Toenail fungus is a common fungal infection that can affect the toenails, causing them to become thick, discolored, and brittle. While there are various treatments available for toenail fungus, some people prefer to try toenail fungus home remedies first before turning to medication.
As such, you’ll want to address it as quickly as possible. Here are some of the best home remedies for toenail fungus that you can use.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Black tea
- Vinegar
- Baking powder
There are a myriad of at home nail fungus remedy that you can employ using things you might already have around the home. In this article, we’ll take a look at some methods you can consider for a cure for toenail fungus home remedy. Read this you want to be informed on how to know if toenail fungus is dying.
What Causes Toenail Fungus?
Nail fungus is a condition that can affect one or several nails. It generally manifests as a yellow-brown spot under the tip of the nail. As the infection spreads, the nail may begin to discolor and thicken, causing discomfort and brittleness.
Fungus-infected nails may feel ‘crumbly’ and start to separate from the nail bed. You may be at a higher risk to develop or encourage the spread of toenail fungus if the following factors are present:
- Being older
- Walking barefoot in public areas
- Having a prior history of athlete’s foot
- Wearing Unclean shoes or socks
- Wearing shoes that make your feet sweat
- Having a condition that affects the skin around your nails
- Experiencing other conditions that weaken your blood flow or immune system
How to Prevent Toenail Fungus Infection or Reinfection?
It’s important to implement hygienic practices to prevent infection, reinfection, or complications from toenail fungus. These practices include the following:
- Keeping your nails dry and clean
- Keeping your nails trimmed
- Disinfect your nail trimmers
- Choose breathable shoes and socks, changing them out often
- Wear footwear in public areas
Before going over the at home nail fungus remedy, you can implement to take care of toenail fungus, it’s important to understand when you should see your healthcare provider.
If self-care doesn’t help and your condition worsens, consult professional medical experts. The following conditions are also cause to visit your doctor:
- Diabetes and nail fungus concurrently
- Bleeding near the nails
- Swelling or pain around your nails
- Trouble walking
The Best Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
Most of the time, toenail fungus can be treated with the use of at home remedies for toenail fungus. usually applied topically on the affected area or through a foot soak, such as the Medi-Care Anti-Fungal Stick.
It’s important to reiterate that you must pair these toenail fungus home remedies with good hygienic footcare practices to avoid reinfection.
You can also use an OTC toenail fungus treatment like the PureHealth Fungus Eliminator, which can help you see fast results.
Hydrogen Peroxide
One of the most effective nail fungus home remedies, a hydrogen peroxide foot soak can work wonders to treat toenail fungus.
You can directly dab hydrogen peroxide on the affected area using a clean cloth or a cotton swab. If you prefer, you can also use it in a foot soak with 1/8 cup hydrogen peroxide to 4 cups water.
Soak for 10 to 20 minutes twice daily to allow the treatment to reach the nail bed. Once you’re done, rinse your feet with warm water and pat them dry using a clean towel. Make sure to thoroughly disinfect the towel and anything that’s touched your foot to avoid reinfecting yourself in the future.
Black Tea
Another toe fungus home remedy that involves a good foot soak is black tea. Black tea is one of many great natural remedies for toenail fungus. You can use any tea that contains tannic acid, but black tea is one of the best. It dries out your feet, closing the pores to reduce the amount you sweat.
Remember, fungus thrives in moist, damp environments, so the less you sweat, the less likely you are to exacerbate a toenail fungus problem.
Boil water and add 5-6 teabags. Let the solution cool and soak your feet for up to 30 minutes. You can use this foot soak method daily if you choose but just make sure to use a fresh solution and clean out the bowl you use before reusing it.
Vinegar
If you’re wondering, “What is a home remedy for nail fungus,” another great option that treats toenail fungus is vinegar.
Either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar work well, since both are quite acidic. The acid kills the fungus, prevents the spread of the infection, and helps to repair discolored toenails, although it’s best used to treat milder cases of toenail fungus.
Create a foot soak consisting of one part vinegar matched with two parts water and soak for about 20 minutes daily.
Just keep in mind that this nail fungus home remedy solution can be quite pungent, so you might consider
adding a drop or two of essential oils to make the soak a little more pleasant.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a versatile toenail fungus remedy that works wonderfully. The antifungal properties of baking soda disrupt the ion balance in fungal spores, causing them to collapse and die.
Add baking soda to any of the above-mentioned foot soaks or use it independently. You can make a paste with a bit of water and apply it directly to your foot. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, then rinse your foot with warm water and pat down your foot carefully.
If you want, you can sprinkle a little bit of baking soda inside your shoes just like you would a foot powder. Shake the shoes to distribute the baking powder and leave the shoes for a day. Shake out any baking soda left afterwards.
Lastly, you can sprinkle the baking soda dry directly on your foot. Once you do, put on your clean socks. The purpose of this is twofold: killing the fungus and drying out your feet. A drier environment is less hospitable for fungal spores, making it more likely to reduce or eliminate toenail fungus.
Are Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus Effective?
Home remedies for toenail fungus can be effective in treating mild to moderate cases of the infection. However, the effectiveness of home remedies for nail fungus can vary depending on the severity of the infection and the individual’s response to the treatment.
While there are many home remedies for nail fungus available, there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness. This is because most nail fungus home remedies have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials to determine their efficacy.
That being said, some home remedies have been shown to have antifungal properties and may be effective in treating toenail fungus. For example, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and garlic have all been shown to have antifungal properties and may help to eliminate the fungus.
It’s important to note that fungus on toes home remedies may take longer to produce results than medication, except for the tea tree oil for toenail fungus. Medications, such as oral antifungal drugs, are typically more effective at treating toenail fungus and may produce results more quickly. However, medications can have side effects and may not be appropriate for everyone.
Ultimately, the decision to use a home remedy for toenail fungus or medication to treat toenail fungus depends on the severity of the infection and the individual’s preferences. If you have a mild case of toenail fungus, you may want to try a home remedy for toe fungus first before turning to medication. However, if you have a severe or persistent infection, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a toenail fungus can be a process of several months, but in most cases, you can take care of it from home using any one, or a combination of the above methods. Be sure to incorporate sensible foot hygiene practices throughout to avoid the risk of reinfection and prevent the spread of the condition.
Use a foot soak or topical antifungal application daily, and you’ll likely start to see improvement within a couple of weeks. If you don’t, consult your healthcare provider.
