How Fungi Infect The Nail
Onchomycosis, or toenail fungal infection, is an invasion by a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, damp environments. Fungal spores are in the air, and they will grow if they land on a receptive surface like your toenail. They feed off the nail tissues, burrowing into the skin under the nail. Over time the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won’t reattach, and a new nail won’t grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base.
How To Soften Toenails At Home
Many people try to cut their thick toenails and end up causing crumbling. It can even lead to cuts to the skin and even infection.
So its best to soften your toenails before attempting to cut them. Cutting thick toenails is easier to perform with a little softening. you can start by following these steps:
- You can start by soaking your feet in a gallon of warm water in your tub or basin, make sure the water is enough to properly cover your feet. Mix about 2 to 3 tablespoons of salt in it.
- Let your foot soak into the solution for about 20 to 30 minutes. You should let them soak for about 1 hour if your toenails are very thick.
- You can now remove and pat your feet and nails completely dry with a soft towel.
- Now you can apply Miracle Toenail Softening Cream. Then cut your toenails easily.
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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Additional reporting for this story by Jennifer Nied
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Does It Actually Work
Seema Panduranga Kini, a board-certified dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente isn’t on board with a Listerine foot soak. The menthol in Listerine soaks may be soothing, she says. But aside from that, has no real benefits. If youre looking to treat dry and cracked skin on your feet, she suggests applying urea cream and using a pumice stone to soften the skin instead.
The skin also has its own ability to fight off bacteria and invasive fungus with something called an acid pH. So just like antibiotics, we could use antiseptics to decrease unwanted organisms on the feet in the form of fungus and bacteria that cause foot odor, Skotnicki says. But a better way is to lower the skin pH.
Overall, Skotnicki doesnt recommend Listerine foot soaks. Instead, she’s in favor of an apple cider vinegar soak, which has less potential to irritate your skin. To do this, simply add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to lukewarm water in a foot bath or large bowl. She prefers this method because it uses the natural ability of our skin to balance the microbiome and ward off unwanted organisms without trying to ‘kill’ them with antiseptics.
What Is A Listerine Foot Soak
As the foot detox trend continues to surge, Listerine is the latest ingredient that soakers are pouring into their basins. A Listerine foot soak is a mixture of equal parts Listerine and water, and supporters claim the mixture contains antifungal, antiseptic, and cooling/calming properties. We’ll dig more into the efficacy ahead.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Drops On Toenail Fungus
Aside from foot soak, you can use apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment by applying drops of the apple cider vinegar directly to your toenail bed. Once applied, you should allow the ACV to sit on your toenail bed for about 10-15 minutes undisturbed.
This method works perfectly for those who do not have 30 minutes two times daily to soak their feet in Apple cider vinegar. For quicker results, those who want can combine this method with the foot soak method.
Whichever of these two methods you intend to use to treat your toenail fungus, should be used for several months or until the fungus toenail is restored back to it normal state.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus Home Remedy Have Any Side Effects
Home remedies generally have no side effects and thats not different with Apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment. ACV is used as preservative we eat them in our foods at home and cause us no harm. They are only harmful to fungi. However, in everything moderation is important. You should not overuse ACV foot soak simply because you want to get rid of your toenail fungus infection overnight.
How Long Does It Take For Apple Cider Vinegar To Cure or Kill Toenail Fungus
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How Does The Condition Spread
Toenail fungus will go from one nail to another, trying to get as much space as possible for its growth. In the latest stages, there is a chance your whole toenails will start falling apart, which will be followed with lots of pain.
While the condition is not life-threatening, it can be really annoying. Some people have to deal with toenail fungus for months and even years! In some cases, traditional medication may not provide the right results.
Furthermore, oral drugs that doctors prescribe can be really dangerous, leading to various side effects.
Because of all of that, a lot of people are willing to try home remedies for nail fungus. The patients are willing to try solutions such as hydrogen peroxide for toenail fungus.
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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:
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Fluconazole
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Itraconazole
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Terbinafine
Nail Fungus Sufferers: What Works And What Doesnt
Are you tired of suffering from stubborn and ugly nail infections? Do you long for letting your once beautiful toes see the sunlight again? Do you wonder what its going to take to get rid of the fungus?
Over the years weve had the opportunity to collect testimonials from people who left comments on ToenailFungusTreatments.com, who have used different types of nail fungus remedies. After analyzing them, weve created some useful suggestions for those who want to eliminate nail fungus.
Of course, nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, but if we can learn from others with similar problems, we have a better chance of crossing off one more problem we have from the list that seems to accumulate many problems as we age.
How Doctors Heal Patients
In fact, I was thinking about doctors and how they learn. I know that if you ask any doctor who he or she learned the most from, they will say their patients. In the practice of medicine, a doctor who pays the most attention to the results that their patients are receiving, and makes appropriate adjustments is often the most successful both with people and against disease.
