Get Rid of Nail Fungus
An infection of nail fungus occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. A nail fungal infection may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges — an unsightly and potentially painful problem. These infections usually develop on nails continually exposed to warm, moist environments, such as sweaty shoes or shower floors. Your nails are continually exposed to warmth and moisture — conditions perfect for the growth and spread of fungi. While some people are genetically more susceptible to contracting fungus, behaviors like swimming and sweating often cause fungus to form as a result of built-up moisture. In extreme cases, nail fungus can become very painful and affect a person's ability to use his or her hands and/or feet. Follow the steps below to learn how to treat your fungal infection at home or seek out medical treatment.
Contents
Steps
Trying a Home Remedy
- Drip tea tree oil on your nail. Tea tree oil has been used as an antiseptic and fungicide for centuries. Dab a few drops directly on the site or soak a cotton ball in tea tree oil and rub it on the affected area.
- Use a toothbrush to gently scrub your nail. Be sure to throw the toothbrush away after using it for this purpose.
- Try making a mixture of tea tree oil and olive oil and rubbing in on your nail. You can reapply this mixture or pure tea tree oil as often as you like. Twice per day is usually sufficient for helping mild cases.
- Make a baking soda, peroxide, white vinegar, and salt scrub. Combine four cups hot water, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 cup Epsom salts. Then add 1/4 cup white vinegar. All of these ingredients can be found at your local drugstore. Soak your nail directly in the mixture or drench a cotton ball and hold in on your nail for about 10 minutes. Repeat twice daily.
- Lather pure orange oil on your nail. Like tea tree oil, orange oil is used as a fungicide and can help eliminate nail fungus. Be sure to get the oil under the toenail as well as on top on it. Be sure you are not allergic to orange oil by testing it on a small patch of skin before applying.
- Crush up fresh garlic and mix in white vinegar. When used in its raw state, garlic has antifungal properties. Make sure to crush the garlic well to release all of the allicin, the compound that contains antifungal properties. Soak your toe in the mixture for as long as is comfortable. Consuming raw garlic can also help fend off fungus.
- Use apple cider vinegar for its bacteria-fighting, acidic properties. The acidity of apple cider vinegar stops the fungus from spreading while simultaneously killing bacteria. Dilute the vinegar in an equal amount of water and allow your nail to soak in the solution for up to 30 minutes. Repeat this process daily and make sure to thoroughly dry your nail after soaking.
- Soak the affected area in bacteria-killing mouth wash. The alcohol in mouth wash acts as an antiseptic, while germ-fighting compounds help to remove the fungus. Submerge the nail in mouth wash for about 15 minutes daily.
- Apply Vick's VapoRub. Administer a small amount of the decongestant rub to the nail and cover your feet with socks or your hands with cloth gloves before going to bed. Make sure to remove all moisture from the nail before applying Vick's.
- Cover the affected area in lavender oil. Lavender oil has antiseptic properties and helps to relieve irritated skin. Heat up lavender oil just to a comfortably warm temperature in a microwave. Soak a cotton ball in the oil and hold on the affected area for a few minutes several times per day.
- Try using oregano oil for its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-parasitical, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal properties. Oregano oil can work wonders for your nail fungus. Drop a few drops of the oil onto the affected area a few times per day.
- Squeeze lemon juice on and around your nail. Lemon's citric acid prevents the fungus from spreading to other nails or other regions of your body. Let it sit on the affected area for 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with water.
Medical Treatments
- Take an oral medication. See your doctor about getting a prescription for an oral antifungal medication if none of the above home remedies are helping your condition. Two commonly prescribed medications that are thought to be particularly effective are terbinafine (Lamisil) and itraconazole (Sporanox). Ask your doctor which medication is best for your particular condition.
- You can expect to be prescribed an oral medication if you are at risk for developing cellulitis or are in pain from your nail fungus.
- Oral medications allow the nail to grow anew without any fungus, but it takes a long time to replace the nail completely. It will usually take between six and 12 weeks for the medication to kick in, though it can take several months to completely get rid of an infection.
- Be aware that oral medications can cause certain side effects including rashes and liver problems.
- Apply an antifungal lacquer. If your infection is not so strong that it requires oral medication, you may be prescribed a topical antifungal lacquer. Lacquer basically looks like clear nail polish and is used only on the surface of the fungus outbreak. The most commonly prescribed lacquer is called ciclopirox (Penlac).
- Apply it to the infected area once a day for a week. Then clean the area with rubbing alcohol and start the layering process over.
- The drawback to lacquer treatment is that it takes an incredibly long time to get rid of an infection. It can take as long as one year to clear up nail fungus.
- Try a topical cream or gel. Alternately, your doctor may prescribe creams or gels with antifungal properties or those that contain urea, which helps to absorb excess moisture. Some of these treatments require a prescription, while others are available over-the-counter.
- Opt for surgical removal. For severe infections, it may be necessary to surgically remove part or all of the infected nail. Don't worry, your nail will eventually grow back, it just takes awhile and can be a bit painful in the meantime.
- Undergo a laser treatment. Doctors are now able to treat nail fungus using a laser or photodynamic therapy to remove the fungus. The laser treatment method is only a few years old and may not be available in some areas. Additionally, the process can cost several hundred to over one thousand dollars.
Preventing Nail Fungus
- Practice good hygiene. Allow as much air as possible to reach your nails. You can achieve dry nails by avoiding tight shoes, hosiery, and tights that create a sweaty environment for your nails and opting instead for open-toed shoes.
- Keep your nails short, dry, and clean. Use a manicure/pedicure kit to groom your nails often. Keeping your nails short prevents bacteria from getting trapped under them.
- Wear ventilating socks. Avoid cotton and wool socks if you plan to sweat while wearing them. Synthetic socks are better at not allowing moisture to build up and get trapped inside your socks.
- Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products. This not only prevents you from coming into contact with bacteria while performing chores around the house, it also keeps your hands dry. Bacteria likes to live in warm, moist places, so avoid creating this environment around your nails whenever possible.
- Always wear shoes in public places. This is especially important if you shower in a shared gym. Make sure to wear sandals while showering if multiple people are using the same shower. These perpetually wet, warm places full of sweaty people are bacteria breeding grounds.
- Avoid sketchy nail salons. Make sure that the nail salon you visit properly sterilizes their tools and tubs after every client.
- If you don't want to ask the owners or you are unsure whether they are being truthful or not, simply bring your own nail kit and ask them to use your tools and polish to complete your manicure or pedicure.
- You can also stop painting your nails or getting fake nails altogether. Nail polish traps moisture in your nails and can leave you with small cuts that attract bacteria.
