Nail fungi are one of those unpleasant issues the majority would prefer not to look at. Imagine trying to enjoy a beach day or slip into your favorite sandals, only to feel self-conscious due to discolored nails.
In this article, we are going through effective home remedies that you can easily prepare from your kitchen. These solutions could help bring back your belief in yourself and repair the crumbling health of your nails from the refreshing smell of tea tree oil, and garlic’s secret attributes.
Your journey to healthier nails starts here!
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil must be one of the best ways to treat toenail fungus. It is widely used by people who have toenail fungus but don’t want to take prescribed medication as it has strong antifungal properties.
So what makes tea tree oil so effective against fungal toenail infections? Let us see how this natural remedy can help manage and possibly cure nail infections.
How to Apply Tea Tree Oil for Toenail Fungus
Using tea tree oil as part of your daily nail fungus treatment routine is quite simple.
Firstly, mix a few drops of tea tree oil with carrier oils such as coconut or sunflower among others usually found at homes.
By diluting it in this way, irritation on the surrounding skin would be avoided while enabling deeper penetration beneath the nail bed area where its fungicidal activity takes place.
Afterwards, apply this mixture with a cotton swab over an infected nail making sure it spreads well across ruined parts and nearby areas too.
Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the widely prescribed traditional remedies for toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar. It can also serve as an excellent natural solution to nail fungus apart from being a common seasoning used in most kitchens.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus
The application of apple cider vinegar is very easy and can easily fit into your daily efforts to get rid of toenail fungal infection.
To make a simple homemade remedy, you only require an equal quantity of water and apple cider vinegar which would be mixed in a basin large enough to accommodate your feet.
Every day, soak your infected foot in this mixture for approximately 15 to 20 minutes which reduces the growth of fungus while addressing other bacterial infections that accompany toenail fungus too.
Garlic
Among natural cures for toe fungus, garlic stands out due to its remarkable anti-fungal properties. Garlic is not just used in kitchens as a flavor enhancer but also has great importance in fighting against toenail fungal infections.
How is garlic useful when treating toenail fungal infections? What purpose does garlic serve as part of home remedies for toenails?
How to Use Garlic for Toenail Fungus
Including garlic in your anti-fungal treatment plan for toenail fungus can be quite simple and effective. One way is making garlic extract paste.
Crush a few fresh cloves of garlic to release allicin which would be applied straight away on damaged toes.
Put on a bandage or gauze then leave it there for thirty minutes. Wash off with warm water before softly patting it dry. Do this two times each day for better results.
Coconut Oil
Toenail fungus can be treated with coconut oil because it fights fungi and is a very good moisturizer.
Studies have shown that coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids such as caprylic acid and lauric acid which have antifungal effects against onychomycosis. This helps to moisturize the affected nail, which in turn promotes faster healing while preventing more fungal growth.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Toenail Fungus
It will be easy to integrate coconut oil into your existing toenail fungus treatment routine.
Just take a little pure organic coconut oil and apply it directly on the infected nail and the skin surrounding it too.
Gently, press the oils into your nails so that they are deeply absorbed.
Oregano Oil
Due to its composition of containing large amounts of thymol, oregano has been widely used against toenail fungus. Oregano oil can stop fungi responsible for this condition from growing on the nail when applied directly onto an infected area, leading to the healing process.
How to Use Oregano Oil for Toenail Fungus
The way of using oregano essential oil is quite simple but might work well if done appropriately. It might be best if you dilute oregano oil in a carrier oil such as coconut or sunflower oil.
Using a cotton swab dipped into one tablespoon of carrier oil mixed with drops of oregano, apply it on the infected nail ensuring you cover your entire nail bed and surrounding skin.
Epsom Salt
This is why Epsom salt has been known as magnesium sulfate as well because of its therapeutic use. Its antifungal qualities can help to alleviate distress and swelling which results from toenail fungus infections.
Magnesium sulfate aids in removing impurities and toxins present in damaged nails leaving all other parts of nails healthier than before.
How to Use Epsom Salt for Toenail Fungus
Treating toe fungus with Epsom salt has never been easier or more practical.
Start by putting water in a basin and mix it properly ensuring that ½ cup of Epsom salts are dissolved in water such that it will not have any effect on the fungal infection caused by some fungi causing most of these infections under your toenail.
For fifteen minutes a day or up to twenty if possible, soak your foot in this solution. This lowers inflammation, and rashes and creates an unfriendly condition for fungal growth.
Vicks VapoRub
Some of the main ingredients in Vicks VapoRub help to make it antifungal. It contains scents from camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus; all these are known for their ability to get rid of fungal infections.
Camphor as well as menthol offers a soothing effect that creates a medium unfavorable for fungi’s growth. There is an inherent antifungal property in eucalyptus oil that can be employed in the management of toenail fungus.
How to Use Vicks VapoRub for Toenail Fungus
Applying Vaporub on your toenail fungus is as simple as saying one plus one. Begin by washing off all dirt from your nails and dry them completely thereafter.
Put on a thin layer of VapoRub just onto the infected part of your toenails including that portion involving the skin around it and every place where infection occurs should be covered too.
Thus apply steam rub over nails so that they do not fall off or become rubbed away because this enhances better outcomes.
Use Vicks VapoRub twice daily, one in the morning and another at night before you retire to bed.
