Vaporizing ointment: Although designed to relieve cold symptoms, the active ingredients in vaporizing ointment—camphor and eucalyptus oil—can also treat toenail fungus. Apply a small amount once a day.
Eucalyptus essential oil is a natural remedy that has many benefits for both nails and skin. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which make it ideal for treating nail fungus and other skin conditions.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil with many therapeutic benefits. Among its healing benefits, tea tree oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties and may be an effective treatment for nail fungus.
Tea Tree Oil
This oil comes from a tree in Australia. It's a popular treatment for many conditions, including foot fungus. Research shows it works as well as clotrimazole, which is found in many OTC 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.
Vicks VapoRub
A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in treating toenail fungus. To use, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day. Shop for Vicks VapoRub online.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
Oral antifungals.
The doctor may give you a pill to kill fungus in your whole body. This is usually the best way to get rid of a nail infection. Treatment may last 2 months for an infection in your fingernails, or 3 months if it's in your toenails.
One common thing that comes up are products that contain menthol. So Vicks VapoRub is a common nail remedy for nail fungus.
Topical eucalyptus oil is more effective as an antifungal treatment for fungal infected toenails without nail matrix infection.
Eucalyptus oil possesses a wide spectrum of biological activity, including anti-microbial, fungicidal, herbicidal, acaricidal and nematicidal properties.
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in a foot soak. Mix 1/8 cup of hydrogen peroxide (or several capfuls) to four cups of cool water and soak feet for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse feet with warm water and pat dry.
Apply cuticle oil before bedtime and leave it on overnight so it can fully absorb into the cuticles.
When massaged into the base of your three middle toes, the anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties of eucalyptus oil are believed to relieve sinus congestion and ease muscle pain. Whilst a few drops of lavender oil massaged into tired feet before bed, should give a calm and restful sleep.
Eucalyptus oil contains tannins, which are compounds that boast astringent properties. While it shouldn't be applied to the skin on its own, in cosmetics, it can help clean the skin and hair and reduce excess oiliness.
Nail removal: If you have a severe infection or other treatments just don't work, your dermatologist may recommend removing the nail(s) to get rid of the infection.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of developing nail fungus include: Older age. Wearing shoes that make your feet sweat heavily. Having had athlete's foot in the past.
If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis. They can also prescribe stronger medicines.
The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated.
Despite its rather rancid scent, vinegar can prove to be quite useful in a wide variety of situations. The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source.
Camphor, menthol, thymol and eucalyptus oil are active against five types of fungus that can infect toenails (Phytotherapy Research, April 2003).
The antifungal properties also make vinegar soaks a good idea for people who have toenail fungus. Soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes daily in a vinegar bath until the infection subsides. You can increase the length of time in the soak gradually. It may take two to three weeks or longer to see improvement in symptoms.