How to Tell if You Have a Fungal Infection in Your Toenail?

Do you have a Fungal Infection in Your Toenail?

Fungal infections of the toenail are very common. Fungal infections that affect toenails affect between 10 to 12% of Americans.

A fungal infection in the toenail is caused by microscopic organisms, known as fungi, that wedge themselves in the tiny cracks around the toenail and around the cuticle. Since your feet are typically inside shoes, which are dark and damp, fungal spores can easily become a problem. Symptoms of fungal infections of the toenail are pretty consistent across the affected population.

The first noted symptom is typically a whitish, or yellowish, spot on the nail. This is only the beginning of the infection. The spot can be very small, and unless you pay attention to your feet, it may be easy to miss. Over time, this spot will grow and cover more and more of the toenail. Most people do not notice any pain or discomfort. Some people do not notice it simply because their nail is covered with nail polish.

Over time, the infection will cover the entire toenail. Some people have reported a dark spot, either where the infection originally started or around the edge of the toenail. This is normally only with severe cases though. Sometimes, the infection gets bad enough that the nail actually breaks away from the nail bed.

Other Changes In The Nail

There are a lot of changes that occur in a fungal infected nail. One of these changes is that the nail will become thicker and yellow. Sometimes, the nail flakes or crumbles when the disorder is at a point considered severe.

Only a doctor can determine whether your symptoms are nail fungus or a disorder that looks like nail fungus. There, he or she will be able to take a sample of your toenail and look at it under a microscope. A second portion may be sent out to a lab for more tests. Let your doctor know if you spend a lot of time barefoot in wet, public areas such as pools or locker rooms.

Talking to your Doctor

After your doctor and laboratory has been able to examine your toenail, you will have a chance to discuss what treatment would be best for your specific case. The type of fungus plays a huge role in what treatment is used to best eradicate it. Realize that the infection is not going to go away immediately. Toenail fungi can be extremely hard to get rid of.

While you may feel the need to run out and get an over the counter treatment, there are a lot of disorders that can mimic nail fungus. It is important to work with your doctor to ensure that the problem you are facing is a fungal infection and to come up with the best treatment.

Over the Counter Nail Fungus Treatments

Fungi prove to be the strongest strain of the microorganisms. Bacteria are much harder to kill than viruses. Dermatophytes, molds, and yeasts can burrow deep into your nail and shield themselves with keratin. What makes this difficult to treat is that powerful antimycotic medications are not always effective. Due to this, we question if any over-the-counter fungus treatment are worth the time and money.

Unfortunate facts show us that prescription and over-the-counter treatments do not completely help with curing nail fungus infections.

Amorolfine

Amorolfine is a topical drug proven to be effective in clinical trials. Amorolfine is sold without a prescription in only a few countries such as, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Also known by the name Loceryl, the treatment is applied as a nail polish on the nail.

It continues to penetrate into the nail after drying, continuously working. It needs reapplying once a week.

Amorolfine helps treat infection by breaking down the cell membrane of the fungus. This treatment only works on subungual onychomycosis. It does not treat proximal onychomycosis or white onychomycosis. Because of this, it is important to know what type of fungus you have.

Amorolfine has very few side effects, and with proper usage these very rarely occur. There have been reports of some burning after applying but that goes away shortly after applying. A 5 ml tube can cost around $100.00-$150.00. Although you cannot acquire amorolfine in the United States, online pharmacies are becoming more popular and you may eventually be able to obtain it through these.

There are a few over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments that don’t help kill off the nail fungus.

Lamisil is a tablet prescribed for onychomycosis that also comes in an over-the-counter topical cream. This medication has not proven an effective nail fungus treatment.

Lotrimin (also known as clotrimazole) is not effective for nail fungus but is very good at treating athlete’s foot and jock itch.

Tolnaftate (or Tinactin) does nothing for nail fungus but works extremely well for skin fungi.

Two papers, one from 1965 and the other from 2008, show that undecyclenic acid combined with cyanoacrylate and hydroquinone have positive effects. Even so, there have been no studies proving that undecyclenic acid works on its own.