In this pattern, consistency is necessary to maximize its antifungal effects. However, over time, there should be a noticeable change in the appearance of an infected nail.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is famous for its healing properties on different types of skin ailments including fungal infections.
A plant species known as Aloe vera produces gel which comprises antifungal agents such as polysaccharides and glycoproteins among others which decrease inflammation.
Thus, enhancing quick recovery and preventing further conducive environments for fungus development.
How to Use Aloe Vera for Toenail Fungus
Using aloe vera as a treatment for toenail fungus is easy; here are some ways:
- Get Fresh Aloe Vera Gel: For those who possess an aloe vera plant, just cut out one leaf from it and take out that sticky gel-like substance encased within. Alternatively, if fresh aloe vera isn’t available use pure aloe vera gel that you can get from most popular stores but ensure it’s fragrance-free and chemical-free.
- Wash and Dry the Affected Area: Before applying the aloe vera onto your nails, clean your infected nail as well as its surrounding skin. You must dry up completely so that the gel will stick properly.
- Apply Aloe Vera Gel: Take enough aloe vera gel on your fingertips or get cotton swabs. Then put on top of infected nails carefully and around them too softly rubbing it into the base of your fingers’ nails then allow them to stay undisturbed for 20 minutes before washing them off using warm water and drying them up thoroughly so that they can absorb into your system especially if left overnight during sleep hours.
- Do This Daily: Apply two times every day – once when you wake up in the morning and the next time before sleeping at night so that your skin always feels soft and moist. Consistent use will maintain the necessary moisture level thus making it possible for the fungus to be killed by this moisture.
Additional Tips
While home remedies can be effective for treating toenail fungus, there are chances when professional intervention is necessary. Consider seeking medical help if:
- Persistent Symptoms: If after treating your toe-nail fungus at home it does not improve or worsens despite regular usage of these remedies then contact health care practitioners because such severe cases like chronic ones may require stronger treatments e.g. creams or even oral antifungal medications.
- Pain and Discomfort: When one’s affected toenail becomes more painful or causes great discomfort they should be seen by an expert since this could mean a more advanced infection that can lead to secondary complications.
- Infection Spread: If the athlete’s foot infection seems to be affecting other toenails or areas of your feet, professional therapies might be needed to halt the spread and cure the condition.
- Underlying Health Conditions: People with diabetes, people who have weak immunity due to certain diseases, need to refer to a doctor if they notice symptoms of toenail fungus. These infections can become complicated and require specialized care.
- Nail Damage: In cases where there is severe damage, discoloration, or deformation of the nail itself, it may be necessary for a podiatrist to restore the health of nails by employing options such as laser treatments or even removal of nails.
- Use EZ Clear Nails: EZ Clear Nails is a highly effective solution designed to combat toenail fungus. This all-natural fungicide utilizes 100% pure iodine in a soak program to help clear up fungal infections.
Preventive Measures
Preventing toenail fungus is key to maintaining healthy nails and avoiding recurrent infections. Here are some tips to help you prevent toenail fungus:
- Use Antifungal Products: Apply antifungal topical medications often or use specific essential oils that have antifungal qualities to keep your toenails healthy thereby making them less prone to fungi attacks.
- Avoid Shared Spaces: Be cautious in public places such as swimming pools, nail salons, and locker rooms. To protect against conditions like tinea pedis wear protective shoes during contamination chances by fungi through contact on surfaces like floors in public places.
- Choose the Right Footwear: Wear breathable shoes and moisture-wicking socks so that you can prevent the development of onychomycosis caused by moist environments; hence please avoid wearing tight shoes that do not allow airflow inside since fungal growth thrives well under a warm damp state of our bodies which ends up being created as result.
- Practice Proper Nail Care: Regularly cut toe fingernails short enough so that they do not grow beyond borders; this is done to minimize injuries as well as chances of contracting fungal infections. Make sure you use clean and sterilized equipment to avoid hurting nails.
- Disinfect Nail Tools: You should regularly wash all the items you use on your nails for example, if you go to a salon more often. Thus, no transfer of fungal spores can occur.
- Strengthen Your Immune System: By eating healthy food and leading an appropriate lifestyle, one will develop strong immunity that will help in avoiding infections like nail fungus because this system is essential in fighting off microorganisms including Onychomycosis.
Use EZ Clear Nails to Treat Toenail Fungus
EZ Clear Nails is a natural iodine soak designed for nail care, particularly effective as a fungicide. Users should avoid it if sensitive to iodine, allergic to seafood, have thyroid conditions, or ingest it.
Direction for Use
- Place the toes in the toe pan. Pour liquid into the toe pan until the nail is fully submerged.
- For best results, soak for 15 minutes 3 times a week.
- Allow to air dry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to clear toenail fungus?
The timeline will depend on how severe the infection is and what treatment you are using. It can take anywhere from several weeks to months before there is any noticeable improvement.
What Are Some Home Remedies I Can Try for Treating Toenail Fungus?
Some natural remedies include using tea tree oil, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera gel.
Can I use aloe vera gel for open wounds caused by toenail fungus?
Aloe Vera Gel has anti-inflammatory properties which can help soothe and heal open sores resulting from nail fungal infections.
Are there any preventive measures against getting nail fungus?
These consist of wearing anti-fungal products and not walking barefoot in shared spaces, such as gymnasiums or swimming pools; never sharing your items like socks with other people; always cutting your nails short and cleaning them regularly.
