If you’ve noticed your toenails are looking a bit odd (changing colour, crumbly or cracked), it could be a sign of nail fungus. While nail fungus can affect both your fingernails and toenails, it’s much more common in toenails. It’s not pretty, but there are easy and effective home remedies for nail fungus that will help your nails get back to normal. From pastes to foot soaks and direct treatments, using products you probably have in your cupboard, try out these remedies to have your nails back in tip-top shape!
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What Is Nail Fungus
Nail fungus is a common fungus infection of the fingernails or toenails that causes them to discolour, thicken, crack and break more easily. Toenail infections are more prevalent than fingernail infections, and they become more common as you become older. Nail fungus usually begins as a white or yellow spot on the tip of your fingernail or toenail, and as the infection progresses, it may discolour, thicken, and crumble at the edge. It might potentially infect more than one nail. Toenail fungus is contagious in several forms. Direct contact with an infected individual can spread the fungus to others, and you can also contract toenail fungus by touching an infected surface.
What Causes Nail Fungus
Many different forms of fungus (yeasts or moulds) that reside in the environment might cause fungal nail infections. These germs can enter your nail through small fissures in your nails or the surrounding skin, causing an infection. Fungi thrive in warm, damp conditions, thus they can overpopulate in this type of setting. You can get it if you come into touch with someone who has a fungal infection or if you come into contact with an infected surface. If you have a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon, be sure the instruments are disinfected. If tools like nail clippers and emery boards aren’t cleaned, they can transmit fungal infections.
Home Remedies for Nail Fungus
Black Tea
Black Tea Tannic acid in black tea dries out the feet, kills bacteria, and helps block the pores on the feet to minimize sweating. Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, then add 5–6 black tea bags. To treat toenail and foot fungus, let the tea cool and bathe your feet for 30 minutes. This foot soak can be used on a daily basis.
Peroxide (H2O2)
Toenail fungus can be killed using hydrogen peroxide. With a clean cloth or cotton swab, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the affected toes or toenails. You can also bathe your feet with hydrogen peroxide. Soak your feet for 10 to 20 minutes in a mixture of 18 cups of hydrogen peroxide and 4 cups of cold water. Clean your feet by rinsing them with warm water and patting them dry.
Apple Cider Vinegar
When it comes to foot fungus, apple cider vinegar is recognized for its antifungal capabilities, which makes it a good choice. It also contains acetic acid, which helps to whiten discoloured toenails and prevents them from spreading to other toes. Soak feet in a mixture of 2 parts vinegar and 1 part warm water for 20 minutes each day. If you want a more powerful foot soak, use a 1:1 ratio. If the smell is too strong, try adding essential oils like eucalyptus or lavender oil.
Soda (baking)
Another treatment option for nail fungus is baking soda. It can help absorb moisture that can lead to nail fungus, and because it has fungistatic characteristics, it won’t kill fungi but will stop them from growing. Sprinkle baking soda on dry feet and wear clean socks to allow the baking soda to wick away moisture as its antifungal properties work to prevent toenail fungus from spreading. You can also mix a baking soda paste with a little water and apply it to the foot directly. Allow it to rest for 10 to 20 minutes on the afflicted region before rinsing with warm water and thoroughly drying.
Oil of Oregano
Thymol, found in oregano oil, has antifungal and antibacterial effects. Apply oregano oil to the infected nail(s) using a cotton swab twice daily, once in the morning and once before bed, to disinfect and treat your nail fungus.
Cornmeal
Cornmeal has long been used to treat roses for black spot fungus, thus it’s thought to have some anti-fungal properties. Combine cornmeal with water that is hot enough to dissolve it into a paste to make a batter. Allow it to sit for an hour before soaking your feet in the paste for an hour in a small pan. To see the effects, do this once a week for a month.
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