Tea Tree Oil
has proven to have some positive effects against nail fungus. It is a natural fungicide and insect repellent. Applying a 100% concentration to the infected area has shown to have a 20% cure rate. While using Tea Tree Oil on the infected area, two thirds of the patients said the appearance of the nail fungus had improved.

Studies have shown that a Tea Tree Oil application two times a day with a 1% solution of clotrimazole was a more effective nail fungus solution.

Topical Products or Removing the Nail

The above topical products were applied to a nail before it had been taken off. There are times where removing the nail is necessary before improvement can occur. This can be done either mechanically or chemically. Removing the nail allows the medication to be applied directly to the infected area. If a doctor removes the nail, ask about any follow-up on your nail fungus treatments.

Even if you don’t want to go the way of surgery, you will still need to take an oral medication that can only be prescribed by your doctor. These will help cure the nail fungus.

Gyms Are a Breeding Ground for Nail Fungus Infections

The Danger of Gyms for Nail Fungus

People go to the gym to become healthier and build muscle. They want to lose weight, feel that adrenaline rush, and feel better about themselves. It rarely crosses anyone’s mind that the gym and public pool are a breeding ground for fungus and nail fungus infections to spread.

So, why are they the perfect place? Most gyms and public pools have a place to change. This place may be a dressing room, a locker room equipped with a shower, or an open place to rinse off after your work out. These places have tile floors to make cleanup easier. However, grout is the perfect place for fungus to breed.

When you walk barefoot over this grout, you are risking having the spores from other people’s fungal infections stick to your feet and slowly work their way up under your nails. It is terrible that one of the places that you go to take better care of yourself and to feel better about yourself can lead to you developing an infection, no matter how hard the gym works to keep the shower floors clean.

How To Prevent Toenail Fungal Infections

The place to start when you are trying to prevent toenail fungal infections is what you wear on your feet. Gym shoes that are older and worn can be a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and fungus by themselves. This means that if you do get fungal spores on your feet, they are sure to breed in your shoes and become an out of control fungal infection in no time.

It is advisable, for the gym and in your everyday life, to have at least two pair of shoes. Never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. This allows one pair to dry out between uses so that you are not breeding fungus that is just waiting to attack your feet. Either way, make sure that your feet stay dry. Wear clean, breathable, cotton socks so that moisture is wicked away.

If you still feel at risk, use an anti-fungal spray in your shoes between uses and allow them to dry completely before you put them back to help prevent contamination.

If you use the shower at your local gym, do not do so barefoot. Rubber flip-flops, shower shoes, or water shoes are a great way to ensure that you are not exposed. As with your other shoes, make sure that these shoes are completely dry before you put them back on. You may also want to spray them with anti-fungal spray between uses (after they dry) to ensure that any fungal spores that you pick up from the shower floor are eliminated before you wear them again. Another option is to place them in your clothes dryer and use high enough heat to kill the fungal spores.

What To Do In Case Of Infection

When you first notice any sign of infection, it is important to begin treatment. This means that you need to catch it when your toenail begins to change color, or looks different than it normally does. It is important to catch it before your nails become brittle or start to get thick.

If caught early, start soaking your toes in a vinegar solution twice daily for about 20 minutes. This solution should consist of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water. Continue this treatment until the affected toenails have cleared up.

Vinegar gets rid of the infection by changing the pH of the growing environment, which makes the nail uninhabitable to the fungus.

The fungus will then quit breeding, and when the existing spores die off, the fungus should be completely gone.

The choice between apple cider vinegar and white vinegar is up to you. Both are shown to work, so whichever you have on hand will work great.

Acrylic Nail Fungus Infections

Acrylic nails are stronger and help those who have weak nails that split and break easily. Because of this, many people choose to use acrylic nails so that they may have attractive, healthy looking nails.

Fungus growth is a possibility with acrylic nails. This happens when there is bleeding and the application of the nail is not done in a properly clean way. Fungus can set up between the real nail and the acrylic nail. Most nail salons are very clean and practice proper hygiene, but some don’t. So make sure the salon you go to cleans and sterilizes their equipment with antibacterial products.

