellow Toenails
Applying a small amount of melted coconut oil can help heal thick yellow toenails. You can purchase over-the-counter antifungal nail creams and ointments. Be sure to clip and clean your nails before use to make sure the creams reach deeper layers. Laser therapy can be used to treat a fungal toenail infection.
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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.
Use Urgent Fungus Destroyer As A Supplement With These Spices
Only adding spices to your diet will not show some good results any time soon, it might take more than a year. You should add a supplement to your diet as well.
The Urgent Fungus Destroyer is a famous option that has been killing toenail fungus in only three to four months. It is affordable yet effective. Moreover, it is free of any kind of side effects.
Urgent fungus destroyer is a complex formula that has the rare Japanese mushroom complex to kill the toenail fungus. Furthermore, it has cats claw, garlic, and curcumin, combined with spices the urgent fungus destroyer will speed up the recovery process.
To know everything about the Urgent Fungus Destroyer and our complete review on it, read our in depth guide here.
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And This Was The Key To Unlocking The Second Phase Of My Solution
All I needed to do was find substances that could handle the cell wall of the fungus.
Which made it clear to me that a cream would be a waste of my time.
Think about it this way: fungus shows up the same way that garden weeds do.
The fungal spores get carried by anything they come in contact with.
Thats why there are MILLIONS of people walking around with this problem, and that number grows by 3 million every single year
This fungus wasnt just in my toenails. It was in my blood, my skin, and everything I owned.
It simply collected and became most visible in my toenails
Knowing that, it became obvious that the only reasonable approach would be to take something I could get into my whole system quickly and easily either an injection or an ingestible, something I could eat.
Things started to click after I came to this simple conclusion
Risk factors | Diagnosis | Home remedies | Over-the-counter medicine | Prescription drugs | When to see a doctor
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.
Foot Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors
A foot fungus is a fungal infection of the skin, better known as athletes foot, says Sundling. The fungus enters through cracks in the skin. Its known as athletes foot because athletes or anyone who is more active and sweats a lot is more at risk. Kids are also more at risk, because they dont tend to wear different shoes, and changing your shoes is one way to avoid foot fungus.
Foot fungus is very common. It does not mean that someone is dirty or didnt bathe, and if you have a compromised immune system, you may be more susceptible, says Sundling.
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How A Fungal Infection Occurs
It is easy to pick up fungi they are particularly common on the floors of communal showers and changing rooms and many of us probably already have fungi on our skin. They cause problems only when the conditions are right for them to thrive, which means warmth and moisture. When human beings started wearing enclosed shoes, which trap sweat and heat, we created ideal conditions for fungi. This is why only 1% of people in Zaire, Africa, have fungal toenail infections compared with 10% of people in the UK. It is not surprising that fungal toenail infections are five times as common in people who have to wear work boots for long periods in wet conditions.
The fungi shelter under the tip of the nail and start to get a hold. This is particularly likely to happen if:
- the end of the nail has been damaged and is already slightly separated from its toe
- you are taking long-term tetracycline medication and then expose your toenails to sunlight this is called photo-onycholysis
- you have a condition such as diabetes or an immune deficiency
- you are elderly
- the fungus is already multiplying between the toes .
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 Get Rid Of Thick Toe Nails
Fact Checked
**Thickened yellow nails are usually a side effect of toenail fungus 1. Toenail fungus settles in the sensitive skin under the toenail and causes brittleness, thickness and discolortion of the toenail itself 1. Treatment options are effective however toenail fungus can return if treatment is cut short or proper foot care is not followed according to the Mayo Clinic 1.
Clean your feet and toenails thoroughly on a daily basis. Use an antibacterial soap to make sure that you clean well between the toes and around the toenail 1. After cleansing, dry your feet and nails well to avoid excess moisture under the toenail 1. Moisture helps with bacterial and fungal growth.
Clip your nails with clippers that have been well sterilized in alcohol. Clip the nail straight across and file down sharp edges. Sterilize your clippers and nail file after use, If using an emory board, throw it in the garbage.
Wear synthetic socks that are well absorbant. Sweat from your feet and shoes will promote fungal growth worsening the condition. Maintaining a dry environment for your feet will stop fungal growth by providing unlivable conditions fungus and bacteria.
Treatment For Black Toenail Fungus
The best scenario is to catch a fungal infection early. Then, you can treat it at home with over-the-counter topical treatments. These are easy to use and dont require a prescription. The best ones are available online.
Severe black toenail fungus cases may require a prescription. While oral prescription medications are effective, they are expensive and have worrisome side effects like diarrheas, upset stomach, and potential liver damage. These side effects might be scary since even cases of death were reported. Thats why people affected by black toenail fungus prefer to avoid prescription drugs and look for other solutions.
Laser treatment is another option. Its very expensive. A one-time treatment can cost $1,000. Additional treatments are $500 each. The cost often isnt covered by medical insurance and there is no guarantee that the nail fungus wont recur.
Do a Google search and youll find lots of home remedies like chlorine bleach, beer, vinegar, Vicks Vaporub, tea tree oil and more. These remedies arent proper treatments for toenail fungus because they rarely obtain definite results and they are difficult to apply daily over a long period of time.
Most people opt for over-the-counter topical treatments because their ingredients are blended in therapeutic dosage for maximum effect, they have no side effects, and they are easy to use. As mentioned above Emoninail is the leading topical treatment currently on the market.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Toe Fungus Go Away
Best Medicated Nail Polish: Arishine Toenail Fungus Treatment
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Treats discoloration, brittleness, and cracked nails
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Easy, on-the-go treatment
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Only works on nail plates
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Treatment process can be slow
The Arishine Toenail Treatment has the design and convenience of a pencil. Perfect for storing in a bag or pocket while at work, the repair pencil allows you to use a paintable nail polish on your infected toenail three times a day with ease to treat a nail fungal issue.
The Arishine treatment uses two percent deacetylated chitin, three percent O-hydroxybenzoic acid, and Angelica dahurica as active ingredients to get rid of fungus and heal the damage. This solution can help treat discoloration, brittleness, split, rough, and cracked nails. Ultimately, this medicated nail polish can lead to stronger and healthier nails.
Arishine is made of natural ingredients and does not conduct animal testing. Treatment requires three applications a day and should be used for four to 12 weeks, although improvement may be visible in as few as two weeks. Arishine offers customers a satisfaction guarantee.
Active Ingredients: Deacetylated chitin , O-hydroxybenzoic acid , and Angelica dahurica | Dose: Applicator automatically delivers correct amount with two to three clicks. Apply around nail on cuticles and under nail bed. | Uses: Treats fungus infection on and around nails helps heal discolored, brittle nails
What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Toenail Fungus
If you have toenail fungus, you may find it helpful to ask your provider:
- What type of infection do I have?
- Do you recommend I treat it? Why or why not?
- How long will I need treatment?
- What steps can I take to stop it from coming back?
- Should I be aware of any potentially serious complications or treatment side effects?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Toenail fungus is an incredibly common infection that can be difficult to treat. The condition usually isnt painful, but it may make you feel self-conscious about how your foot looks. If it bothers you, talk to your provider about your treatment options. A trained specialist can provide guidance on whats most likely to address your concerns while protecting your overall health.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/17/2020.
References
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