| How to Treat Toe Nail Fungus Oct 7th 2012, 03:00 Toenail fungal infections (onychomycosis) aren't pleasant––you may experience anything from toenail discoloration, awful odor and discharges, to the nail completely dropping off. While it can seem worrying at the time, the good news is that it is treatable and the future good health of your toenails is generally assured provided you continue to take good care of them and observe appropriate precautions to avoid future infections. This article discusses some simple, effective remedies to treat toe nail fungus. The remedies suggested here are only suitable for toenails that have not advanced to the blackened lifted nail stage. In this case, see your doctor, podiatrist or pharmacist for more advice. Removing detached parts of the toenail - For toenails that have advanced fungus underneath that is growing and lifting the nail up off its bed, soak the foot (or feet) with any affected toes for 20-30 minutes in warm water. Then, begin trimming the nail. You will be surprised to find that your nail is no longer attached to your toe in the places where the fungus has invaded beneath the nail––this is normal even if worrying. Simply cut away all of this unattached nail and scrape off the thick, flaky fungus matter. Remove as much of the abnormal looking stuff as possible. Push the cuticles back. It is vital from this point on to be consistent in your care.
- Never tear off toenails with your fingers. Always use a clean nail clipper or long-handled nail scissors. Trimming after bathing is often the best time, as the nails are at their softest.
- If there is any pain involved, do not do this yourself. See your doctor or podiatrist. Proper removal can help to ensure the regrowth of a healthy nail rather than a deformed one.
Airing your infected toenail - Allow air to reach the infected toe as much as possible. Moist socks and shoes breed fungal growth. Go barefooted as much as you can. Wear sandals whenever possible. Do not wear your sock or hosiery more than one day without washing. White socks that can be bleached are a plus.
- Avoid wearing tight shoes. Tight shoes push your toes together, potentially transferring fungus and often creating the perfect moist, warm and closed environment so beloved by fungus. If you like wearing heels, it might be a good idea to take a break from them if they're bunching up your toes. It can also help to shift to wearing only shoes that "breathe".
- Avoid tight hosiery. It causes similar issues to tight shoes.
- After bathing, swimming and any activity that leaves your feet sweaty or wet, dry them thoroughly.
Vick's Vapor Rub - Keep Vick's Vapor Rub salve by your bedside and apply a small amount to affected toe or toenails before donning socks. Be sure that the toes are dry before applying the Vick's to avoid sealing moisture in under the rub. This method takes a while, but so do commercial applications and this one is both cheap and reliable.
Water and vinegar - Soak your toes in a weak solution of water and vinegar for at least half an hour on a nightly basis. This lowers the pH of your toenails so that the fungus can no longer survive. You need to do this regularly, every night, for three to six months. While this is quite a commitment, it works.
Essential oil remedies - Applying a liquid remedy faithfully, both morning and night of every day until the toenails strengthen, can be a good, natural way of curing your toenail fungus. You may buy a remedy at the pharmacy, but many people have had great success with 100% pure tea-tree oil––or use 5% to 10% of pure orange oil (not orange oil cleaner) in a mix of 50% vinegar and 50% rubbing alcohol. Shake well before each use. Apply this with a medicine dropper. Make sure it seeps down into the exposed nail bed and under the sides and edges of the nail. As the nail grows, keep removing dead tissue to leave a healthy environment for the new nail.
Pharmacy products - If you prefer using products made specifically for treating toenail fungus, see your pharmacist. You should be able to purchase special nail paints and creams, and in some cases, it is even possible to take tablets. The nail growth will be as slow as any other treatment mentioned above though, so bear this in mind when weighing up your options and the expense involved.
- Be patient as nails grow slowly. In most cases, they will grow back though. If you don't see any sign of a healthy nail growing after six months, see your doctor.
- Give the recovering nail some special attention after showering and be sure to sanitize your nail tools with alcohol so you don't spread the fungus to other nails. As a prevention, it doesn't hurt to apply tea tree oil to the unaffected nails as well. Getting your nail back to normal can take many months. Being very diligent in your care is the key to success.
- Wear flip flops, sandals or other shoe types when walking around pools and public areas––don't leave your bare feet exposed to the potential of picking up someone else's toe fungus.
- You are likely to be more prone to toenail fungal infections if you are suffering from a chronic disease, such as diabetes, circulatory problems or immune-deficiency conditions.
- In the USA, see www.apma.org for a podiatrist in your area.
Edit Warnings - Never sleep in socks.
- Don't apply nail polish to infected nails.
- Disinfect all tools used to cut or scrape nails.
- Your feet may perspire: that moisture can promote fungi and make feet feel cold as the perspiration evaporates.
- If your "cold" feet do not perspire, then you might try sleeping in clean, loose or thin socks that breathe well. Alternatively, place additional loose cover from the knees down. Again be sure your feet do not "sweat."
- If one has very slowly healing bacterial infections of legs, feet or toes, then one should be checked for diabetes by a physician using blood tests. Bacterial infection with untreated diabetes does cause severe problems with long-lasting effects possibly including gangrene and surgery (Diabetes also may cause nerve damage in any part of the body!).
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