Trying as hard as you can doesn’t always help keep fungus out. If a fungus is already attached to the nail or passed through non-sterilized equipment, you can be infected. The nail salon specialist is trained to recognize any nail anomaly. Knowing this, they will tell you that you should not have the acrylic nail put on; that it will give the fungus a perfect place to thrive.

If the acrylic nail was placed over the fungus attached to the real nail, it would give the fungus protection, warmth and humidity that it needs to thrive. The nail salon specialist will tell you how to manage and what treatment options there are for getting rid of the fungus.

What If I do Become Infected?

Apply Lamisil cream (an over-the-counter product) to the top, bottom and surrounding skin of the affected nail.
Apply Tea Tree Oil, an antiseptic and antifungal, to the top, underneath and surrounding skin, and affected area every day.
Cleaning out dirt, food and gunk from under the nail can help keep the fungus thriving. Afterwards, swab the area with rubbing alcohol to kill any fungal growth that’s already there.
Your last option is going to your doctor and getting a prescribed medication to help get rid of the fungus. These typically come with serious side effects that can damage the liver. This means you need to ask your doctor if you are healthy enough to use these medications.

Brittle Nail Disease – Onychorrhexis

Onychorrhexis, its Symptoms & Treatment

What is Onychorrhexis?

Onychorrhesis is a condition where fingernails and toenails break easily because they are weak.

Why is it?

Keratin is composed of protein, and as the nail grows the thickness is determined by your body. The thickness of your nails is genetically chosen and is already set at birth.

What Causes it?

A common cause is humidity around the base of the nail. If you soak your hands in water, take a long bath, do dishes for a prolonged period of time, and perform these tasks on a regular basis, you can develop weak nails. Some people notice that as they grow older their nails become weaker. They also become more prone to breaking. There are some diseases and conditions that cause nails to become more brittle and fragile:

Low levels of thyroid hormones
Reynaud’s Syndrome
Skin disorders
Poor diet

Signs Of Onychorrhexis

Parts of the nail flaking off
The nail breaking in places
The nail falling off

Basic Treatment

As a rule of thumb, if you have brittle nails, don’t spend a lot of time with your hands wet. Also be careful about the type of soap you use and only use mild hand soaps.

Right after washing, use a moisturizer that softens the skin or a healing moisturizer that softens and provides herbal or medicinal remedies. This acts as a barrier between the nail and water.

Preventative Measures for Brittle Nails

Wear gloves or protective covering when immersing hands or feet in water.
Do not participate in sports or activities that involve being submerged in water.
Avoid irritating chemicals.
Ensure that you are get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Side Effects of Brittle Nails Treatment

The only possible side effect to the above treatment is an allergic reaction to specific moisturizers.

A Doctor’s Detailed Description of Nail Fungus

A Detailed Description of Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is the true medical definition for any fungal infection that affects the fingernail or toenail. Just like any other medical word, it can be broken down to its Latin origins and can be directly translated. Onycho means nail, and mycosis means fungal infection. Onychomycosis comprises 33% of all skin infections caused by a fungus. Over half of the diagnoses that affect the fingernail or toenail fall into the category of Onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis typically occurs in people aged 40 and above. The disease is 30% more likely to arise in adults than children and the majority of cases are in the elderly. It is estimated that at least 20% of all people are in the age range of 40 – 60 have some form of onychomycosis. It is also estimated that about 90% of elderly patients have some form of onychomycosis.

Occurrences Of Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is found more often in men than in women. However, women are more likely to contract a specific form of nail fungus called Candida. There is no evidence showing that nail fungus prefers any specific race. However, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases in the last five years.

This is possibly because people are living longer and a large number of people are aging. Also, the incidence of diabetes has increased, and the disease is more common in diabetics due to their reduced ability to fight infections. Another possible reason diabetics are susceptible is due to decreased circulation, another risk factor for developing nail fungal infections.

The most common symptom of nail fungus disorders is the appearance of the nail. The primary complaint is that the nail turns yellow and appears disfigured. This makes catching the disorder early very difficult because there really are not many symptoms. Other than the appearance of the nail, there are no symptoms that interfere with the person’s day-to-day activities.

