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HomeExclusiveWill Household Bleach Kill Toenail Fungus

Will Household Bleach Kill Toenail Fungus

How Can Clorox Help

How do I Use Bleach for Toenail Fungus

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.

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Home Remedies Using Bleach

When trying to find a solution to a toenail fungal infection, there is a variety of over the counter medicines available. But if you are looking for some alternatives that are easily accessible and can be found at home, there is one.

Bleach can be used to toenail fungus as a home remedy, and it has been gaining a lot of popularity over the years.

Bleach, which is sodium hypochlorite, has a formula that can kill 99.99% of fungus, bacteria, and germs. Toenail fungus can be a pain for some because the nail is blocking the fungal spores.

Bleach, like Clorox, can be your helping agent to disinfect your nails. As it kills bacteria, it became one of the popular home remedies.

But always practice caution, as too much bleach can cause damage to the skin like a burning sensation, redness, and some soreness when misused.

Following safety precautions will always be the key when you decide to use bleach to kill the fungal infection. Add a little amount into the water, make sure it is appropriately diluted, and soak your feet in it at the recommended time.

When soaking your foot, it will kill all fungal spores, and it can remove the discoloration that is happening in your toenails. Applying bleach directly to the skin is a no-no situation.

Does Bleach Kill Fungus Spores

A study was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment to see if the use of bleach solution can kill fungus spores.

Researchers sprayed a solution of one part household bleach and sixteen parts water and after two weeks they used electron microscope to view thestructure of the fungus spores.

What researchers found is that the treated spores structure was not the same as the healthy spores structure meaning they were slowly dying.

Read Also: How Effective Is Tea Tree Oil For Toenail Fungus

Popular Nail Fungus Treatments

There are several treatment routes for nail fungus, including over-the-counter products, prescription topical treatments, oral medications and home remedies, according to Harvard Health Publishing. In order for a product to successfully treat toenail fungus, it must seep into the nail and nail bed.

Over-the-counter products are a common solution, as they can be easily bought in drugstores and are relatively inexpensive. Often, OTC toenail fungus treatments are applied with a brush, like nail polish. While many of these treatments don’t promise a cure, they can at least provide temporary relief or improve the appearance of your nails.

A doctor may prescribe an oral medication to treat a fungal infection. Common medications include itraconazole and terbafine, which can eliminate the fungus in about 10 months, according to Harvard Health Publishing. These drugs can be harmful on the liver, though, and your doctor may take steps to check your liver function before you begin taking them.

Home remedies for toenail fungus may seem simple, but they can quickly become unsafe or irritate the infection. Before you try at-home treatment, consult a doctor. Bleach, a common household disinfectant that’s also been used as a DIY fungus treatment, is no guarantee to fungus-free toenails and is not recommended by medical professionals.

Read more: How to Use Baking Soda to Treat Toenail Fungus

How Can You Prevent Toenail Fungus

How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus With Bleach? 2 Easy Ways

Ensuring a clean, hygienic, and healthy lifestyle with good eating habits and by following the below-mentioned points can help prevent toenail fungus.

  • Use antifungal powders and sprays regularly
  • Wash your hands thoroughly, every time you touch the infected toenails
  • Dry your feet and toes well, post showers
  • Ensure the tools are properly washed and disinfected when you go for manicures and pedicures at salons
  • Preferably, use your own tools for manicures and pedicures
  • Wear breathable socks which donât trap heat and moisture from sweat for long hours
  • Avoid walking barefoot in public places
  • Avoid using nail polish and artificial nails, as they trap moisture and providing breeding ground for fungus to thrive

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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 .

How To Remove Toenail Fungus With Bleach

Despite lacking concrete researches, bleach is widely used to get rid of toenail fungus. Bleach kills the fungus that causes the infection and treats the nail. There exist numerous anecdotes from people all over the world who swear by the effective results of bleach. And by keeping a few precautions in mind, even you can use bleach to remove toenail fungus safely.

What You Need

  • Fill the tub with half a gallon of water.
  • Add one tablespoon of bleach to the water and mix well.
  • Soak your feet in the solution for a minimum of ten minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, wash your feet with fresh water and pat dry with a clean towel.
  • Do not forget to drain the water in the tub and make sure not to use it for any other purpose to avoid the risk of transmitting infection.
  • Repeat the process twice daily until all the symptoms vanish.

You can also dip Q-tips in the water-bleach solution and directly apply it to the infected nails. You can repeat this process once a day, every alternate day.

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What Can You Use Instead Of Bleach To Kill Toenail Fungus

One could argue that you should go see your dermatologist. Your doctor can prescribe you topical or oral medications that have been clinically proven and FDA-approved as a legit treatment for nail fungus.

