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8 Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus To Try

Some people may be able to clear toenail fungus infections with home remedies. However, it's always best to speak to a doctor first, as funguses can look similar to other nail infections.

It's also important to remember that even if some of these home remedies kill a fungus on the surface, they may not always work on the nail because it can be difficult to penetrate the nail bed.

While it may take some experimentation to find an option that works for you, it's crucial that your chosen remedy be utilized consistently, says Dr. Purdy.

Vinegar

Some evidence suggests that white vinegar, or acetic acid, may possess antifungal qualities . "White vinegar can help eliminate fungus when mixed in warm water," explains Dr. Purdy. You can soak your foot in the diluted vinegar mixture, or apply it directly to the nail.

Mouthwash

While any mouthwash may work, Dr. Purdy highlights Listerine, which is a mouthwash containing alcohol and plant-based essential oils like eucalyptol and menthol. "Listerine's fast-evaporating formula can quickly dehydrate any superficial fungal infections on a toenail plate," he says.

To try this home remedy, soak the affected foot in Listerine for 15-to-20-minute sessions about three or four times per week. If desired, this treatment can also be followed up with vinegar, adds Dr. Purdy.

Baking Soda

Toenail fungus thrives on moisture, but baking soda may have a drying effect on the nail. While it may not get rid of toenail fungus altogether, it can reduce its growth. Just make a paste of baking soda and water, then apply it to the nail in 15-minute sessions, three to four times per day, notes Dr. Purdy.

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Vick's VapoRub

Vick's VapoRub is a topical ointment that contains ingredients like menthol, thymol, camphor and eucalyptus oil.

According to Dr. Pinker, Vick's may be helpful for more mild cases of toenail fungus. In fact, a very small clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Physicians in 2011 found that Vick's VapoRub seemed to have a "positive clinical effect" on toenail fungus, with 27.8% of participants being fully cured, and 55.6% being partially cured . It can be applied directly to the affected nail as needed.

Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound that may have antibacterial and antifungal qualities. A clove of freshly chopped garlic can be applied directly to the nail in 20-to-30-minute increments, once daily, for a week. However, garlic can burn the skin, so make sure it only touches the nail.

Essential Oils

Certain essential oils such as tea tree, oregano and peppermint oil may possess antifungal properties, which Dr. Purdy outlines below.

Tea tree oil may have anti-fungal qualities that could prove useful for toenail infections. "Apply two drops directly onto each toenail twice daily or add some drops into a water mixture to soak your whole foot," says Dr. Purdy.

Oregano oil may also possess antifungal properties. According to Dr. Purdy, oregano oil can be applied to the toenail two to three times per day, or as otherwise needed using the same method as tea tree oil. If using undiluted, take care to apply only on the nail and not the surrounding skin.

Peppermint oil is another essential oil that may have antifungal qualities. You can apply it to the affected nail with a cotton swab two to three times daily. Like oregano oil, it can potentially irritate the skin if applied undiluted. So, use caution and only apply it to the nail.

Snakeroot Extract

Snakeroot is an herbaceous plant native to North America. Its extract may have antifungal properties when used topically. Snakeroot extract can be applied directly to the infected nail two to three times per week, however, the treatment is often only effective for about three months, so additional extract treatment may be required.

Over-The-Counter Medication

According to Dr. Pinker, certain over-the-counter products may also help with toenail fungus, such as Fungi-Nail or Tolnaftate solution. Follow the application directions on the packaging for each.

It may take up to a year to notice the full effects of any topical fungal nail treatment, and success may vary.

How Do I Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus?

Q: It looks like I have fungus beneath my toenail, but how can I be sure? Does toenail fungus go away on its own?

Yellowing, brittle and unusual-looking toenails can be a sign that a fungal nail infection, called onychomycosis, has taken root. Experts say these infections don't go away on their own and can easily spread from person to person without treatment.

"Fungus tends to be greedy," said Dr. Boni Elewski, chair of the department of dermatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. If you pick it up from close contact with someone who is infected or by walking barefoot in a locker room, for instance, it can then crawl under your toenail and spread into the nail itself, she said. Wearing moist, sweaty shoes can encourage the fungus to grow.

Toenail fungus affects an estimated one in 10 people worldwide, and becomes more common with age — afflicting more than half of those ages 70 and up. People with diabetes or weakened immune systems are also susceptible, said Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Is it really fungus?

Experts say the first step to getting your normal toenail back is confirming you have fungus in the first place. Some telltale signs include thickened, discolored, cracked, misshapen and occasionally painful or smelly nails.