Most patients who come in to be seen are concerned about people seeing them as unclean, unhealthy, and infectious. While the infection does not cause serious health problems, it can cause psychological, emotional, and social problems.

While the initial portion of the disease does not cause any symptoms, other than cosmetic symptoms, it can cause complications if left untreated. A severe infection can cause pain in the infected digit. The nail can thicken and decrease the sensitivity as well. Loss of sensation can affect the ability to use the hands or feet and can cause fine motor problems for the person affected. While this may not sound too severe, there are some serious problems that can arise from a severe case.

Difficulty writing
Inability to feel the floor
Difficulty walking
Serious falls

The Four Main Types Of Onychomycosis

There are four main types of Onchyomycosis. There are more, but they are not very common. Here are the four most common types of onchyomycosis.

Distal Subungual Onychomycosis – This is the most common type of nail fungal infections that fall into the onychomycosis category. It is caused by dermatophytes called Trichophyton rubrum.The disease starts when the dermatophyte breaks through the nail and manages to bury itself in the nail bed.The term Subungual refers directly to “underneath the nail.” The infection appears as a whitish or yellowish growth under the nail itself. It usually begins at the tip of the nail and slowly works its way back to the cuticle area. After the infection begins, the nail becomes thick, develops ridges, and may begin to break apart.

Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis – This type of fungal infection starts at the portion of the nail called the cuticle. It embeds itself in the nail, and then begins working toward the tip, or the part you trim. This type of infection is most common in those who are immune compromised. Just like the previous type mentioned, this disease is caused by Trichophyton rumburm, but is caused by other types of fungi or a mold source as well.

White Superficial Onychomycosis – This is possibly one of the least common types of onychomycosis. It only occurs in about 1 of every 10 cases diagnosed. This fungus only affects the top portion of the nail.This type of onychomycosis appears as a lesion, or small spot, on the nail. It may then gradually spread over the entire nail. This type of infection is caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, a different type of dermatophyte.

Candida Onychomycosis – This form of onychomycosis typically starts as a chronic form of mucocutaneous candidas, also known as a low-level yeast infection. The infection tends to affect the edges of the nails. It also affects multiple layers of the nail. This fungus can completely destroy the nail and in the most severe cases, the nail must be removed completely to get rid of the infection.

Resources
Hainer BL. Dermatophyte infections. Am Fam Physician 2003;67:101-108.
Jaffe R. Onychomycosis: recognition, diagnosis, and management. Arch Fam Med 1998;7:587-592.
Kaur R, Kashyap B, Bhalla P. Onychomycosis–epidemiology, diagnosis and management. Indian J Med Microbiol 2008;26:108-116.

The Best Nail Fungus Treatments

The Best Treatment for Nail Fungus

Our mission at ToeNailFungus.Center is to assist those suffering from nail fungus find relief. We have created this entire site for the purpose of education of nail fungus and the treatments available for this disorder. Here, you will find information on the causes, symptoms, treatments, and trends associated with nail fungus. After browsing this website, you will be a giant step closer to having fungus-free nails that are beautiful, healthy, and vibrant.

Treatment For Nail Fungus

This website is the #1 resource for information that pertains to nail fungus. We take a lot of pride in the effort we have put forth to provide you the most up-to-date information on the best Nail Fungus Treatments available today.

As you can imagine, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of treatments available for treating nail fungus. As we were searching for the various treatments for nail fungus, we took into account a lot of factors. Our top priority is to provide treatment options that meet the following nine criteria.

Effectiveness
Speedy results
Quality of ingredients
Product safety
Excellent customer service of the company
Excellent Reorder rate
Excellent Return policy
Excellent success rate of the product
Excellent Customer feedback

What Nail Fungus Really Is

Nail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is really an infection under the nail, inside the nail bed. It can occur in both fingernails and toenails. Because of the infection, the nail appears dark, yellow, and thickened, sometimes to the point where it is difficult to cut. The top of the nail may appear crumpled.

The fungus that causes this disorder breeds in warm, dark, damp places, just like any other fungus. The main reason this fungus occurs on the feet is because shoes make the perfect breeding ground for it.