But this might not be an option for everyone due to the high cost of prescription medication.

There are some other more cost-effective options you can try. Some home remedies and over-the-counter antifungals may work for you.

The reason were saying may work is because while some home remedies and OTC antifungals are very effective at killing other topical fungal infections, like athletes foot, jock itch, and ringworm , none of them have been clinically proven to be effective on toenail fungus.

Fungal Nails Why Bleach Is A Bad Idea And What To Do Instead

Bleach Foot Soak to Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally Fast and Permanently At Home

Dealing with unsightly toenail fungus can be embarrassing and painful. For those who suffer from this kind of fungal infection, it can be tempting to attempt to solve the problem with household products like bleach. In an attempt to save money, many turn to the Internet for resources on what they can try at home to cure their fungal nails. This search sometimes leads to harmful consequences, like using bleach to remove toenail fungus.

Recommended Reading: How To Kill Nail Fungus

What Is Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is an infection in the toenails caused by fungal microorganisms. Funguses such as mold and yeast enter the toenails through breaks, cuts, or frequent injuries to the nail. Fungal spores are present in the air around you all the time, but they start growing only after landing on receptive surfaces like the toenails. These fungi thrive in damp and humid environments.

Why Should You Use Bleach For Toenail Fungus

The foremost reason is quite recognized for the usage of bleach is the convenience. Bleach is the best home remedy for toenail fungus and readily available and that too at a lower cost. A good number of people have confirmed that their treatment has been successful with bleach.

If the infection is lesser, the soaks may work. However, if the case is severe, applying the bleach directly is recommended. It can kill the fungal spores and also lighten up the yellow toenails. Nevertheless, talk to your doctors to make an informed decision.

Also Check: Does Epsom Salt Kill Fungus

Why Is Bleach A Bad Idea For Toenail Fungus

There are a few reasons why bleach is not appropriate for removing or treating toenail fungus.

  • Bleach can make toenail fungus worse.
  • You can burn your skin if you use bleach topically. While bleach in small concentrations can help kill bacteria, the amount of bleach it would take to kill a fungal infection is much greater. It would cause chemical burns to any skin where it was applied.
  • Any progress that bleach makes in treating toenail fungus is only temporary. The toenail fungus will return and should be treated by a podiatrist or nail dermatologist.
  • Bleach baths should not be used unless specifically recommended by a licensed physician.
  • Accidentally ingesting bleach can be quite harmful to your health.
  • While you should not use bleach to treat your toenail fungus, you can use it to clean any items that touch the infected areas, such as toenail clippers, socks, and shoes.

    Does Bleach Water Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus: The Myth & Truth

    How to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach at Home  An Eaffective ...

    Toenail fungus can be treated with many homemade remedies and herbs as well. When it comes to treating toenail fungus at home, bleach water is the fastest, easiest and most reliable method ever.

    While most homemade remedies take hours, this method is pretty quick and effective. Although this remedy is not completely proven and searched, it is noticed that many people observe a quick relief with bleach water.

    No wonder Bleach Water Toenail Fungus remedy has gained popularity recently.

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    How Do I Know If My Toenail Fungus Is Dying

    Its sometimes hard to tell if youve got toenail fungus or just a bruised toe. Its even harder to tell if the fungus is going away!

    Unlike a regular fungal infection on your skin that clears up when treated, and your skin goes back to normal, the part of the toenail that is infected with fungus will never return to normal.

    You have to wait until that part of the nail grows out and is replaced by the new healthy nail.

    You will know that the treatment is working and the infection is clearing up when you see a new, healthy nail starting to grow from the nailbed without any white or cloudy discoloration underneath. It might take a while before you start to see new regrowth of the healthy nail because on average, a toenail only grows about 1.6mm per month.

    As your nail grows out, keep trimming off the part of the nail that was infected until all you are left with is a healthy nail.

    The key to successfully treating toenail fungus is being persistent and making sure you are using whatever treatment you decide on, as often as is recommended and until the healthy nail is fully regrown.

    See more

    What Are The Dangers Of Using Bleach

    Bleach could be chlorine and non-chlorine. There are many bleach solutions available in the market but theyre all highly concentrated as theyre mainly used to remove stains, disinfect surfaces or clothes.

    While following this remedy, you must take care of your feet very well. Never soak your feet in an undiluted bleach solution or you may be at risk of severe skin or nail damage.

    Some dangers of the wrong usage of bleach solutions include:

    • Itching
    • Dry and patchy skin
    • Burning sensation

    In case, you inhale the solution while applying it, you may experience nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath or coughing too. So be very careful.

