What will kill toenail fungus

People can also apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the affected nail and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this several times a day until the fungus clears. Doctors often recommend these types of ointments to help treat cough and cold symptoms.

The same active ingredients in mentholated ointments — menthol, eucalyptus oil, and camphor — have other properties that may be effective in treating toenail fungus. One small study examined the use of one of these ointments to treat toenail fungus. All 18 participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the results of using the rub on their toenail fungus.

However, mentholated topical ointment cured just five participants at the end of the week-long study. More research is needed to prove further that a mentholated ointment is an effective option for treating toenail fungus. Apply mentholated ointment directly to the affected nail. Do this about once a day for several weeks or until the nail shows noticeable improvements.

Vinegar is a common household product found in cooking and some home cleaning solutions. Though no clinical evidence exists to date, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that vinegar is an effective tool to help treat toenail fungus. Anyone interested in trying vinegar can apply vinegar directly to the affected nails by soaking the toes in a bowl of warm water mixed with vinegar.

People should use a 2—1 mix of water to vinegar. As with vinegar, there is no direct scientific evidence to support using mouthwash to treat toenail fungus. However, some studies suggest that many types of mouthwash have antifungal properties. One study reports that seven commercial types of mouthwash showed some antifungal activity in laboratory samples.

Typically used for seasoning food, garlic may help treat toenail fungus as well. Though limited, there is some evidence to support this claim. One study found that a garlic extract showed strong antifungal properties against fungi that cause fungal infections in laboratory samples. Another study also reported promising results for garlic oil against certain strains of fungus, again in lab-based samples.

Many people use chopped cloves of garlic to help treat their toenail fungus. To use garlic, chop up a clove and apply it to the affected nails and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Be careful when using garlic to treat toenail fungus, as raw garlic can sometimes cause a chemical burn on the skin. Snakeroot is not well-known in the United States but is a traditional treatment for fungal infections in Mexico.

Snakeroot, also known as Ageratina , is a part of the sunflower family and is known for its antifungal properties. Another recent but small study found no significant differences in the results for treating vaginal yeast infections with snakeroot extract compared with a common antifungal medication. Those interested in snakeroot extract can buy it at specialty stores or online. People can apply the extract to affected toenails two to three times a week.

Treatment typically lasts for about 3 months. One study suggests that blends of these oils have an antifungal and antimicrobial effect in laboratory samples. However, the efficacy depends on the mix of the oils and the amount of the chemicals linalool and linalyl acetate that the oils contain. A person interested in trying a blend of essential oils can buy the oils online or from a health food store.

Mix the oil with a carrier oil before applying the mixture to the affected nails. This US-made product has no dyes or synthetic fragrances, making it a great all-natural solution. But results, depending on severity, might take longer to show when using the soak over prescription or over-the-counter treatments. Mix with hands until the salt dissolved. Add additional salts for a more stronger or aromatic foot bath. Soak your feet for About minutes.

Uses: Treats fungus all over feet; eliminates food odor and aches. A medicated soap is another way to address toenail fungus and other forms of fungus that can grow on the feet.

The Remedy Soap specifically addresses fungal infections by combining all-natural ingredients: tea tree oil , aloe, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Then eucalyptus works to heal unhealthy skin on the feet and surrounding the nails. This product is aimed at athletes and gym-oriented people, as sweat-induced exercise can often cause fungal infections.

Remedy created the product gentle enough, though, so it can be used daily to clean the body. Active Ingredients: Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil Dose: Use like a standard body wash, apply and lather over the whole body.

Leave soap on for 30 to 60 seconds before rinsing. Uses: Cleanses bacteria and fungus all over skin; treats and helps prevent acne. Funginix Healthy Nail Formula uses a unique blend of ingredients to eliminate toenail fungus while healing the skin.

Undecylenic acid works to kill the toenail fungus and prevent regrowth while tea tree and lavender oil soothe the skin. For optimal results, apply the solution on the cuticles and skin surrounding the nail.