At first, the fungus appears as a white or yellow spot on the nail. Over time, it begins to spread and make its way along the nail bed to the cuticle area. Once it spreads into the nail bed, it can be very difficult to get rid of.

The affected area of the nail may begin to crumble or the edges may become flaky. This can make you very self-conscious and make you embarrassed to go barefoot or wear sandals, which is unfortunate. One of the main treatments is to avoid wearing constrictive shoes by wearing open-toed shoes and sandals whenever possible.

What Causes Nail Fungus?

Nail fungus is more common the older we get. This is due to lower blood circulation. Nails naturally get thicker as you age. This makes it more difficult to manage the fungus growing under nails and makes you an easier target for nail fungus. If you are immune compromised, it can lead to the increase of nail fungus and make it more difficult for your body to fight off the infection.

Any type of damage to the nail can cause the nail to be more susceptible to developing this type of fungal infection. Damage such as hitting your nail on something or stubbing your toe can make a fungal infection appear extremely fast. It can also allow the infection to spread to the nail bed a lot easier.

Common Nail Fungus Locations

The most common location for nail fungus is on your toes. This is because your feet spend a lot of time in the dark, damp environment of your shoes. This is especially true if you have spent any time barefoot in a public shower, locker room, or swimming pool, basically anywhere a lot of barefoot people frequent.

People who spend a lot of time with their hands in water or gloves develop fungus under their fingernails a lot easier than those who keep their hands dry.

Also, those who have their nails done on a regular basis have a higher incidence of fingernail fungus. This is because many nail salons do not clean their equipment between uses.

Always ensure that the nail salon you go to sanitizes their equipment between customers so that you are not exposed to nail fungus from other people. This also applies if you have your toenails manicured at a salon.

Treatment For Nail Fungus

Nail fungus can be very hard to treat, especially if it has been around for a while. The human nail grows very slowly. Nail fungus lasts as long as it takes for the nail to grow out. If left untreated, it can last for many nail growth cycles.

If the infection is caught early, it can be treated a lot more easily and more effectively. Doctors tend to prescribe very strong medication. Most of this medication is taken by mouth and is extremely strong. Unfortunately, medications like Lamisil, Sporanox, and many others can have undesirable effects on the liver, sometimes even toxic effects.

To make matters worse, they have to be used for a long time before you see any result from using them. Also, those who have a heart condition or other disorders cannot take these medications because they could cause the preexisting condition to become out of control, or they may not mix well with the medications that are currently being taken. Taking these medications does not mean that you will have a healthy nail right after you finish taking the drug. Most of the time, it takes over 9 months for a healthy nail to replace one that is affected by a fungal infection.

Are Prescriptions Necessary?

If a fungal infection is caught early in the process, a doctor may prescribe a paint-on nail lacquer that has anti-fungal effects. This treatment paints on like nail polish and is known as ciclopirox or Penlac. For a great deal of people this does work and clears the infection up pretty quickly. Among these people, are typical complaints that it causes irritation to the skin around the nail, or that it does not get deep enough into the nail to get rid of the fungal infection completely.

Because of the disadvantages associated with breaking through the nail to take care of the infection, your doctor may use a machine that looks similar to a dremel to grind the nail and make it thinner so the lacquer will penetrate the nail and take care of the infection.

Surgical Remedy For Nail Fungus

Some patients may face surgical removal of the nail. This is especially true if the infection is deep in the nail, or if it is causing the patient a lot of pain. Many doctors believe that the best approach to treating a severe infection is to remove the entire nail and allow a new nail to grow in its place.

Not only is the surgery painful, but the nail takes a long time to grow back and the area where the nail was removed from can be very sensitive until it does grow back.

