5 Ways on How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is very unsightly. It is a common problem which can lead to discoloration of the toenails. If left untreated, it causes the toenail to crack, crumble, or create a dead toenail. The worst thing is, it can create a foul smell. So you can see now why people having a toenail fungus are so eager to get rid of it. Well it is impossible not to wear shoes so as to avoid the occurrence of infection. The best thing you can do is to do other ways to get rid of toenail fungus.
Give your Toenails Good Hygiene
You can avoid and minimize toenail fungus by keeping yourself always clean as well as your feet. Keep them always dry and groomed too. Fungus likes to stay in a moist place rather than a dry one. Keep your feet dry from water and sweat, change your socks often and wear dry shoes and for sweaty feet, wear open-toed shoes. Avoid going to public pools, showers and locker areas. If you can’t avoid to, you can use shower shoes in this areas.
Give Feet a Smart Foot Care
A good foot care can help prevent fungal infections or at least lessen the severity of an infection that already exists. If there are any scraps around the toenails, you must clean the cuts. It is easier for the fungus to invade if there are any breaks in the skin. Nail polish also traps moisture that makes the fungus more comfortable so you must knock them off. Purchase over-the-counter anti-fungal powders and other things that you can put on your feet or in your shoes to avoid fungal infections from coming back.
Oral Medication
There are some oral medications that can be purchased to kill toenail fungal infection. You can consult your physician regarding this method. These oral medications must contain an active ingredient like terbinafine or itraconazole. These will enhance a new and healthy nail growth and stop the infection from spreading only you won’t be completely fungus-free until the new nail has grown out fully and this takes several months.
Topical Medications
There are some topical medications available in drug stores to manage toenail fungus. It can be either a cream or an anti fungal nail polish called ciclopirox. They are less effective and are prescribed together with oral medication. It is hard to get rid of toenail fungal infections because the nails are hard and thick and they are slow growing. The doctor will file your nail down so that the medicine will penetrate onto your nail easily.
Surgery
If your toenail infection is severe, this requires surgical removal. This case is rare but if you neglect the condition, it is very likely that you’ll go through this type of treatment. The surgery removes your entire nail to give a fresh fungus-free start. You are also required to apply topical medication after the surgery. Your toes will have a strange look since they are naked (meaning there’s no nail to cover the toe). It will take probably a year for a toenail to grow completely.
The best way to get rid of toenail fungus is to prevent it from occurring. People who are not always using shoes are very lucky that they are not prone to developing toenail fungus. This is because a closed shoe is the perfect breeding place for a fungus. If you are not able to prevent the condition from occurring, just follow the ways on how to eliminate it.
Black Toenail Fungus Treatment
Nowadays, black toenail fungus has become very common. Some people who tend to walk around open footed in public places are the main victims of this infection. It is also very common for the athletes and for old people.
Black toenail fungus is an unsightly and common problem for many people and there may be a couple of different reasons causing this condition. Black toenail fungus treatment is very important. But fortunately, there are a few treatment options to consider in your quest to eradicate the main and ultimate cause of black toenail fungus of the toenails. It is also known as Onychomycosis.
Basically nail fungus is caused by tiny organisms that infect our fingernails and toenails. Black toenail fungus happens below the fingernails or toenails. This is the main reason it is difficult to reach and cure at times. Mainly this fungus thrives in places that are warm, dark and moist.
Now we’ll talk about the main cause of black toenail fungus infection.
The excessive sweating and keeping the feet confined in shoes for long time may lead to black toenail fungus. Runners and athletes may get a black toenail from wearing new shoes. They can also get this infection for running and sweating in shoes without any socks.
Black toenail fungus may also be the result of a trauma or injury to the toe. Sometimes cutting your nails too short can put you at risk for developing black toenail fungus as we know cuts may lead to infection of toenails. Black toenail fungus treatment is very important.
The main symptoms of black toenail infections are these.
