Skip to main content

Toe Nail Fungus Remedies

toe nail fungus
Have you found yourself with a toe nail fungus ?
Fungal infections are quite common on the toe nails especially on the big toe nail. All it takes is a stubbed toe to create a tiny opening for a dermatophyte to jump in and take up residence. It can be fungus from an athlete's foot infection or you may pick up the fungus in the shower at your local gym. Fingernails can also be infected with fungus but it is less common.

The problem is, it's really tough to evict that fungus! Fungi love the warm moist environment underneath the toe nail. It grows and spreads into the nail causing the nail to discolor, thicken and pull away from the nail bed. Debris accumulates under the nail and the nail plate begins to get crumbly and ragged.

Toe nail fungal infections are difficult to treat because the infection is underneath the toe nail in the nail bed. Topical medications don't penetrate through all the layers of nail to reach the nail bed where they are needed. You've got to get the treatment behind the nail before the fungus invades the nail plate. 

Oral medications can work well but they require regular blood work to check on liver function. I have had clients use them. Their infections began to clear but when the course of medication ended, the fungus flared up again requiring more oral medication. 

Your doctor can prescribe a topical treatment if you want to avoid taking oral medication. There are over the counter as well as prescription topical treatments to try. Apply them to the unpolished toe nail, behind the toe nail and around the sides of the toe nail.  You can find over the counter treatments such as Fungi Nail and Kerasal at your local drugstore and on Amazon in liquid and ointment formulas.


There are some home remedies you can try that many of my clients have actually had success with.  You must be diligent with any fungal treatment to get rid of that nasty fungus. Soaks can be very effective because the nail is submerged and the liquids are absorbed by the nail and the surrounding skin. 

vick vapo rub
Vicks VapoRub
Some of its ingredients are effective at killing fungus. Recently, a client said her doctor recommended it. The fungus lives under the toenail. The more it grows, the more it damages the nail and the skin underneath the nail. 

Apply the Vicks underneath the free edge of the nail. Be sure the nail is clean and dry. You can lightly blow dry underneath the infected nail after a shower to get it really dry. Press the Vicks into the area of the nail that is pulling away from the nail bed. A
pply it to the infected toe 3-4 times per day. 

It sticks with you due to the petroleum in it. You can cover it loosely with a bandage to keep the Vicks from getting everywhere. Keep the toenail short, trimming regularly. Fungal infections are stubborn. It's gonna take a while. Be persistent with it. It may not work for everyone, but it's worth a try.

Active Ingredients: Camphor (synthetic) 4.8%, Eucalyptus Oil 1.2%, Menthol 2.5%. Other ingredients: Cedar leaf oil, nutmeg oil, petroleum, thymol, Turpentine oil


Thymol is from thyme. Very anti fungal. 


Please know before you buy: Vicks VapoRub is a Proctor and Gamble product. They are notorious animal testers. A North Carolina pharmacist created Vicks as a croup remedy for babies back in 1894. It wasn't tested on animals then but it is now. Do keep in mind, any prescribed medication is tested on animals too.


Tea Tree Oil 

Tea Tree oil is a great alternative to Vicks and not tested on animals. It too is very effective for treating fungus. Find it in stores that sell natural products such as health food stores.
tea tree oil
Apply a couple drops to the underside of the infected nail 2-4 times a day. Be sure the nail is clean and dry. Lightly blow dry underneath the infected nail after a shower to get it really dry. Keep the toenail short, trimming regularly. Again, fungal infections are stubborn. It's gonna take a while.  Be persistent with it.

Here are a few more remedies:

Listerine- soak the infected toe 2 times per day (Note: Listerine is made by an animal testing company)

Bleach- mix 1 part bleach to 3 parts water and soak the infected toe 2 times per day


White Vinegar- soak the infected toe 2 times per day in undiluted white vinegar


Please be aware that fungal infections can spread to your family members. Clean your shower area with bleach or disinfectants that are effective at killing fungus. Keep your feet covered with socks to prevent fungal spores from spreading throughout your living area. Launder your socks after wearing them. Always wear flip flops in the dorm or gym shower to protect your feet from fungus.


I hope one of these remedies helps you to kill off that nasty toe nail fungus! Remember, it's a battle. Be persistent.

        Have a Beautiful Day! 
xo
Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸





Comments

  1. The antiseptics within the Listerine will kill the fungus and the natural acids in the vinegar or lemon juice will work away on the fungus making it simpler for the Listerine to kill the fungus As with other remedies , this could take some time to work.Flexitol Nail Cream Reviews

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

White Bumps Under Eyes: Milia

Have you noticed that you have little white looking bumps under your eyes? Some people call it chicken skin because the bumps look like plucked chicken skin. 🐔 Most likely those little white bumps are milia. They can feel hard or pearly. These bumps are not acne. Milia can occur when dead skin cells become trapped beneath the outer layer of skin. Keratin becomes trapped and builds up. A small benign cyst can form which is the milia. It's a cyst!?! Don't let that word scare you. They are harmless, but unwanted bumps.  They can occur on any area of the skin that tends to be on the dry side. They cannot be squeezed out like a blackhead or pimple because they have no opening. A layer of skin covers them. A hole must be created in them using a needle, then they can be extracted out. Read more about blackhead, whiteheads and blind pimples This is a common problem for the under-eye area. It is a dry, delicate area of the skin. I see it a lot on my clients. Heavy products

Dermatofibromas

This post is all about dermatofibromas and some remedies to help make them look better and ways hide them. It includes my Amazon Affiliate Links to help you find the products I talk about. Q. I have this brown bump on my leg that won't go away. What can I do about it? A. It could be a dermatofibroma. I see them often on my leg waxing clients. A dermatofibroma is a tan to brown benign raised bump more common in women than men and occur commonly on the legs. The bump feels hard under the skin and can be itchy, tender and easily irritated. A doctor will tell you not to worry about it because it's benign, but it's kind of ugly! Dermatofibromas are also called Benign Fibrous Histiocytomas. They are the result of some sort of injury to the skin such as an ingrown hair or a bug bite.  Be careful when shaving because a dermatofibroma may bleed and become sore if nicked. Don't think you can get rid of it by shaving it off. It will be an awful looking sore and will j

Dermatofibroma on Leg

A Dermatofibroma is an unsightly brown or red bump that is very common on the legs. They are also called Benign Fibrous Histiocytomas and are more common in women than men. They can hurt, itch and become inflamed easily. They are the result of some sort of injury to the skin such as an ingrown hair or a bug bite.  I have tried lots of home remedies on my dermatofibroma. Some help it look better than others but the ugly thing is still there! Read more about dermatofibroma remedies. There is only one way to remove it for good...surgery. It must be surgically excised out. A dermatofibroma goes deep into the skin. It will only grow back if it is cut off of the skin at surface level. The problem with the removal is it leaves a long scar that is about 2 inches or so long. It has to be done that way to be able to sew the skin back together so it is smooth and not puckery. Here is a picture of a scar from the removal of a dermatofibroma. This scar was also treated with a laser to imp