Recognizing this feedback loop was very valuable, we started collecting reports on remedies from our readers and have been able to create some basic guidelines for anyone with nail fungus problems who wants to use these treatments to get clear nails again.
Guidelines From Our Readers about Nail Fungus Remedies
Ugly Toenail Transformed to Beautiful and Perfect
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What Can I Soak My Toenail Fungus In
4.9/5toenail fungusSoakcansoak
Keeping this in consideration, what is the best home remedy for toenail fungus?
Try One of These 10 Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
- Vicks VapoRub.
- Vinegar.
- Listerine.
Also Know, does hydrogen peroxide kill toenail fungus? Hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill the fungus on the surface level of the foot, as well as any surface bacteria that could cause an infection. Do this twice daily until the infection subsides.
Keeping this in view, what kills nail fungus fast?
Oral antifungal drugs.These drugs are often the first choice because they clear the infection more quickly than do topical drugs. Options include terbinafine and itraconazole . These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part.
Does vinegar really kill toenail fungus?
The idea behind vinegar foot soaks is relatively simple: vinegar is acidic, which gives it antifungal and antibacterial properties. As a result, it is an antifungal agent â meaning it slows down the growth of some types of foot fungus and may kill fungus entirely.
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.
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Easy Home Remedies For Summer Toenail Fungus
In the midst of toe-baring sandal season, fungal nails are the last thing anyone wants to see! Toenail fungusalso known as onychomycosisis a common summer infection featuring yellow, white, or brown discoloration on one or more or your toenails. Though commonly thought of as a cosmetic issue, nail fungus can become painful and inhibiting, causing toenails to thicken and crack.
Fortunately, there are a number of easy home remedies that may help you to treat and prevent the development of toenail fungus.
Coconut Oil
The fatty acids in coconut oil are natural warriors against toenail fungus, breaking down the fungal membrane by inserting themselves in its lipid layer. Simply rub a dime-sized dollop of coconut oil into the affected area 2-3 times a day.
Oregano Oil
Oregano oil contains a special antibacterial ingredientthymolthat is key to fighting toenail fungus. To disinfect and treat your toenail fungus, apply a few drops of oregano oil to a cotton ball or swab and gently dab it over your nails.
Tea Tree/Olive/Orange Oil Rub
Heres a great recipe for a 3-part disinfectant made from tea tree, olive, and orange oil. Mix together:
- 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of orange oil
As with the oregano oil, apply this antiseptic rub to your nails using a cotton ball or swab.
Olive Leaf Salve
Baking Soda Soak
- 4-5 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups of warm water
Causes Of Toenail Fungus
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Soak Your Feet In Hydrogen Peroxide
Method
How Often?
You have to repeat this process every day until, and even after, the problem subsides. Getting rid of nail fungus is not easy and will take a lot of patience and effort.
Why This Works
This oxidate therapy using hydrogen peroxide is highly effective when it comes to treating nail fungus. The method involves using the peroxide to soak the infected and affected nails. As the oxygen levels increase, the fungus on your nails gets destroyed.
How To Soak An Ingrown Toenail
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 8 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, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 589,118 times.
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Here Are A Few Quick Tips Which Can Help To Ease Your Pain
Foot soaks are beneficial to treat toenail fungus. The foot soaks will help you a lot in providing relief from the pain and discomfort. But since it is a viral infection, foot soaks alone cannot completely cure. You need to take proper medication along with this. When the infection is severe, some soaks like vinegar foot soak might give you a lot of pain, so you have to be cautious with your selection.
Take a test before soaking your feet in the water. Apply the mixture on the infected area, and wait for some time. If you experience any aggravation in pain, do not use this soak.
There is no doubt that the foot soaks are extremely helpful to soothe your symptoms and give you relief from pain. There are many kinds of foot soaks available. Choose a particular ingredient which fits your needs best. Most of the elements are from your kitchen, so you need not worry about them. Various anecdotes claimed that the results are excellent by these foot soaks. But using these foot soaks every day could help fetch results. So try these soaks for a toenail fungus treatment and flaunt those healthy nails again!
Potential Side Effects Of Using Bleach For Nail Fungus
A bleach is undoubtedly the most excellent home remedy. But, it can cause severe damage to the skin. Whether it is a chlorine bleach or a non-chlorine one, both are risky.
Here are some of the possible side effects of bleach when used for nail fungus:
Since the advent of this treatment, bleach is considered to be quite vital. Before using it on your toenail fungus, you need to know everything about it. These include its pros as well as cons. But, as notified by the majority of the people, this is truly a viable treatment. The toenail fungus appears to be quite small. However, if it is not treated on time, it may prove to be fatal. Till now, you might have got a real idea about how to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach. Still, we recommend you to see your doctor as some expert advice is very necessary.
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