Preventing Nail Fungus

The best way to prevent nail fungus is to avoid it and the things that cause it. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

Learn how nail fungus breeds. All fungus breeds in dark, damp places. Keep your hands and feet dry. Make sure that there is some point during the day when your feet are outside of your shoes and socks, especially when at home. Expose your feet to light and clean, fresh air as much as possible.
- Always have an extra pair of shoes and socks available. If your shoes and socks get wet, either from sweat or an external source, change as soon as possible.
- Wear shoes that are loose enough that your feet get air.
- Do not go barefoot in public places. Wear some form of protection on your feet if you are in public, wet places like pools, locker rooms, or showers.
- Ensure that your nails are properly trimmed. Longer nails can allow fungus to get under the nail.
- Take your own tools to a manicure or pedicure. While it might seem strange, or make you feel as though you are going to receive dirty looks, it ensures that the tools used on you are clean and sterile. If you cannot do this, make sure those who serve you change their equipment with fresh, sterilized equipment.
  - Another option is to check that the salon practices good hygiene and uses an autoclave to sterilize its equipment.
    This is a special machine guaranteed to clean materials to a medical quality.
  - It is your body, and you are a paying customer. Do not be afraid to ask the nail technician to clean the wash tub with bleach and water before you put your feet into it.

Nail Fungus Risk Factors

Being older
People who sweat a lot — especially true if your hands and feet sweat a great deal.
Those who have skin conditions
Those who wear tight shoes
People who do not take their shoes off
Those who walk around in public showers, locker rooms, and public pools barefoot
People who have athlete’s foot
Persons with decreased circulation
Immune-compromised persons
Diabetics

When To Get Treatment For Nail Fungus

Just like with any other medical condition, seek medical treatment as soon as you notice a problem. This means as soon as you feel any difference in the way your nail feels or looks. As soon as you see discoloration, you should seek treatment.

If at any time you notice that your nail is becoming brown or appears to be turning black,
seek medical advice right away.

Other Indications To Seek Medical Treatment

The nail pulling away from the nail bed
Yellowish, brown, grey, or black nails
What appears to be fragments under the nail
The nail has a foul odor.
The nail and area around it hurts.

There are so many excellent treatment options out there. Some work very slowly and others, have been know to be totally ineffective. the key to eradicating fungal infections quickly is to find an effective solution. As well as all the useful tips we have mentioned, such as walking around without socks and shoes on, allowing your feet to breathe, we suggest finding a treatment that contains clinically proven ingredients such as undecylenic acid or tea tree. We have also seen many treatments suggesting that you can use an emery board to scratch the surface of the infected nail prior to applying the treatment, which allows the ingredients to be absorbed more efficiently, rendering speedier results.

Common Symptoms and Solutions to Nail Fungus

Nail Fungus: Common Symptoms and Solutions

Many people are affected by nail fungus. While not painful in most cases, it can be embarrassing and cause affected people to hide their nails. This is especially true when it comes to toenails since they are easy to hide in socks and shoes. This is why more people seek a physician more often for fingernail fungus than they do for toenail fungus.

Unfortunately, the common solution of hiding your toes in your socks and shoes leads to the spread and worsening of the fungal infection. There are a lot of treatments offered by various companies. However, some of them do not work, while others make the problem worse. Some people suffer from poor health, which can lead to chronic infection. This is difficult to fight, especially after prolonged treatment. The fungus can become immune to the product they are using before they can successfully clear up the infection.

Causes of Nail Fungus

Each and every day, we cross the path of microbes, microorganisms and bacteria. Encountering these type of microscopic creatures is a never-ending fact of life. Unfortunately, some of these are nail fungus spores. Most of these are washed away and are harmless. But sometimes, they manage to get under your nails where they become a problem.

When a fungi spore enter a warm, dark, moist place they can make a home. Commonly, underneath your nails becomes such a home since in other places they are washed away easily. But under your nails fungi can grow and reproduce. The nail is a great place because it provides a great shield from the world around it. When they begin to grow, they cause a nasty look of yellowing and cause the nail to become thick. This is the appearance commonly associated with nail fungus.

As the nail fungus gets worse, other symptoms begin to develop. The nail begins to look different and is eventually disfigured. At some point, it may begin crumbling or flaking away. A fungal infection this severe typically occurs in toenails since they are a better breeding ground than fingernails because people spend so much time in shoes.

