How To Cure Toenail Fungus: Can Vinegar Help
This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.There are 7 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. This article received 19 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,073,560 times.
Nail fungus refers to a fungal infection that starts underneath your toenails. It could cause discoloration, thickening, or crumbling on one or more of your nails. This is a frustrating problem, so youll naturally want to get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible. One remedy you may have heard of is soaking your foot in vinegar to clear the infection. Vinegar is acidic, so it will kill bacteria and fungus.XResearch source However, this remedy has very limited success because the vinegar cant penetrate under the nail. You can try it if you want to, but visit a podiatrist for further treatment if you dont see any results in 2 weeks.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar And Rice Flour
To use apple cider vinegar for nail fungus, you need to prepare:
Ingredients:
- Apple cider vinegar 2 to 3 teaspoons
Directions:
- Firstly, you mix this vinegar and rice flour together o make a paste.
- Next, you apply this paste into the infected nails.
- Now, you scrub gently to exfoliate as well as remove the dead skin cells.
- After that, you leave the paste on there for a few minutes.
- Finally, you wash it off thoroughly with clean water and pat the nails dry.
- You should repeat this easy way regularly for the best results.
How Do I Use Vinegar For Toenail Fungus
Vinegar is a popular home remedy for toenail fungus. There are a couple of different ways you may use vinegar for toenail fungus. One way is to soak your feet in a solution of vinegar on a daily basis the other involves dripping or painting vinegar on the affected toenails once or twice each day. Some people assert that either one is an effective treatment for toenail infections. Members of the medical community are, however, more likely to choose prescription medications for treating toenail infections.
One way to use vinegar for toenail fungus is to prepare a foot bath using apple cider vinegar and water. You may do this by adding enough vinegar and water to a basin to just cover your feet, making sure you dont add so much that it spills over. To make sure you have a good concentration of vinegar in your foot bath, you may do well to add equal parts water and vinegar. Soaking in this solution for about an hour a day is said to help fight toenail fungus. It is important to note that many people prefer apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus treatment, but any type of vinegar may be used for this purpose.
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How Much Does Hydrogen Peroxide Cost Without Insurance
Hydrogen Peroxide is a generic, non-prescription compound available separately or in combination with other ingredients in several cosmetic, health, and industrial products. Insured and uninsured customers can expect to pay $11.99 for Hydrogen Peroxide. With a SingleCare discount card and a prescription for Hydrogen Peroxide, you pay only $3.05.
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The Toenail Laser Treatment
Laser treatments are the fastest and the most expensive treatment for toenail fungus. It is highly recommended for those who are already suffering with some permanent disease or if pregnant.
A laser treatment will cost up to 1000 Dollars, and there are two types of laser treatments for toenail fungus.
The hot laser and the cold laser, for the former one you have to visit the doctor several times. For the proper treatment the hot laser can take almost three months.
Also, you can go for a Home laser device for fixing the toenail fungus and that would be cheap too but yes, it will take more time to kill the fungus.
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Baking Soda With Apple Cider Vinegar
In this process, baking soda creates an alkaline environment to prevent the infection while acidic properties of apple cider vinegar help to kill off the fungus without altering the pH level of the skin.
- Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to enough amounts of water for soaking.
- Soak your toenails or fingernails in the mixture for 15 minutes.
- Remove and pat them dry.
- Now add several tablespoons of BS into enough water.
- Mix well and soak them again for 15 minutes.
- Pat the feet or fingers dry with paper towels.
- Repeat the process 2 times daily.
Note: There Is No Scientific Evidence For The Success Of Nail Fungus Treatment With Vinegar
Since vinegar cannot penetrate deep into the nail, it is unlikely to be effective against nail fungus. If you still want to experiment with vinegar, you should start treatment with nail polish to accompany the experiment. Water-soluble nail polish such as Proclearz against nail fungus has the advantage of penetrating deep into the nail but does not permanently seal the nail. The nail polish is applied in the evening and washed off with water the following day. The active ingredient remains in the pin.
