What Real Users Are Saying
There is a lot of talk about using VICKS for toenail fungus and a lot of people recommending it online, HOWEVER, there is a lack of information coming from people who have actually used it to treat such.
Most of the information I have found comes from sources saying things like “it can be used for this”, “it has been used for that”, and things like this.
It would be nice to see some more good evidence of it working, but at the same time, the lack of good evidence doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work.
I was able to find a small number of reviews on Amazon. Of course there weren’t many because most people’s reviews talk about other things since treating toenail fungus isn’t the reason most people buy it.
*If you do have your own success story with VICKS VapoRub be sure to leave it in the comment section below for others to see!
Lemon Essential Oil For Toenail Fungus
Lemon essential oil is also a great treatment for toenail fungus. It has citric acid.
This will change the pH of the toenail many fungi cannot survive in an acidic environment. It will ultimately kill the toenail fungus.
How to use it?
You can apply the essential lemon oil to treat toenail fungus. Mix the lemon oil with a carrier oil and it is ready to be applied on the toenail fungus.
It can be mixed with coconut oil if it is the door of the infected nail that irritates you.
So, here is the best essential oil of Lemon to kill toenail fungus.
Top Home Remedies To Treat Toenail Fungus
While fungal toenail infections tend to be fairly common in all ages, older adults are more frequently diagnosed. Toenail fungus occurs when fungi are allowed to enter small cracks in the toenails or the surrounding skin. Walking barefoot in high-risk environments, like gyms, pools, and salons is the most common reason for being diagnosed with a toenail fungus infection.
There are certain situations in which youre more likely to get toenail fungus, such as when you have a toenail injury, athlete’s foot, diabetes, a weak immune system, and/or blood circulation problems.
Also Check: How To Kill Fungus Under Fingernails
How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Nail Fungus
To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. Its important to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a skin infection caused by fungus like athletes foot.
To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out whats causing the problem.
Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?
Be sure to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.
What Are The Side Effects Of Hydrogen Peroxide
Side effects of Hydrogen Peroxide depend on how it is used, how much is used, and how much of Hydrogen Peroxide is absorbed or taken into the body.
Used topically, the most common side effects of Hydrogen Peroxide are site reactions, such as irritation, redness, blistering, peeling, burning, itching, rash, and swelling. These effects typically last for only a few minutes after application. Hydrogen Peroxide is caustic, so high concentrations can cause first and second-degree skin burns.
Breathing in Hydrogen Peroxide can cause nose and throat irritation, coughing, and trouble breathing. Ingestion of low doses of low concentration Hydrogen Peroxide, such as toothpaste and mouthwash containing Hydrogen Peroxide, usually do not have effects. However, it’s never a good idea to swallow toothpaste or mouthwash no matter what the ingredients.
Related drugs
Read Also: Can Toenail Fungus Go Away On Its Own
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.
Why Does Vinegar Soak Work
The idea behind vinegar foot soaks is relatively simple: vinegar is acidic, which gives it antifungal and antibacterial properties.
To explain a bit further, vinegar is a diluted form of acetic acid . As a result, it is an antifungal agent meaning it slows down the growth of some types of foot fungus and may kill fungus entirely.
It might also make your body less hospitable to fungus because the acidity affects the pH level of your skin. This makes fungal overgrowth and infection much more unlikely.
Its worth noting though, that there is no scientific evidence that shows vinegar soaks is a reliable method for treating toenail fungus.
Also Check: How To Remove Toe Fungus With Vinegar
Make An Antifungal Foot Soak
Soaking your feet can also be a useful technique in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus. Many common household items can be used to make a healing antifungal foot bath. Mix one or more of the following with warm water and soak feet for 15 to 20 minutes. After foot bath, rinse feet with clean water and pat dry.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Thieves oil
Ask About Antifungal Pills
If topical treatment isnt doing the trick, your doctor may prescribe one of the following antifungal pills:
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
- Terbinafine
How to use it: Antifungal pills work faster than medicine applied to the nails, the AAD says, but you should still expect a few months of consistent use, per your doctors instructions.
Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here.
Read Also: Why Do I Have Toenail Fungus
Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus can be treated at home by simply using natural ingredients, available in your kitchen.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is considered to be an excellent antiseptic, and it works great on fungicide infections. Take pure tea tree oil and add a few drops of olive or thyme oil to it. Apply it on the affected area with the help of a cotton ball and keep it for ten minutes. Eventually, gently rub the nail with a soft toothbrush. This remedy will work affirmatively if the infection is not too old.
