Toenail Fungus Remedies

How to get rid of toenail fungus?
( 2 Mar 2009)

Toenail fungus can be quite an unpleasant problem. The problem is an infection which arises due to an attack by a fungus which can target the nail or even your toe’s nail bed. The nail bed is the term given to the skin that is found under the nail.

These fungi can get to you nails if there are any sort of minor cuts about the nail. Additionally, it can attack via the gap you find sandwiched between the nail and the nail bed. Fungi can strike quite easily and can sometimes wreck further damage. This is particularly true in the case of diabetic patients who suffer from immune system weakness. This is why, if you fall under the above-mentioned categories, or you have a persistent fungi infection, you should seek your doctor’s advice right away. It’s easy to identify as your toenail typically thickens, a lot more than usual. This can make it tricky to cut. Its appearance also changes. The color usually seems to be yellowish or brownish. In texture, it is brittle and dried up. It can often prove difficult to treat a fungal infection at home since some patients simply don’t respond to any treatment.

One method you can try begins with soaking the toenail. Fill 50 per cent of a small tub with apple cider vinegar and the rest with warm water. Soaking your toenails in this solution for about 15 minutes daily should do the trick. Rubbing the affected toe nails with some drops of tea tree oil will also prove effective in getting rid of the fungus. Tea tree oil is one versatile essential oil that can be invaluable. Other beneficial essential oils include lavender and clove. Some people have also found soaking their feet in an antiseptic mouthwash solution to be an effective remedy. You should do so after your daily shower. Alternatively, you can use cotton to apply this mouthwash to your toenail. You can also cover the toenail fungus with drops of vinegar daily. Doctors and chemists can help you out with the names of various forms of antifungal medication. Maintain short toenails to avoid damaging them. Do try to stay away from moisture once infected. Keep your toenails along with all the nooks of your feet dry. Remember that there are no guarantees when it comes to such toenail infections. It’s best to try to eliminate this fungus as soon as you notice it. Also, if you notice that the fungal infection proves resistant to home remedies, don’t wait too long to call your doctor.

answered by G M on 24 Mar 2010, 4:20:14

Fungal infections can happen anywhere in the body and are very common. They are however, especially common in the toenails. Also called onychomycosis, the primary cause of toenail fungus is a group of fungi known as dermatophytes.

Don’t mistake this fungus to be harmless. Dermatophytes slowly start growing inside the nails and immediately start feeding on the fibrous proteins called keratin that make up the nails. The big and the little toe are the two that are most likely to get affected.

If your toe nail gets disfigured or discolored, it may be because of the fungus that is growing inside. The nail usually grows to become brown or deep yellow. The nail increases in thickness and starts crumbling to eventually fall off. You may even see debris accumulating under the toe nail. This fungus will also make your toes smell bad.

The following are some quick homemade remedies that can be used to treat toenail fungus.

Tea Tree Oil: The medicinal qualities of tea tree oil are widely known. It is a great cure for toenail fungus. Its antiseptic properties act as a fungicide and remove the fungus.

Listerine: You can soak your feet in your regular mouthwash. The mouthwash also has antiseptic properties that treat the fungus and leave your feet feeling fresh and healthy.

Apple Cider Vinegar: The natural qualities of apple cider vinegar can be beneficial for your feet. Pour some apple cider vinegar in a basin of warm water. Soak your feet in this basin and leave them for about twenty minutes.

Lavender and Tea Tree Oil: Mix the two oils and apply it on the top edge of your toe nails using a ball of cotton. The mix of oils will help soothe and disinfect your feet.

Olive and Oregano Oil: Mix both the oils and apply on the top surface of your toe nail using swabs or balls of cotton.

Once your toenail fungus is treated, it is advised that you take preventive measures so that this infection doesn’t recur. Making improvements in your diet can help prevent toenail fungus infections to a large extent. Include food stuff that is probiotic in nature. Make sure to include yogurt in your diet and avoid refined carbohydrates.

There are other preventive measures that you can take. Maintain good hygiene for your feet. Try to wear socks made of natural fibers instead of those made of synthetic fibers. Wash your feet every time you visit public bathing spaces or public swimming pools. Toenail fungus is contagious and if you do not wash yourself properly, you might contract it from someone.

answered by G M on 17 Sep 2009, 4:43:30

Fungus can affect both your fingernails as well as your toenails. The fungus that attacks our nails can be dangerous since they grow and as they increase they begin feeding on the Keratin which is what our nails are made up of. For this reason it is necessary to take action as soon as you spot the fungus on your nails. This fungus can actually cause your nails to become discolored and disfigured. The nails which have been affected usually change color and become brown or yellow. In addition the nail becomes thick and often can be painful. This even makes the wearing of shoes difficult. As the fungus progresses you will find that the area under your nails is filled with smelly debris. You will also notice that your nails begin to crumble and do eventually begin to fall off. Our toenails are affected by fungus mainly because we allow our feet to stay damp. If your footwear is very tight and not very comfortable, then this could be the reason for the appearance of fungus on your toenails.

The first thing you should do is to keep your feet clean. Soak them every day in warm water, soaking them for some time for best results. After you taken your feet out of the water, you should ensure that your feet are properly dried and in no danger of increasing the fungus. You can also mix the warm water with apple cider vinegar and soak your feet in this for at least twenty minutes. Tea tree oil is one of the most effective ways of treating toenail fungus. You can apply a few drops of this on the nails that have been affected toenail and rub well. You can also make a mixture of equal quantities of tea tree oil and lavender oil. Dab this on the affected areas with a clean cotton ball that has been dipped into the liquid. In addition to these remedies you should also ensure that you only wear cotton socks since these have the ability to soak the sweat from your feet. For the duration of the fungus that you have, you should try to wear open footwear. This will allow your feet to breathe and thus get rid of the fungus sooner. You should also ensure that you always wash your feet after you have come back home from an outing. After washing them, dry your feet. You can also use a hair dryer your feet completely.

answered by G M on 2 Mar 2009, 1:21:16

Toenail Fungus Remedies

How to get rid of toenail fungus? ( 2 Mar 2009)

How to get rid of toenail fungus?
( 2 Mar 2009)