Foot fungus isnt fun. So get rid of it with ProClearz Bright now. It contains the only active ingredient clinically proven to cure and prevent fungal infections of the toes, including skin around, adjacent to, and under nails.
- Immediately brightens and smooths nails with a clear polymer barrier
- Penetrates for 24 hours- reduces nail thickness and discoloration
- Peels away keratin debris to restore nail health and appearance
- Clinically proven Improves the appearance of fungal nails in 96% of suffers
- Compatible with nail polish
- Dries quickly, easy to use, brush on applicator
LEGAL INFORMATION:
Proclearz.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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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.
Home Remedy For Toenail Fungus Apple Cider Vinegar
It is very easy to treat your toenail fungus with Apple cider vinegar at home. You wont need anything extra and everything would be present inside your home for the remedy unless you have some more expectations.
Remember, if you rely only on the Apple cider vinegar to fix your nail fungus completely from starting to the end.
Arranging things would be easy but dont expect that your nail fungus would get cured fast within weeks or within a few weeks.
We would talk more about fixing the toenail fungus quickly and cheaply, the best way. But now lets see how the home remedy gonna work for you.
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How To Heal Your Toenail Fungus At Home
Posted
HOW TO HEAL YOUR TOENAIL FUNGUS AT HOME
If you have mild toenail fungus, theres a very good chance that a home remedy can help you get rid of it. Though you can definitely try these with moderate to severe toenail fungus, too, as long as youre healthy, it is recommended that you see a specialist if its a bad case of fungus.
As always, if your immune system is compromised or you have diabetes, its always best to see a podiatrist so you dont risk making things worse or needing surgery.
Without further ado, here are several home remedies you can try to heal your toenail fungus.
Apple Cider Vinegar Peroxide Vicks And Antibiotic Ointment
- Clip the nail back a little in the affected area just enough to show a little bit of underlying skin.
- Combine 1 cap full of apple cider vinegar and peroxide.
- Dip a q-tip in the mixture and rub it on the affected area.
- Note: It may fizz a little bit but it reduces in few minutes.
- Repeat the application 3 times a day.
- During the daytime, rub some antibiotic ointment on your nail fungus.
- Reapply whenever your nails would get wet.
- At night, apply Vicks vapor rub and secure it with a Band-Aid. Make sure the band aid is not too tight.
- Repeat this process daily. You will see the results in few days.
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At Home Treatments For Toenail Fungus
As a society, many of us take for granted how the internet affects our lives. If you want to do it yourself for things like building a new bookcase or using at-home treatments for toenail fungus, you only need to use a search engine to pull up instructional videos and webpages. Kids might have a hard time believing this, but it used to take a trip to the library to achieve the same results!
A clear example of this are the tips and advice we provide right here on our website. If you are looking for information or the latest in health news, be sure to connect with us on social media . Now, when it comes to something like a case of fungal toenails, you might want to try home treatment and see if it will help first.
Regarding at-home treatments for fungal toenails, options you might consider include:
If at-home treatments for toenail fungus are not delivering the results you want to see, consult our professionals here at Fixing Feet Institute! We provide comprehensive foot and ankle care, so simply give us a call at 584-5556 or take a moment to fill out our online form and connect with our Surprise, AZ office right now.
The Fungus Removal Topical Creams
You can use different topical creams to kill toenail fungus. Almost all the topical creams to destroy toenail fungus are available with the same ingredients. These are clotrimazole, Miconazole, and terbinafine.
Using topical creams to treat toenail fungus can take almost three months. For most people the topical creams may not work fast and can have adverse effects.
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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
Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar
This is another easy way using apple cider vinegar for nail fungus that you should not skip!
Ingredients:
- Apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon
Directions:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide a little
Directions:
- Firstly, you add Borax into hot water and allow it to dissolve.
- Then, you add this vinegar along with a little water into it.
- Next, you add 3% hydrogen peroxide into it and stir them well.