2.Baking Soda
To cure toenail fungus, blend half cup of baking soda with a one-fourth cup of peroxide, half cup of Epsom salt, and four cups of hot water. After making this mixture, add a one-fourth cup of white vinegar to it. Soak the affected toe first into vinegar for a few minutes and then, apply this paste on the affected nail. Wrap it with a bandage or tape. For about four weeks, repeat the process in every ten hours. If this remedy is followed properly, the toe nail fungus will disappear quickly.
3.Orange Oil
To get rid of toe nail fungus, orange oil is also a good option. It can be applied with the help of a dropper between toes and on and under toe nails, daily. Let it sit for at least one hour. Orange oil can also be used with an equal amount of any carrier oil.
Note- It is advisable to test some diluted orange oil on a small part of skin before applying it to the infected area as it can cause allergic reactions and can have side-effects.
4.White Vinegar
5.Garlic
Change Your Socks Daily
When laundry is piling up, it may be tempting to pull a pair of socks out of the hamperbut try not to. Wearing clean socks each day is a key part of foot hygiene and can keep foot fungus from spreading. Be sure to change your socks daily to not re-infect your feet with dirty socks, Rodney explains. Moisture-wicking socks are another option, especially during workouts when your feet may get extra sweaty.
Also Check: How Do Toenails Get Fungus
How Do You Make A Vinegar Foot Soak
If you would like to try out a vinegar foot soak at home, you can follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Get a bottle of vinegar. The type of vinegar you use doesnt necessarily matter most people use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. The important thing is the pH of the vinegar, which should typically be 2-3.
Step 2: Fill a sink or bowl with 1 part vinegar and 2 parts warm water .
Top tip: if youre finding the smell of vinegar too strong or unpleasant, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the mixture, such as lavender oil.
Step 3: Soak foot for 15-30 minutes daily in the mixture. Do not soak for longer than 30 minutes.
Step 4: Make sure that you dry your foot/feet thoroughly after your soak. The fungus grows best in a moist environment, so leaving feet damp encourages fungal growth especially if you are putting on socks or shoes next.
Step 5: Repeat this process daily until you can see that your infection has disappeared.
If you have particularly sensitive skin, you may find that vinegar causes some skin irritation. If this is the case, you can try decreasing the time you spend soaking your feet to 10-15 minutes or diluting the mixture with more water. You could also try reducing the amount of foot soaks you try to a few times a week instead.
Proven Home Remedies For Stubborn Toenail Fungus
Its summer time to let your feet breathe! Stretching your toes out in the sand, walking barefoot in the grass, and slipping on your favorite sandals again feels so good. The downside? Warped, discolored nails for the 75 percent of us with stubborn toenail fungus. Here, three proven remedies that you can use at home to get your tootsies looking beach and sandal-ready.
Recommended Reading: What Really Kills Toenail Fungus
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.
What To Look For In A Toenail Fungus Treatment
Severity
Toenail fungus, if left untreated, can become a tough problem to treat and will greatly influence what medications you need. If the toenails are thick, yellowed, and left untreated for a long time, that could indicate you need a prescription for oral medication.
Location
Fungal infections can start on the nails and transfer to this skin, or start on the skin and transfer to the nails. It is important to treat both as they will continue to spread.
Ingredients
Zinc undecylenate and undecylenic acid are both FDA-approved ingredients to treat toenail fungus Also, if you seek help from a professional, they will likely prescribe medications in the azole family. This compound interferes with the synthesis of the fungal cell membrane, which essentially kills the fungus.
Type
Toenail fungus treatments can come in a variety of forms, but oral, topical, and homeopathic medications are the most commonly used for treating toenail fungus.
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Why You Should Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Antibiotics play a critical role in killing bad bacteria. But as they destroy infections, they can also cause collateral damage to the good bacteria in your gut, which could result in diarrhea for a couple of daysor even weeksafter you stop taking the medicine.
So how can you get the benefits of antibiotics without the nasty stomach side effects? The answer might be found in probioticspills or even powders with live microorganisms that offer health benefits.