But fungus is to blame for only about half of abnormal-looking toenails, Dr. Elewski said. Toenail trauma, whether from one-time injuries or repetitive activity in too-tight shoes, can also cause discolored or thick toenails. "Eyeballs alone are not enough to be sure it's onychomycosis," she said.

According to Dr. Lipner, doctors usually confirm toenail fungus by examining a clipping under a microscope.

They can also perform a PCR test or a fungal culture to determine which fungus species infected your nail. But these tests are not always necessary because most people have a type of fungus called trichophyton rubrum, Dr. Lipner said. If your treatment isn't working, however, your dermatologist may want to learn more about the organism living under your nail.

Prescription antifungals usually take care of the problem, but it's a bad idea to take them without confirming you have the fungus first, Dr. Elewski said. Unnecessary antifungal use can make these drugs less effective over time, contributing to a growing problem called antifungal resistance.

Which antifungals work best?

Although some drugstores devote entire aisles to over-the-counter fungus salves, Dr. Elewski said that the best a nonprescription treatment or home remedy can do is improve your nail appearance.

If you want to actually kill the fungus, "a prescription antifungal is the only option," said Dr. Antonella Tosti, a dermatologist who treats nail disorders at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. There are topical prescriptions, including creams, ointments or serum-like solutions; and oral antifungals, meaning pills.

Topical antifungals can be useful for milder cases affecting just one or two toenails, Dr. Lipner said. But one downside is that you might have to apply the medication for about a year before the fungus is completely gone.

If there's fungus under multiple nails, or if the toenails are extra thick, Dr. Lipner said, she usually opts for oral prescriptions. These pills, terbinafine or itraconazole, can kill toenail fungus in about three months. Even after the oral pills kill off the fungus, though, Dr. Lipner said that your toenail may look funky for a year as the new, uninfected toenail grows in.

In the meantime, some drugstore remedies could improve nail appearance by soothing the surrounding skin or thinning the nail, Dr. Elewski said. It's also usually fine to use nail polish on your infected toenail while taking oral antifungals, Dr. Lipner said. But don't do that if you're using topical medications.

Whether you're prescribed a topical or oral antifungal, Dr. Tosti said it's important to stay on top of the treatment every day. "This is not something you can cure in a few weeks," she said. "Compliance is very important."

Avoiding repeat infections

Successfully eliminating toenail fungus doesn't mean you can't get it again, experts warn. In fact, an estimated 25 percent of people get repeat infections.

Dr. Lipner recommended thoroughly washing any socks or other clothing that was in contact with your first infection, and discarding or using disinfectant spray on shoes you wore often when you had toenail fungus.

To stave off toenail fungus in general, keep your toenails trimmed and avoid walking around barefoot in gym locker rooms or around swimming pools, Dr. Lipner said. If you sweat often in closed-toed shoes, wear moisture-wicking socks and change into dry shoes if you can.

If the skin on your foot becomes dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed, you might have athlete's foot, which is caused by the same fungus that can spread to your toenail. So it's important to get treated right away. Unlike with toenail fungus, some over-the-counter medications can help with athlete's foot.

"But don't go blindly treating yourself," Dr. Lipner said. "You want to confirm with a dermatologist you're treating the right thing."

Caroline Hopkins is a health and science journalist based in Brooklyn.

How Can I Treat A Toenail Fungus Naturally?

Toenail fungus is caused by an overgrowth of yeast organisms. In my experience, the problem is normally a sign that yeast is active elsewhere in the body, particularly the gut.

Another symptom of excess yeast in the body generally is itching in the skin. What this means is that your toenail fungus and generalised skin itching may indeed be linked.

The reservoir for yeast in the body is the digestive tract. Tackling the yeast here can therefore help to shift fungal infections on the skin.

I would advise you to avoid all foods that feed yeast such as sugar, refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, and alcohol. Other foods that encourage yeast growth are those that contain yeast such as bread, dried fruit, mushrooms, soy sauce, vinegar, peanuts, cheese, and alcoholic drinks.

Eliminate all the above foods from your diet for two months. Keep your diet based around safe foods such as meat, fish, fresh vegetables, brown rice, and oats.

At the same time, it would be a good idea for you to take a good quality supplement containing acidophilus and bifidus bacteria. These healthy strains of bacteria will help restore the natural balance of organisms in your gut, thereby helping to control yeast growth in the body.

Painting tea tree oil onto your toenail may help clear the fungal infection here, as tea tree oil is known to have natural antifungal properties.

More details about yeast in the body and how to tackle it naturally can be found in my book Ultimate Health - 12 Keys to Abundant Health and Happiness.

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