Black toenail fungus mainly causes the nails to become discoloured. The most common symptom is that the toenails become yellowish, brown, green, and black. Toenail infection causes brittleness, crumbling or cracking. It is also affect the thickening of toenails. You may also experience some pain and or discomfort while walking or wearing shoes. And one more thing is that if you have one or more black toenails especially than you may notice an unpleasant or foul odour coming from underneath your toenails.
Now the let’s get to the black toenail fungus treatment.
There are so many different treatments are available to help you treat your black toenail fungus. The moment you notice any symptoms of black toenail fungus you can follow some of the home remedies that will prove very effective in eliminating the spread of the fungus. Just let your feet breath by trying to stay barefoot as much as possible throughout the whole day. Eliminate moisture and get rid of old sweaty pairs of your shoes.
Do not take any kind of ingested medication to eliminate this problem. These medications can hurt your lever. After eliminating moisture from your toenails, you must apply anti-fungal black toenail fungus treatment. Don’t forget to apply twice daily for some weeks and you will definitely get the results. The black toenail fungus treatment should be done at the starting if you want the best results.
Foot Toenail Fungus
Foot toenail fungus is truly an ugly and annoying toenail problem that affects millions of people all over the world. This problem is not a very serious condition; however, it is necessary to treat the problem immediately to prevent it from getting severe. If the toenail infection is left untreated, it may possibly lead to a severe condition eventually.
In the first sign or symptom of foot toenail fungus, it is important to treat the infection immediately so that it will not get worst. There are various remedies for toenail fungus, and you can either choose from home remedies or over the counter products.
Check Out Some Effective Remedies to Treat Your Foot Toenail Fungus:
- Cutting the nails – Foot fungus is an infection, so it would easily spread quickly to the other toes. To prevent the wide spread of infection cut the infected nail. This may not totally cure the toenail fungus, but it will prevent it from spreading to other toes that may cause you more suffering.
- Vinegar solution – Vinegar has been proven an effective treatment for any infections and other medical conditions. This means that the vinegar solution will also effectively cure foot toenail fungus. Simply soak your feet in the vinegar for a couple of minutes to alleviate the pain and cure the infection.
- Over the counter medications – There are oral medications and over the counter ointments for foot fungus. You can either ask for a prescription from your doctor, and you can also purchase some products without any prescriptions.
- Laser treatments – For a severe case of toenail fungus, the best treatment are laser treatments. This is the fastest method of treating the infection, and it does not bring any pain or side effects to patients.
These are the various remedy options available for you if you are suffering from foot toenail fungus. You need to find a treatment that will suitably work for you, so you need to determine the severity of your toenail infection.
Herbal Pills For Toenail Fungus
The fungal infection on your toenails has become a common health problem and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, nail fungus is very common on the toenails because of its environment which is warm and moist. This is more likely the area where they usually like to stay and multiply.
Herb pills as well as supplements can be a helpful therapy in treating toenail fungus, but you must only use herbs under the guidance of a licensed care health professional.
Nail Fungus
Fungal nail infections are said to be difficult to treat because of their tendency to come back. According to MayoClinic.com, the fungal infection initially appears as a white or yellow spot under the nail and it moves deeper and deeper into the nail at the later stage. There is discoloration of the nail as well as thickening, nail crumbling and pain in the affected area. Some factors that cause this condition are heavy perspiration, wearing shoes and socks, and diabetes.
Appropriate Herbal Supplements
Any herbal supplement which has bebeerines content is helpful in treating fungal infections of the toenails. According to Phyllis A Balch, who is the author “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” bereberine is a photochemical that is known for its anti-fungal action and is present in the following herbal remedies like bloodroot, golden seal, Oregon grape root, yellow root and barberry.
Pau d’arco is another potent anti-fungal herb. However, further scientific research should be done to determine the effectiveness of these herbs. Highlighted Herbal Supplement Pau d’arco is one of the most helpful herbs in treating nail fungus. Pau d’arco also possesses the ability to fight bacterial and viral infections. Some important phytochemicals that are present in this herbal remedy include beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol and lapachol.
