Top 5 Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
Toenail Fungus, which is medically known as onychomycosis, is a very common feet fungal infection. Fungus flourishes around the toes because they are often warm and damp especially in people with sweaty feet and people who wear covered shoes or footwear a lot. This is why athletes involved in feet sports are at a higher risk of having toenail fungus infection. Also, older people are more susceptible to toenail fungus infection. This infection is highly contagious, easily spreading from nail to nail, and can be very troublesome to treat. The treatment usually takes several months and has a very high chance of recurrence.
Toenail fungus usually starts as an innocuous yellow or white spot beneath the tip of the toenail. As the case worsens, toenail discoloration, thickening, and crumbling are typical of toenail fungus. Besides the ugliness of the nail, toenail fungus can also be quite painful especially in covered shoes or footwear. If it is not promptly treated, toenail fungus can easily spread to other toenails and even the fingernails.
Treatment Of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a very troublesome fungal infection; it has a very high rate of recurrence after treatment. This stubborn nature of toenail fungus makes the treatment a key concern. The treatment of toenail fungus ranges from home remedies to medications or even surgery. In between these extremes are numerous over-the-counter products. Despite the numerous treatment options, not too many can be said to be very effective especially with little or no chance of recurrence. Despite the notorious nature of toenail fungus, there are effective home remedies. These remedies effectively cure toenail fungus and restore a clear and healthy nail. The following are 5 of the most effective home remedies for toenail fungus:
Turmeric
Turmeric is branded to be a very versatile ingredient. It holds a remedy for a myriad of illnesses including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, skin problems, etc. It has antifungal and antiseptic properties that make it rank as one of the most effective treatments for toenail fungus. It affects the growth of the fungus hence resulting in a total cure. It is also very fast in action because it enhances the body’s healing ability. Turmeric can be used as an ingredient in food as well as a layer over the infected area.
Neem
Neem is often tagged nature’s medicinal herb. This ingredient is rich in antifungal properties which make it very effective for treating toenail fungus. Apply either neem oil or paste on the affected nail for about three times per day for fast results.
Lemon
Lemon is popular for its antifungal, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties. These properties make lemon an effective home remedy for toenail fungus. It also helps to restore the nail to its beautiful state because it is loaded with Vitamin C. Apply lemon juice to the affected area as often as possible.
Tea tree Oil
This oil also has powerful antifungal and antiseptic properties. Tea tree oil is one of the most effective remedies in ensuring toenail fungus does not recur. This explains why it is a key ingredient in many over-the-counter products. Apply the oil on the affected area or soak your feet in a mixture of the oil and warm water. Do this at least twice daily.
Apple cider vinegar
This is perhaps the easiest to get yet rich in antifungal properties. Apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area or soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and vinegar.
Application of these remedies
Cut and file the nail: before applying any of the above remedies, it is important to cut and file your nail. They are topical solutions hence the thinner the nail, the higher their effectiveness
Wash thoroughly: after cutting and filing, it is important to wash all debris off in order to reduce the chances of a spread. Use warm water for washing.
Dry completely: make sure you dry the affected area very well before applying the remedy to limit interference.
Note: don’t use your fingers for the application in order to avoid spreading. You can use cotton.
What Factors Cause Nail Fungus
Certain things contribute to your chances of having toenail fungus, they include:
Age: a key factor that increases the chance of toenail fungus for an individual is age. The older we get, the higher the chance of having toenail fungus. This is because blood flow to the feet region reduces with age hence reducing the body’s chance of fighting the infection. Slower growing nails that come with age is also a key factor.
Heavy sweating: the risk of having toenail fungus is higher for people who sweat a lot, especially including the foot region. This presents fungus the perfect habitat because they flourish in a moist environment.
Walking barefoot in damp areas: just as stated above, fungus flourishes in a moist environment hence consistent soaking of your feet in damp areas raises the chances of having toenail fungus.
Skin or nail injury: crack in the skin around the nail or crack in the nail itself is a perfect opportunity for the toenail fungus to flourish.
Underlying health issues: toenail fungus can often be a signal of more serious health issues. This is why people with toenail fungus are often advised to get diagnosed. Diabetes, a weakened immune system, and circulation problems are examples of such health issues.