Your intestines contain around 1,000 different species of bacteria, with 100 trillion bacteria in total, says Dr. Lawrence Hoberman, president and chief executive of Medical Care Innovations Inc. If 80% of that bacteria is the good, healthy kind, the harmful bacteria stay at bay. But antibiotics change the balance in the microbiome, which may result in an increase in the harmful bacteria, he explained.
The immune system recognizes the bad guys and will try to destroy them. But in the process, it breaks down the intestinal lining and causes inflammation, and thats how we get antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Dr. Hoberman explains.
One study found that antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects between 5% and 39% of patients, depending on which antibiotic they take. But research shows that probiotics can curb digestion problems. A meta-analysis of 34 other studies found that probiotics reduce instances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 52%.
What Is Toenail Fungus
Onychomycosis or in much simpler terms, nail fungal infection, is a condition affecting fingernail as well as the toenail. An infection inside the nail starts with a white or yellow patch under the nail, and as it spreads, it causes the toenail to grow thick, discolour and crumbled on edges. It makes up to 50% of the nail abnormalities. They are of four kinds:
- Proximal subungual onychomycosis- Caused due to nail fold, where fungal infection penetrates the newly formed nail plate.
- White superficial onychomycosis – Tends to create a chalky white appearance or white island on nails.
- Distal subungual onychomycosis- It invades the nail bed and underside of the nail plate.
- Candidal onychomycosis- Causes due to frequent immersion in water where a genus called Candida invades the nail plate
Recommended Reading: How Do I Fix My Toenail Fungus
Apply Or Consume Garlic
A 2019 study published online indicated 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.
How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally And Fast At Home
Toenail fungus, aka onychomycosis, is a very popular problem. The symptoms of toenail fungus include swelling, inflammation, yellowing, crumbling and thickening of the nail. This condition is often not painful, if the infection does not spread.
In fact, the fungus tends to thrive under some certain conditions, like a weakened immune system, skins unbalanced pH level, continuous exposure to a moist environment containing poor hygiene, sweaty shoes and socks, and diabetes.
When left untreated, this condition could result in splitting, cracking and even whole loss of toenails. However, luckily, there are some ways on how to get rid of toenail fungus naturally and fast without too much cost. The following at-home remedies resorting natural ingredients available in any local grocery store. Take a look from VKool.com!
Also Check: How To Know If You Have Fungus On Your Feet
Preventative Treatment Options For Toenail Fungus
Although there are some preventative measures you can take to avoid developing toenail fungus, your body might not make it so easy. Often, toenail fungus can develop as a result of the fungi that are naturally in your body. If you have a weakened immune system or poor circulation, you may also be more prone to fungal infections. However, when taking the proper preventative steps, you may be able to avoid contracting toenail fungus. Here are some ways to avoid toenail fungus:
- Maintain proper foot hygiene by washing your feet with water and mild soap, then completely drying your feet afterwards.
- Avoid showering barefoot in communal showers, such as those in gyms, dorms, or pools.
- Avoid frequently swimming in public pools.
- Change your socks regularly.
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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Home Treatments For Toenail Fungus Don’t Always Work
How long does it take to know if your home treatment remedy option has worked? It depends on the remedy and the severity of the fungal problem. While it usually takes 2 to 3 months for a toenail fungus infection to go away, it can take up to a year to completely heal. Most people will try at least 1 of the above home antifungal treatments before choosing to seek foot care from a professional.
Home Remedies For Nail Fungus
Herbs that Heal
- Snakeroot extract is obtained from a plant Snakeroot, which belongs to the sunflower family. Snakeroot extract has been found to be effective in nail fungus cure when applied topically.
- Pau DArco is a natural herb, found to be an effective herbal medicine for the treatment of fungal infections.
- Oregano oil is not only blessed with antifungal properties but also has potent antiviral and antibacterial effects.
- Lemongrass herb is also used for its effective antifungal properties.
- Horopito is a plant with some active chemicals such as polygodial, which makes it an effective treatment for nail fungus.
- Anise seeds are obtained from the plant Pimpinella asisum and have various medicinal properties. The chemical components present in anise seeds are powerfully effective against fungus, and hence, it is a good nail fungus cure.
Catharanthus roseusTea Tree Oil Melaleuca alternifoliaOlive Leaf Garlic MiconazoleOzone TherapyVicks VapoRubKeep it Clean and TrimmedNutrition
Recommended Reading: Will Toenail Fungus Go Away On Its Own
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Dry Feet And Fungus