Additional Information
Since nail fungus is difficult to treat, it is better if skilled healthcare professional is the one to handle this condition. Both herbal pills and supplements should only be used under the care and guidance of a physician. So that you can fully understand the role of herbs in your nail fungus treatment plan, you better consult your doctor and ask about the most effective herbs for this purpose. It is also important to take note of the proper dosage and the duration of treatment and how herbs might interacts with other prescription drugs that you are currently taking.
Because some oral drugs like griseofulvin and terbinafine are expensive and you cannot rely on their effectiveness fully and despite their unwanted effects, why not try the Australian tea tree? In a recent study of 60 nail infected patients aged 18-80 years old, 80% of them are cured after 16 weeks. The good news is none of these patients experience a recurrence of the infection. You can buy tea tree preparations in health food stores or you can make a home treatment of mixing 2 drops of tea tree essential oil with vegetable-based carrier oil and apply the mixture to affected nails two times a day.
There are a lot of different herb pill and supplements that you can use for toenail fungus. But bear in mind to always consult a doctor first before trying any of these treatments.
How to Use Baking Soda for Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is often mistaken with athlete’s foot and is being characterized by thick discoloured nails with crumbling edges. This is very unsightly and as the nails continue to become thick, it will become painful also. There are available over-the-counter medications but they are said to be slow in treating and sometimes ineffective.
Baking Soda Paste
First, you must make a paste out of baking soda and warm water. Rub it on the affected toenails and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Make sure to rinse the baking soda paste and dry your feet thoroughly before wearing your shoes and socks. Do this procedure at least once a day and you would notice that your infected toenails are loosening then eventually will fall off? When this happens, you will see a new nail growing in.
Another thing that you can do is soaking your feet in a solution of baking soda and water for 30 minutes and should be done daily. This way it can change the pH of your skin which is one cause in the growth of toenail fungus.
Treating your Shoes
After taking off your shoes and sneakers, they remain damp from your sweaty feet. Since fungi thrive in warm, moist and dark environments, your shoes can be a breeding place for the microbes. This will give you the chance of developing toenail infection every time you wear shoes.
Again, you can sprinkle a baking soda onto your shoes to fight these microbes and at the same time freshen up the foul odour of your shoes. This will also help keep your feet dry thus preventing the fungus from attacking your toenails. As they say, prevention is the best treatment.
Oil Powder Mixture
In one case study conducted by B.D. Misner for the “Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition”, they tried another treatment which includes baking soda. They mixed baking soda with tea tree oil, basil oil, sage oil and arrowroot then they found this out to be effective against the growth of fungal infections on the feet. The mixture is applied on both feet and toes before wearing socks and shoes on. Any fungal growth on the toenails is effectively treated as the oils allow better penetration of the baking soda mixture. It also prevents new fungal growth.
Prevention
Whether the treatment works or not, the best defence is to prevent the problem from occurring. Always keep your feet dry, wear only cotton socks and change them every day. Wear shoes that allow your foot to breathe. You can also add some baking soda to your shoes.
Baking Soda is not just an ingredient for kitchen use but it may also help in treating toenail fungus. It may take time before you see the results but it is worth a try. However, if further irritation or inflammation occurs, be sure to consult your physician.
Infected Toenail Removal
If you have an infected toenail your best treatment option is to see your doctor or foot specialist, a podiatrist. If treatment is ineffective, you have a recurring problem, or the infection is very bad they may discuss with you infected toenail removal. This article looks at what surgical treatment of an ingrown toenail involves and what infected toenail removal means.
Who Gets Ingrown Toenails?
While ingrown toenails can affect anyone they are more likely to occur the following times:
- If you injure your nail it can cause the nail to warp how it grows, curling into the skin and causing an ingrown toenail
- Some people have naturally more curved toenails that can put you at a higher chance of getting an ingrown toenail
- A lot of people cause one to happen because they round their toenails when cutting as they do with fingernails, when toenails should be cut straight across, and should not be cut too short
- Most commonly it is the big toe that it happens on, but it can happen on the others
- Infection also changes the growth of the nail
- Tight shoes that squeeze your toes together can cause it
Treatment if There Is No Infection
Regular soaking of the feet, three or four times a day, wearing shoes that give lots of room for the toes, use salts to prevent infection in the foot baths are usually how people can treat an ingrown toenail before it has become infected. For the pain there is ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can try using a small rolled piece of cotton or some waxed dental floss as a wedge you insert under the nail by lifting it, and after 2 or 3 days it should grow out and can be cut away.