This helps the product penetrate underneath the nail bed to address the fungus. Do not apply the solution like nail polish. Funginix recommends applying the solution daily and practicing patience, as toenail fungus often takes longer to treat. Allow the solution five minutes to absorb. Uses: Treats fungus on and around the toe nails. Probelle attacks toenail fungus by creating a multi-step solution that will clean the problem area and prevent fungal growth.

In the morning, use Probelle coconut oil body wash to clean the area and then apply the nail polish solution to the dried nails. Probelle claims that 94 percent of people in a clinical trial saw improvement from the system within six weeks.

But the company also says that more severe infections can take up to a year to heal because of how long it takes for nails to grow. Customers say the formula is gentle on their skin and shows results within weeks of daily use. Active Ingredients: Lauric esters Dose: Wash with cleanser like a normal soap. Apply just enough liquid to cover affected areas, followed by gel. Uses: Treats and fights fungus on nails. The Arishine Toenail Treatment has the design and convenience of a pencil.

Perfect for storing in a bag or pocket while at work, the repair pencil allows you to use a paintable nail polish on your infected toenail three times a day with ease to treat a nail fungal issue.

The Arishine treatment uses two percent deacetylated chitin, three percent O-hydroxybenzoic acid, and Angelica dahurica as active ingredients to get rid of fungus and heal the damage.

This solution can help treat discoloration, brittleness, split, rough, and cracked nails. Ultimately, this medicated nail polish can lead to stronger and healthier nails. Arishine is made of natural ingredients and does not conduct animal testing. Treatment requires three applications a day and should be used for four to 12 weeks, although improvement may be visible in as few as two weeks. Arishine offers customers a satisfaction guarantee. Apply around nail on cuticles and under nail bed.

Uses: Treats fungus infection on and around nails; helps heal discolored, brittle nails. Toenail fungus may start out as a small annoyance, but it can spread and progress into something much more serious. Toenail fungus, if left untreated, can become a tough problem to treat and will greatly influence what medications you need.

If the toenails are thick, yellowed, and left untreated for a long time, that could indicate you need either a prescription-strength product or to seek help from a board-certified dermatologist. Zinc undecylenate and undecylenic acid are both FDA-approved ingredients to treat toenail fungus. Lipner says, which essentially kills the fungus. Toenail fungus treatments can come in a variety of forms, but oral, topical, and homeopathic medications are the most commonly used for treating toenail fungus.

Antifungal medications take some time to fight the fungus. Most products recommend twice daily application for one to two weeks. If at this time the condition has not improved, consult your doctor for treatment recommendations. The active ingredients in most antifungal treatments are quite potent. That means they do have the power to cause burning, stinging, swelling, irritation, redness, bumps, and other irritation on the skin.

If this occurs with use, consult your doctor. But, most people are able to use the antifungal creams and gels without problems and with healing, soothing effects. The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies. As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs.

Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won't reattach, and a new nail won't grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base. A number of conditions can masquerade as fungal infections. Age alone thickens and yellows the nail. Psoriasis can cause the nail and the surrounding skin to flake.

Injuries can create bruising under the nail. Even the chemicals in nail polish can discolor the nail. You should see a podiatrist as soon as you notice your nail changing, he advises. Only a lab test on a scraping from your toenail can show for certain that fungus is responsible for your nail distortion. Misdiagnosing toenail fungus can cost you time and money trying over-the-counter products that won't have an effect. Whether you're trying to clear up a fungal infection or hoping to avoid getting one, the following can help.

There are a myriad of treatments for fungal infections , which vary widely in cost and effectiveness. To be fully effective, the antifungal drug has to penetrate the nail and often the nail bed as well. Over-the-counter products. Antifungal preparations that are applied on and under the nail with the same type of brush used for polish are widely available. They don't promise a cure but instead suggest that they can improve the appearance of fungal nails.

There is no evidence that any one is particularly effective. Ioli says. Prescription topical treatments. Effective products include efinaconazole Jublia , tavaborole Kerydin and ciclopirox Penlac. All require daily applications, and it may take as long as a year to see noticeable improvement. These products may work for early, superficial fungal infections because they kill fungi on the surface of the nail.

Filing down the surface of the nail may enable them to penetrate more deeply into the nail or the nail bed. Oral medications.