How to Treat Nail Fungus Infection

There are a lot of natural remedies on the market, as well as a ton of home remedies. Home remedies are a preferable first treatment before you are prescribed the more aggressive, oral antifungal medications. This is because antifungal medications taken orally pose serious risks to your liver. Here are some of the most recommended suggestions for treating nail fungus:

Tea Tree Oil – Tea Tree Oil is a natural essential oil. You can purchase it at most health food stores. This treatment involves rubbing the oil into the nail and the skin at least three times per day. The antifungal properties eventually kill the nail fungus.
Good Nail Hygiene – It is a good idea to practice correct nail. Trim them right at the edge of the toe. Always use a file to clean out from under your nails. Always make sure that no dirt can permanently lodge itself under the nail. Make sure your feet stay dry. If you have been sweating a lot, change your socks, and if your shoes are damp, change them too. Avoid wearing closed-toed shoes as much as possible.

Vinegar – Soak your toes in vinegar and water on a regular basis and dry them thoroughly to increase the pH under your nails. This makes the environment unfit for fungal spores to live in.

If you are affected by nail fungus and you have tried the solutions or others we mentioned here on this website, and nothing has worked, consult your physician. If you have not had any response from over-the-counter treatments or natural remedies, you may need to try a prescription treatment.

Make sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are currently taking, both prescription and herbal. Let them know what treatments you have tried in regard to your fungal infection. Be sure to maintain proper finger and toe nail hygiene during treatment. This will increase your body’s response to treatment and help the healing process. It will also prevent the fungus from spreading to other toenails.

There are many solutions available that will treat the problem. You can search the internet for various alternatives before you commit to a treatment: natural, herbal, or oral antifungal medications. This is especially true if the person with the infection is a child. Perhaps the most important aspect to consider is the purity and potency of the ingredients used within a formula. One should consider if such ingredients have been clinically proven for effective eradication of fungal infections – these could include ingredients such as undecylenic acid, tolnaftate or tea tree oil.

How Can I Permanently Cure My Toenail Fungus

Permanently Curing Toenail Fungus

Curing Toenail Fungus is a long tedious process, yet very possible. Onychomycosis can lie dormant for a long time, even when it starts to clear up, only to return later. Because of this doctors try to stay away from the word cure. It is not something that is just cured by a pill. Many people in today’s age believe that a pill is the quick fix to curing anything.

Many factors determine how fast it takes to fix the problem. How bad has the infection gotten? The earlier you can catch it, the faster it is to cure it entirely. This infection makes its way, starting at the skin and working its way onto or under the nail. Under the nail is where you don’t want it to go. The nail acts as a personal shield that helps feed this nail fungus.

The second factor in fixing this problem is how committed you are to destroying this nail fungus. It takes time to make sure that you are keeping rough living conditions for the fungus every day so that it will die off. The best things that help with this are to clean your feet a couple times a day and every time you clean your feet change into clean socks. Wash your socks in bleach or soak them in peroxide. This will kill any spores of the fungus that may have stuck to your socks. Also follow your doctor’s instructions.

A lot of people end up hurting themselves, mostly due to giving up on treatment part of the way through. Just missing one day of treatment can set you back by about 2 weeks. Curing toenail fungus takes a lot of time and effort. You must hit on all the problems or you can easily let the fungus continue to thrive.

Oral Prescription Medication

You can ask your doctor about adding Tea Tree Oil, a natural topical antifungal, to your daily regimen alongside the oral medication your doctor gives you. This can help fight the fungal infection from both the inside and outside. This can help double your chances to effectively kill off the infection. Along with this you still have to help maintain a healthy environment for you and not the fungus.

You and the time you put into fighting off this infection, are the deciding factor if you get rid of this disease.

Allowing your feet to stay dry and aired out, washing your feet, and changing your socks throughout the day will keep the environment on your side instead of the fungus. Remember, losing one day of treatment can set you back up to 14 days. Following all these steps can help permanently end your toenail fungus problems.

Do Home Remedies for Nail Fungus Work?

Home Remedies for Nail Fungus

There are a lot of people who suffer from onychomycosis. This disorder is more commonly called nail fungus, or finger or toenail fungus. A lot of the prescription drugs available have been shown to cause liver damage, and some of them can be very severe.