Infected Toenail Removal
When an ingrown toenail is infected the doctor may choose to do a partial or full infected toenail removal. It can be done surgically or with chemicals and depending on your case the doctor may choose to remove part of the nail, part of the nail bed, and possibly even part of the matrix, the part of the nail that grows nail, as this would prevent future problems. It is unlikely a doctor will opt for full infected toenail removal unless you have had recurring problems.
If the whole nail is removed it will grow back in a few months but it will not be the same. It is not something that requires hospitalization; some doctors can do it there in their clinic. You are given an anaesthetic injection into the toe to numb it, and then the doctor will perform the procedure, tell you how to care for it afterwards, and possibly prescribe you antibiotics.
Types of Treatment a Doctor Can Perform
Phenolisation – Uses phenol to remove part of the nail or all of it, and possible also ablate the matrix that causes the nail to grow in to the skin. Infection is drained and the end result is the nail being a little narrower than it once was.
The Vandenbos procedure – The toes is anesthetized and an incision is made at the base of the nail around the ingrown section to under the tip of the nail. Skin is removed and the wound is left to heal which takes 4 to 6 weeks.
Wedge resection – After being anesthetized the part of the nail growing into the skin is pulled out and cut off. This does have higher chances of recurrence though if the matrix is not dealt with.
Complete removal – After the anaesthesia the nail is just pulled completely out. However this too has a lot of chance of recurrence problems.
The Syme procedure – as well as removing the nail the whole matrix is destroyed too so that no new nail ever grows back making it a permanent solution. However this takes a long time to heal.
Natural Treatments For Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus takes the fun out of summer and sandal shopping and getting rid of it takes dedication and determination because whatever means you chose, an effective treatment is going to take months to work. You can try medicated options or over the counter products, but there are also some natural treatments for toenail fungus that you may want to consider.
Here is a brief run down on ten natural treatments for toenail fungus!
Tea tree oil
Also called Melaleuca, Cajeput, Manuka and scientifically called Melaleuca Alternifolia this tea gives is the essential oil called Tea Tree oil.
Tea tree oil has well known anti-fungal properties used for the treatment of other fungal infections such as candida, and is commonly used in products that are natural treatments for toenail fungus. You can use it on its own (mixed with a little olive oil) or choose to mix it with another essential oil and rub it into the toenail every day, 2 or 3 times a day.
Jojoba
Jojoba is also called Jojoba oil but in actual fact it is not oil, it is a wax, but comes in oil form. It is derived from the jojoba shrub native in Mexico, California and Arizona and its name originates from the O’odham people, natives to the Sonoran dessert in the southwest of the United States. They used it to for its antioxidant properties to treat burns.
Also called the deer nut, wild hazel, coffee berry, goat nut, pignut, gray box bush and quinine nut it also has anti-fungal properties and as well as being used as part of natural treatments for toenail fungus is also used in general skin care products.
Clove
In the world of science also called Syzygium Aromaticum or Eugenia Caryophyllata, clove comes from trees that are part of the Myrtaceae plant family. The oil is extracted from the flower buds and as well as being effective for fungal infections, its anti-bacterial properties mean it can be used for bacterial infections also. The fragrance also has a relaxing effect and is used in aromatherapy as well as cooking, as an insect repellent and to treat other illnesses such as bronchitis, lice, toothache, diarrhoea and more!
Garlic
Garlic’s scientific name is Allium Sativum and it has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. As well as being one of the effective natural treatments for toenail fungus it is also used as a home remedy for yeast infections. When dealing with garlic it needs to be the real raw stuff not cooked or powdered. You can also find garlic in other products or as oil and use that. It may stain your nail a yellow color but this will go away.
