White vinegar, also known as acetic acid, can help get rid of fungi when diluted in warm water. You may be able to treat toenail fungus at home with certain essential oils and other products with antimicrobial and antifungal properties, such as Vicks VapoRub. This may be the reason why many people try home remedies instead. Here are 10 of these at-home treatments.
Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although it's designed to suppress coughing, its active ingredients (camphor oil and eucalyptus) can help treat toenail fungus. To use it, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day. For the study, snake root extract was applied to the affected area every three days for the first month, twice a week for the second month and once a week for the third month.
Another method of soaking feet, is said to work very well for fungal infections on toenails. Apple cider vinegar (also known as ACV) has a number of healing and antibacterial properties if it's organic, making it an option for many homeopathic treatments. Snake root extract, made from plants in the sunflower family, is an all-natural antifungal homeopathic treatment that is also used to treat toenail fungus. While home treatments may be the cure you're looking for to treat toenail fungus, they aren't regulated or approved by the United States.
Another study found that ozonized sunflower oil was more effective in treating toenail fungus than ketoconazole (Xolegel), a prescription topical antifungal. Prescription oral antifungals, such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or fluconazole (Diflucan), are traditionally used to treat toenail fungus. If you have persistent toenail fungus or feel pain, you may need to schedule an appointment with a specialist. Home remedies may take longer to get rid of toenail fungus than prescription topical medications or oral systemic antifungals.
Knowing the specific cause of foot fungus can help identify the best treatment for toenail fungus. Toenail fungus is notoriously persistent, so don't be surprised if home remedies don't quite work. Although there are many effective home remedies for toenail fungus, there are still some natural treatments and household products that can cause more harm than good. Keeping your toenails trimmed, clean and dry will be essential for treating toenail fungus and preventing it in the future.
Or, you can take oral capsules containing the extract to try to boost the immune system and treat toenail fungus systemically. A study found that ozonized oil is an effective home remedy for toenail fungus caused by certain strains. You can use hydrogen peroxide for toenail fungus by rubbing it on infected toes or nails with a clean cloth or cotton swab. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, some small-scale clinical studies showed that tea tree oil could be effective against toenail fungus.
Many people use essential oils for toenail fungus to avoid the side effects that prescription medications can cause.