Because of the risks associated with medications, people began searching out alternative and natural remedies to treat onychomycosis. Of course this brings up the question, “do home remedies really work and are they safe?”

There are a lot of different home remedies suggested by friends, relatives, and people online for this disorder. While not many clinical trials on home remedies have been completed, there is some evidence from personal experience of various people. Overall, it depends greatly on the type of nail fungus and the individual person. In all honesty, there is minimal risk, if any, of making the infection worse by trying inexpensive home remedies.

Note that if the nail bed and lunula of the nail are affected, over-the-counter remedies are not effective. The only treatment for an infection at this point is to receive an oral medication via prescription from a physician.

Listerine

Listerine is a common home remedy. It advertises complete the destruction of bacteria and germs. However, the main focus of the mouthwash is to treat gum disease. This is a very inexpensive and common treatment for nail fungus, both on the toenail and on the fingernail. The ingredients in the mouthwash are ethanol, thymol, eucalypton and benzoic acid.

To treat onychomycosis with Listerine, soak the affected nails in 100% pure Listerine for 10 minutes per day until the infection clears up.

Onychomycosis can be caused by several different factors. One of the common fungi that attack toenails is Candida. It is a common infection in the mouth, as well. However, in the mouth, it is characterized by white spots.

While Candida is typically referred to as a yeast infection, it is a fungal yeast infection. This is why it is treated with antifungal medications in a mouthwash, such as using Listerine a few times per day.

Another cause of onychomycosis is dermatophytes, which does not respond to Listerine. Basically, effectively treating the infection with Listerine depends on the type of fungus affecting the nail. While it may not cure all fungal infections, if you are looking for a natural remedy, it never hurts to try this method before resorting to prescription medications and the hazards that come with them.

Vinegar

Vinegar is very acidic. In the case of dermatophyte onychomycosis it has proven to be very effective. If you use vinegar to treat dermatophyte onychomycosis, use a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water.

Continue this treatment for 20 minutes every day. Because of the acidic environment created by vinegar, it makes the nail less habitable for the fungus, thus preventing it from growing any further. Over time, vinegar weakens the existing fungus spores. Since they no longer breed and become weak, they die off without leaving any spores to take their place.

Important note: Vinegar is very acidic. If the treatment causes irritation around the nail, and if the irritation causes discomfort, discontinue it. Expect some irritation in the area, as the fungus gradually dies off.

Just like an infected sore being treated with an antibacterial cream, there may be some redness around the affected nail.

There is no evidence that one type of vinegar works better than another. Equally good results have been reported while using apple cider vinegar, instead of white vinegar.

VapoRub

The way VapoRub is made makes it a great treatment for onychomycosis. This is because it is able to penetrate the nail and is better able to get to the actual source under the nail.

Even many doctors commonly recommend and report positive effects from using this treatment. Physicians like this treatment works because it is composed of petroleum jelly. This jelly is then infused with oils, like menthol, which is able to penetrate the nail and possibly suffocate the fungus.

To use VapoRub as a treatment, rub it on the affected area. The amount you use is up to you. After you apply it, wear socks or a glove over the treated area for at least 20 minutes. Make sure that whatever you choose to cover the area is 100% cotton and breathable to prevent reinfection.

While not many studies have been done on ingesting VapoRub, it is not recommended to eat it. This could be harmful, since it is petroleum based, but at the very least it tastes extremely gross.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil has been proven to be an effective antifungal agent. You can use it in many different ways. Pour it into a dish and soak the nails in it to protect nails not currently affected from developing an infection. Tea Tree Oil has been proven effective for treatment of all types of onychomycosis.

Tea Tree Oil has been tested in many different clinical trials, and it has shown a 20% cure rate. In order for Tea Tree Oil to work, it must be 100% undiluted Tea Tree Oil only. It is only for topical treatment. Never ingest it as it can cause severe toxic conditions.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract, also known as Camellia Sinensis, is a widespread herbal remedy. It is shown to treat many different problems from obesity to nail fungus. It is recommended that you soak your nails in it for about 20 minutes daily.

To date, there have been no clinical trials done on Green Tea Extract. However, there have been several reports from consumers using it as a treatment and they claim it worked for them.