Nail Health Care Information

The traditional home remedy for nail fungus went something like this: trim the affected nail as much as possible and immerse the hand or foot in a solution of one part bleach in 100 parts of water (or pure household vinegar) for 30 minutes each day until the infection is gone. This method may be effective, but for most of us, it’s extremely difficult to find the time, especially when you consider that fungal nail infections typically take many months to go away unless they are in the very early stages when treatment is begun.

Hand nail fungus is particularly difficult: it’s easier to sit with your feet in a basin while you are doing something else than to have your hands immersed for a long period of time. However, for the determined individual who decides to try this type of home remedy for nail fungus, there are some things that you can do to increase your chances of success. First, file the nail - not just to keep it as short as possible, but also to keep it as thin as possible. This means filing and trimming away any loose crumbly bits and also filing down the thickness of the nail from the top. Many nails with fungal infection are distorted, thick, and fairly soft. This is because the fungus is actually growing through the layers of nail. Filing some of this thickness away will not only remove some of the fungal growth but also ensure that the soaking solution comes in contact with the fungus. File as much as you can without damaging the nail bed under the nail.

When using the bleach or vinegar cure toe nail fungus will only be affected by the treatment while you are soaking. (The same is true for hand nail fungus). To add an extra boost to your treatment, try painting the affected nail with some other preparation between soaks. Here you have a choice of many things, either commonly found in most households or readily available over the counter or from an internet source. You might use hydrogen peroxide, Vicks VapoRub ointment, Listerine mouthwash, Tea Tree oil or any of a number of essential herbal oils or oil blends available from natural healing providers. All of these things have been said to be an effective home remedy for nail fungus.

Whatever you choose, be aware that foot and hand nail fungus typically takes a long time to go away because nails grow very slowly and because treatments take time to penetrate a tough thick nail. Even prescription drugs take a long time to cure the problem, and like a natural healing or home remedy for nail fungus, they don’t always work. Many people claim that bleach and vinegar cure toe nail fungus if you are patient and persistent - natural remedies like Tea Tree oil also have a lot of anecdotal support (and some scientific support) and are somewhat easier to use.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Home Remedy for Nail Fungus, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

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As you read this, about one in ten North Americans are looking for a nail fungus cure. Many people don’t realize how common nail fungal infections are because most of these infections are on the toes, and people keep their infected toes out of sight. A nail that is infected with fungus turns a yellow or brownish color, becomes thick and scaly, and may crumble or flake. Initially, the infection is usually painless, but in time it will start to hurt.

There are numerous choices in products for fingernail and toenail fungus cure. Regardless of your initial preference, consult your doctor first to confirm the diagnosis and the need for a nail fungus cure, and to discuss treatment options. There are a few oral medications that your doctor can prescribe for you as well as a prescription lacquer that is painted on the nail and surrounding skin like a fingernail polish. Your doctor may also recommend over the counter topical nail fungus lotions or ointments. He or she will probably not suggest natural or alternative remedies for fingernail or toenail fungus cure, such as herbal preparations, diet modifications, or other home remedies, but these nail fungus cures far outnumber the ones recognized by the medical profession.

A natural cure for toe nail fungus might involve soaking your feet in vinegar, dilute bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or even dark beer! Or you might choose to apply an essential oil, such as oregano, lavender or tea tree oil, or an essential oil blend for nail fungus cure. Daily application of Vicks Vaporub is recommended by some; others take apple cider vinegar by mouth, and many people combine two or three different home remedies to maximize their chances for a toenail fungus cure. There are a number of homeopathic and natural preparations commercially available. They are generally much less expensive than prescription drugs.

In choosing a cure for toe nail fungus, or any other nail fungus infection, be sure to learn as much as you can about the treatment you plan to use, and consider the benefits and risks. Prescription drugs, over the counter formulations, and home remedies all carry some risk of side effects or other harm, especially if they are used inappropriately. Also remember that all of these types of nail fungus cure take a long time to work because nails grow slowly, and fungus readily rebounds if you are not continually vigilant. If you are seeing improvement, keep at it, and you should be successful in achieving a nail fungus cure.

David Bloom is an avid health enthusiast and a regular contributor to a variety of health websites. He is the author of Nail Fungus Cure, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

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What is over the counter nail fungus medication? Strictly speaking, it is a remedy for toenail fungal infections that can be purchased without a prescription. When we talk about OTC medications, we are usually talking about commercial products specifically manufactured for self care of a medical condition. In the case of fungal nails, however, the definition might well be broadened to include a number of everyday household products manufactured for other purposes but used as fungus medicine.

Prescription drugs are available, but the cost of these drugs is so prohibitive that many people turn to over the counter nail fungus medication. Many more avoid the pharmaceutical medications because of the risk of side effects. The next best alternative, at least in the opinions of the medical profession, is toe nail fungus medication available in pharmacies - lotions, creams and ointments for nail treatment.

Another group of products include natural remedies like Tea Tree oil and other essential oils, available from homeopathic dealers and shops. An antifungal mud called Saprox, apparently produced in the Czech Republic, is another possibility.

Finally, there are many household products that people have used with varying success. Some of them are available in pharmacies for other problems, but are not strictly over the counter nail fungus medication. Vicks Vaporub, Listerine mouthwash, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are good examples. Hydrogen peroxide is a first aid item that has been reputed to cure fungal infection.

Grocery items are on the list for toe nail fungus medication as well. Many folks will tell you to soak your feet in vinegar - white vinegar straight from the bottle. Others drink apple cider vinegar for an oral home cure. You might want to soak your feet in beer: one home remedy calls for a potion of stout, vinegar, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, a strain of bacteria used in making yogurt.

One thing can be said of virtually every type of toe nail fungus medicine: it takes a long time to work, if it works at all. Most variations of over the counter nail fungus medication are applied topically, which means that the medication has to penetrate the nail and get at the fungus in order to work. In many cases it does not come into contact with the fungus. This is also true of topical prescription drugs - only the oral drugs get around the problem. Even if the medication reaches the fungus and arrests its growth, toe nails grow so slowly that it’s months before the toenail looks normal again.

David Bloom is an avid health enthusiast and a regular contributor to a variety of health websites. He is the author of Nail Fungus Medication, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

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