“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…”
You'll know that the medication is working and the toenail fungus is dying when your toenail changes back to its natural color, decreases in thickness, shows healthy new growth, and you see a clear delineation between the infected part of the toenail and your new nail growth.
Vicks has a little impact on toenails. Vicks Vaporub softens and lightens toenails. This makes it look like the fungus is being treated. Vicks may have some antifungal qualities, but it is unable to penetrate the toenail well enough to cure the infection.
Take oral medication.
You can also take terbinafine (the same medication used for toenail fungus) for two weeks (as opposed to the three months it takes to treat a toenail infection with this medication).
There are multiple treatments for toenail fungus, though some are faster than others. The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment.
Antifungal pills also work more quickly than medicine applied to the nails. Taking antifungal pills for two months can cure an infection under the fingernails. Usually three months of treatment cures a toenail fungal infection.
Surgery. Your health care provider might suggest temporary removal of the nail so that the antifungal drug can be applied directly to the infection under the nail. The most effective but least used option is surgery to permanently remove the nail and its root.
Although the fungus affects the appearance of the nails, it actually lives on the layer directly beneath the toenail. That's why it's so difficult to treat. Your nails are made up of keratin, a tough, fibrous protein. The same hard shell that protects your toes is giving shelter to the fungus.
If you just finished treating nail fungus, throw away shoes, boots, skates, and other footwear that you wore before you started treatment. Put on a clean pair of socks every day and whenever your socks get sweaty. Wear shoes that: Alternate shoes.
The toenail might slowly start getting less and less yellow, white, black, or brown. Additionally, another important sign to look for is the diminishing thickness of the toenail. Lastly, a sign that a case of toenail fungus is dying is that a new nail is growing in a healthy state.
Wear clean, breathable socks to bed.
Wearing clean socks to bed and washing sheets regularly minimizes transmission risk.
Your immune system cannot defeat and eliminate a fungal infection such as onychomycosis without help. Left untreated, toenail fungus can infect the nail bed and enter the bloodstream with, in the most severe cases, life-threatening results.
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.
Many people pick up the fungi when they have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a fungal infection such as athlete's foot or ringworm on their hands. Another common way to get a fungal nail infection is by walking barefoot in a warm, moist area such as a pool deck or locker room.
Infected nails are usually thicker than normal and could be warped or oddly shaped. They can break easily. Nails with fungus might look yellow. Sometimes a white dot shows up on the nail and then gets bigger.
Fungus thrives in moist and dark places so give it some light. Keep them naturally dry by exposing them to the sun whenever you can.
In short, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest vinegar foot soaks can help you to get rid of fungal toenail infections over time and with repeated use. There are further benefits to a vinegar soak. It could remove dry, cracked or dead skin cells from your feet.
Within a week, you should begin to see improvements.
Terbinafine for toenail fungus treatment
The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects.
It is wet and dark where fungus thrives. Fungus can flourish in environments created by nail polish. Antifungal nail polish can be covered with non-medicated nail polish. But, it's recommended to completely avoid non-medicated nail paint if you want your fungal infection to go away.
You can also take probiotics which are “friendly” bacteria, as a supplement, which you can buy from a health food store or pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist which probiotic is best for you. A warm salt water bath will help relieve itching caused by a fungal infection. Tea tree oil may help nail infections.