A fingernail fungus can be traumatic to the person suffering from it, but more for cosmetic reasons than medical ones. According to Dr. David Nelson, a hand specialist from of California, fingernail fungus survives by feeding on the outer layer of the nail called keratin (see reference 1). The body reacts by producing more keratin, which thickens the nail and eventually causes it to loosen from the nail bed. When it does this, it becomes split and yellow in color. Prescription treatments for fingernail fungus are quite expensive and come with unwanted side effects like nausea. If you would like to try a more natural treatment, choose one of the methods below.
Treatments for Fingernail Fungus
Step 1
Mix 1 tbsp. of white distilled vinegar with 1 tbsp. of pure garlic oil. (If you cannot find garlic oil at a market near you, you can make your own by crushing one clove of garlic and steeping it in 1 tbsp of olive oil for 24 hours.)
Step 2
Rub the garlic oil/vinegar mixture into the nails. Be sure to get the oil well under the nail where the fungus lives, and along the sides and in the cuticles. After you have rubbed the mixture into the nail, soak your nail in whatever is left for 30 minutes. Blot your finger and nail dry after the treatment, but do not wash off. The garlic and white distilled vinegar combination has been shown to have high anti-fungal activity, according to a study done at the University of Iowa. If you do not wish to deal with garlic and vinegar, try step 3.
Step 3
Apply tea tree oil to the affected nail. As in step 2, rub the oil deep into and as far under the nail as you can get it. (Try not to get the tea tree oil on unaffected skin, as it can irritate the skin and cause a sensitive reaction in some people.) Leave the tea tree oil on and do not wash off. Tea tree oil has also been reported to have anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial properties. A study done by researchers in Australia and reported in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reports that tea tree oil was found to have an anti-fungal affect on a wide variety of fungi. (see ref. 3)
Step 4
Make an appointment with your doctor. If your nail fungus does not respond to home treatment, or you find it is progressively getting worse, see your doctor for proper diagnosis. What appears to be a fingernail fungus could possibly be the result of another underlying medical condition.
Step 5
Keep your nails clean and trimmed. Clean under and around your nails daily with antibacterial soap and warm water. Use a disposable orange stick to clean under nails. Do not push the cuticles back, as this can make the nail more vulnerable to fungal infections.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid nail polish and fake nails while you are dealing with a fingernail fungus, as this will only aggravate the condition.
- Don't reuse nail brushes or clippers without washing them with soapy water first.
Things You'll Need
- White distilled vinegar
- Garlic oil
- Tea tree oil
- Wooden orange stick
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