- Now, you soak your infected nail into this solution for about 30 to 45 minutes.
- You should repeat this method daily till fungus is gone.
Remedies for Toenails:
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What Causes Fungal Nails And What Are Some Of The Risk Factors
In normal, healthy people, fungal infections of the nails are most commonly caused by fungus that is caught from moist, wet areas. Communal showers, such as those at a gym or swimming pools, are common sources. Going to nail salons that use inadequate sanitization of instruments in addition to living with family members who have fungal nails are also risk factors. Athletes have been proven to be more susceptible to nail fungus. This is presumed to be due to the wearing of tight-fitting, sweaty shoes associated with repetitive trauma to the toenails. Having athlete’s foot makes it more likely that the fungus will infect your toenails. Repetitive trauma also weakens the nail, which makes the nail more susceptible to fungal infection.
Elderly people and people with certain underlying disease states are also at higher risk. Anything that impairs your immune system can make you prone to getting infected with the fungus. These include conditions such as AIDS, diabetes, cancer, psoriasis, or taking any immunosuppressive medications like steroids.
Apple Cider Vinegar With Epsom Salt
Epsom salt gently exfoliates the skin and nail which helps the healing properties of apple cider vinegar to work more effectively and quickly.
- Combine 1/3 cup each of apple cider vinegar and Epsom salt and 2 cups of hot water.
- Stir well and soak your toes or fingers for 30 minutes.
- Repeat the process 1 2 times daily.
Note: The longer your soak, the better results you achieve.
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Do Vinegar Soaks Help Toe Fungus
In short, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest vinegar foot soaks can help you to get rid of fungal toenail infections over time and with repeated use.
However, there is no concrete clinical evidence to suggest that vinegar will definitely work, though some users do report that the treatment can work on mild cases of fungal infections. It is also a low-risk treatment, so it is unlikely to cause you any harm if you do decide to test out this home remedy.
Usually, your doctor will recommend using medication to treat toe fungus rather than relying on a home remedy.
There are two main types of medical treatment that are normally recommended for fungal nail infections: nail paints and tablets.
Amorolfine nail paint is available from our online pharmacy for the topical treatment of fungal toenail infections. The antifungal nail paint works by stopping the growth of fungus that causes infections. It also breaks down the fungi cells and removes the fungus as the nail grows out. Amorolfine is the cheaper generic version of the branded Curanail antifungal treatment.
Antifungal tablets like Terbinafine also treat fungal nail infections but have to be prescribed by a GP or nurse and may require an initial blood test before you start treatment.
Does Vinegar Help With Toenail Fungus
There are no current studies out there pitting toenail fungus against a vinegar foot soak directly, but there are a few studies pointing to vinegar having some potential benefits as a general anti-fungal.All kinds of vinegar contain a natural mild acid called acetic acid, and this acid may be responsible for the antimicrobial abilities of vinegar.And one study found apple cider vinegar and acetic acid to display significant antifungal activity against ear fungal infections.So, while there is no conclusive evidence on vinegar helping with toenail fungus specifically, for a mild case it may be worth a few soaks since there is no harm from using one.But, toenail fungus tends to be a stubborn infection, so we recommend pairing any sort of potentially beneficial foot soak with validated prescription therapy guided by a physician.Alternatively, some may look into using an occasional vinegar foot soak to help get foot fungus reinfections at bay or as a preventative measure.
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Instructions: How To Treat Nail Fungus With White Vinegar
Warning: nail fungus does not heal on its own. A lot of patience and discipline is required for successful treatment. Nail fungus should therefore never be tackled with home remedies such as vinegar alone, says dermatologist Dr. Wolfgang Klee from Mainz. Like tea tree oil, vinegar against nail fungus can kill fungi to a small extent. But the antifungal effect is not enough to completely eliminate the nail fungus.
However, there is nothing to prevent you from trying vinegar against nail fungus in consultation with your dermatologist to accompany drug therapy. Here is the mix recommended by dermatologists for the local application of vinegar against nail fungus.