Almonds
Almond trees only grow to between four and 9 meters in height and this is where the oil is extracted from. Also called Prunus Dulcis almond oil is also used in skin care treatment. It is part of some natural treatments for toenail fungus because it absorbs quickly, is non greasy and its properties help fight a nail fungus infection.
Olive
Also called Olive leaf by some its scientific name is Olea Europaea. Olive leaf is taken from the olive tree and as well as being used in natural skin care products can also be used for medicinal purposes. There have been clinical tests done that prove not only does olive leaf extract help lower blood pressure and have high antioxidant properties, it also has anti-bacterial, anti inflammatory and anti-fungal properties making it a popular natural ingredient in toenail fungus cures.
Lemongrass Or Cymbopogon Citrates, not just a useful ingredient for oriental cooking, perfumes or for aromatherapy. Other common names include fever grass, silky heads, citronella grass and there are many more. Lemongrass oil has been used for many years medicinally also, it has anti-bacterial properties as well as anti-fungal ones. For that reason it is effectively used as a pesticide and a preservative as well.
Lavender
Its scientific name is Lavandula Officinalis and lavender oil is made from the flowers. It is used for several medicinal purposes, acne, burns, abscess, colds, abrasions and other fungal infections like candida yeast infections. Just rub some lavender essential oil on the infected toenail each night before you go to bed.
Oregano
Also called wild marjoram or in the science world origanum vulgare, oregano oil is extracted from the plant itself. Great as a potential healer for a lot of problems, as it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antiseptic and anti-parasitic! Oregano will also give the immune system a boost acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant and increases blood oxygen levels.
Natural Ways to Cure Toenail Fungus
These are some effective natural ways for curing toenail fungal infection:
LISTERINE
Listerine is one of the best natural ways to cure toenail fungus. Soak a cotton-ball in Listerine and then put it onto the affected toenail. The cotton is to be wrapped with some bandage or foil and then it is left for about 15 minutes. This is to be practiced once in a day for about one month. If there is more than one toe affected with fungus, the foot is soaked in the tub containing the Listerine water.
VINEGAR
Some of the naturopaths suggest vinegar as simplest natural remedy treating toenail infections. A cotton-ball is to be soaked (only once) in the vinegar and then applied to those cuticle areas. Once done, the area is to be dried quickly with the help of hairdryer and then wiped off with a cotton cloth.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Another simple remedy for curing toenail is using the solution of hydrogen peroxide. This is simple to do and easy to follow. Soak your affected areas (toes) for about 20 minutes in hydrogen peroxide mild solution and let it bubble up. This is to be done on daily basis for at least couple of days to gain maximum results.
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful cleansing material for the skin and any infected wound. But again, one should remember that after soaking, the toenail is to be dried thoroughly. This is because the moisture or wetness will again invite fungus to get located at the site and then giving a healthy environment to grow up.
BLEACH
Some of the cosmetologists suggest soaking the feet in the bleach will work to help healing the toenail fungus. Bleach has property to heal various skinny conditions and to bring back the elasticity of the affected skin. Another proven natural remedy for curing toenail fungus is putting some drops of natural apple cider vinegar onto the cuticles of affected area through eyedropper. Dry it later.
Treatment and Cure of Toenail Fungus
Treatment of toenail fungus can be a difficult undertaking and the treatment regimen would normally take months to complete. The courses of treatment can be divided into 2 main categories – Pharmacological or medical treatments and natural treatment or home remedies.
Pharmacological treatments involve the use of anti-fungal medications, systemic and topical preparations in treating the infection. The duration of treatment is largely dependent on the severity of the condition and the time that is required to shed off the infected nail and make space for a new nail to grow. The treatment regimen may run up to 12 months or more in order to achieve a complete cure.
On the other hand, the efficacy of natural treatment and home remedies for toenail fungus is anchored on the proper use and application of such treatment options. Such non-traditional treatment options can be used to effectively control and get rid of toenail fungus without the side effects which are usually observed in pharmacological treatments. One of the leading treatment options under this category is Funginix toenail fungus treatment.