Finally, while it would be lovely to write off a seaside vacation as a medical expense, Lucy is sorry to inform you that, according to Dr. Larson, salt water has no medicinal properties when it comes to treating toenail fungus.
Sodium chloride (NaCl) salt is a known antifungal agent that acts by altering osmotic gradients, forcing organisms to expend energy in osmoregulation, diverting it away from growth [28].
Relax and Revive Sore Feet and Aching Joints: A long soak in Dead Sea salt water is a brilliant way to soothe those aching joints and muscles in the feet. Bromide helps ease muscle cramps, while the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying agents help reduce joint swelling, soreness and stiffness.
Over-the-counter urea cream (20 percent), like Gormel Creme, can help dissolve the diseased portion of a nail, leaving the healthy part intact. Once it's dissolved, you can follow with an over-the-counter antifungal cream.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Use the following mixture – 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, and 1/3 cup Epsom salt. Make sure to soak your entire foot for 30 minutes once a day. Taking apple cider vinegar orally may also have some beneficial health effects by working against the fungus from the inside out.
Try nonprescription antifungal nail creams and ointments.
Several products are available, such as terbinafine (Lamisil). If you notice white markings on the surfaces of the nails, file them off, soak your nails in water, dry them, and apply the medicated cream or lotion.
Nail polish traps in moisture from your nailbed (the tissue below your toenail). Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse.
Don't go barefoot in public places. Use a spray or powder that fights fungus on your feet and in your shoes. Don't pick at the skin around your nails. Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your nails.
Try soaking your affected foot in warm saltwater for 20 minutes at a time, 2–3 times a day, to relieve discomfort. To make saltwater, get a bucket of warm clean water or fill a bathtub just enough to soak your toe.
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.
“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…”
Baking soda works by removing excess moisture from your feet, a common cause of toenail fungus. While this home remedy has been shown to reduce fungal growth, it doesn't completely get rid of the fungus.
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.
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.
There's a chance toenail fungus will go away on its own, but most often, early treatment is key. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more pronounced your symptoms will become.