    A step-by-step method to Remove Toenail Fungus Using Bleach Water:

    • 1. Buy a Bleach Powder or Solution

    Most houses have bleach powders as they use them to do the laundry. Some people even use it to clean their bathroom floorings.

    Preferably bleach powder should be bought as it can be diluted easily. A tablespoon of bleach is enough to get your toenail fungus treated.

    • 2. Warm Water

    It is always better to soak your legs in warm water to remove dirt and mud. It helps soften the nail bed too. When you want to dilute bleach faster, you may warm a gallon of water in the basin or foot bath, or even a bucket is good.

    • 3. Add other anti-fungal ingredients

    These can prevent your skin discolouration and also take care of your nail cuticles. Essential oils can penetrate in the nail bed and kill the fungi too. Note that this is an optional step.

    • 4. Soak

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    Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus

    Identifying a toenail fungus in due time is vital in deciding its course of treatment. In the case where the infection has spread fully inside the toenails, homemade remedies will no longer suffice. You should consult your doctor immediately if the infection has grown beyond the normal harmless state.

    Here are some common symptoms you can check for while identifying a toenail fungus:

    • The nail becomes brittle and breaks easily.
    • The surface of the nail may feel dry and powdery.
    • Splitting and crumbling of the nail.
    • The nail turns white, brown, yellow, or any other discoloration.
    • Debris built-up under the nail.
    • The fungus causes the nail to lift so that it is no longer firmly attached to the skin.
    • Nails may become thick and turn brown or yellow.

    Bleach Paste For Toenail Fungus

    How To Get Rid of Toenail Fungus With Bleach -Step by step process

    Bleach paste is another way to treat toenail fungus with bleach. This is an instant bleach paste and should not be stored somewhere. You need two things to make this paste.

  • Bleach
  • Petroleum jelly
  • The procedure is very simple, you just need to apply petroleum jelly on the infected toenail.

    After that, drop some bleach on it.

    Also, if you donât want to apply separately, you can mix both, the Petroleum jelly and Bleach in constant proportion and then apply this paste directly on the fungus.

    Let this paste/mixture sit on the toenail for 15 minutes and wipe it off with clean towels/tissues.

    For good results, use twice daily for at least 3-4 months and then, you can continue more depending upon the fungus level.

    Also Check: How To Soak Feet For Toenail Fungus

    Kill Toenail Fungus With Clorox

    Clorox is a brand name of bleach, and it can be used to kill infection-causing fungus. Mix half of a teaspoon per gallon of water and soak your feet in the mixture one to two times per day, 30 minutes each time, for several weeks. The bleach chlorinates the water, which in turn soaks into the nail fungus and kills the fungi. In case of skin irritation, reduce the amount of bleach used, or soak your feet less frequently.

    • Clorox is a brand name of bleach, and it can be used to kill infection-causing fungus.

    How To Kill Fungus With Bleach In One Day

    Related Articles

    Scientists are not exactly sure how many varieties of fungus are on the planet, but Microbiology Society divides them into three categories: multicellular filamentous molds, macroscopic filamentous fungi and single-celled, microscopic yeasts. That last grouping is what causes fungal infections in humans. There are different ways to eliminate this problem, including prescription medications, antifungal creams and oral medications.

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    How To Prevent Toenail Fungs

    Prevention is always better than cure, and so, taking precautions to avoid toenail fungus is as vital as treating the toenail fungus. Some pointers that will help you avoid the embarrassment and stress of dealing with an infected toenail are:

    • Remember to wear flip flops or shower sandals while entering public areas such as gyms, locker rooms, changing rooms near pools, spas, and public showers.
    • Exchange your socks for a clean pair whenever they become sweaty and do not reuse worn socks without washing them.
    • Choose shoes that are a comfortable fit, have breathing room, and keep your feet dry.
    • Regularly put your shoes under direct sunlight to kill any fungus or bacteria.
    • Never wear damp shoes or socks.
    • Use sanitized nail clippers and other nail styling equipment.

    Before And After Hydrogen Peroxide & Fungus Destroyer On Toenail Fungus

    How to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach at home  An eaffective ...

    In the below mentioned case the sufferer has used Urgent Fungus Destroyer with Hydrogen peroxide to treat toenail fungus. The images are an evident result to treat toenail fungus.

    This took only 58 days to get these results. Obviously, the results are so powerful because of the combination of both Hydrogen peroxide and the Phytage labs Urgent fungus destroyer which is also specifically designed to fix the nails fungus and even hair and skin fungus.

    And also, the whole treatment was done under $90 which is very cheap for such fast and efficient results.

    No doubt that the Urgent Fungus Destroyer and Hydrogen peroxide combination works very great while treating the toenail fungus and there are more such combinations that we have discussed in out best toenail fungus treatments guide here. So, make sure to also check that.

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