A small yellow or white discoloration on the toenail, under the tip, may appear before you see other symptoms of toenail fungus. Without treatment, the fungal infection may spread to the entire toenail. Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) may affect one or more of your toenails, and as it progresses, the nail may thicken and become brittle, distorted and dull. Conventional treatment includes surgery, oral medications and topical solutions, but you may be successful in treating your toenail fungus with some natural cures.
Vinegar
The Mayo Clinic suggests that vinegar may reduce bacterial growth, which may reduce toenail fungus. Although scientific corroboration is unavailable, the Mayo Clinic says you can soak your foot for up to 20 minutes in a mixture of two parts of warm water to one part of vinegar. Repeat the vinegar soak daily unless you experience skin irritation. In that case, soak your foot up to three times per week.
Tea Tree Oil
This antifungal oil, available in health food stores and many grocery stores, may cure toenail fungus when applied to the affected nail daily. Because the damaged nail must grow out in order to see a new healthy nail, any cure for toenail fungus will take a few months. The Toenail Fungus Treatment Guide suggests using 100 percent pure tea tree oil.
Wash your feet thoroughly and dry them before applying a drop of tea tree oil directly to the toenail and massaging it in. Consult your doctor before using tea tree oil to cure a toenail fungus if you have eczema or another skin disorder.
Natural Prevention
Family Doctor.org stresses the importance of preventing the spread of toenail fungus to your other toes. You can reduce your risk by trimming your toenails to keep them short. In addition, gently file down toenails thickened by fungus and wear natural cotton socks. Select shoes with a wide toe box to prevent pressure on the toenails, which can increase your risk of a fungus infection.
Go shoeless indoors when possible. Fungus thrives in damp and dark environments so make airing out your feet a part of any toenail fungus treatment program.
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