Toenail fungus is tricky to treat. Oral anti-fungal medications, which can be prohibitively expensive and cause side effects such as liver damage, are the conventional treatments, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Vinegar is a home remedy for toenail fungus that may work for you. But vinegar treatment won't resolve your symptoms overnight. It may be many weeks or months before you notice changes in your nails. If, during that time, the fungus worsens or if it does not go away after sufficient time, see your doctor or a podiatrist.
Brittle, Crumbling Nails
It may be years before you're aware that you have a fungal toenail infection, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. Initially, you may notice a smattering of white spots on the toenail. Then the toenail becomes yellower and yellower, indicating that a fungus has infected the area underneath the nail. The toenail becomes thick and may crumble or split. You may also notice an unpleasant odor. This fungal infection can spread to neighboring toes. In severe cases, the toenail separates from the bed beneath, making it painful to put on shoes--much less walk. Dermatophytes, yeasts and molds are the three types of fungi that can cause a toenail infection, either alone or in combination, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Symptoms vary depending on the type of fungus afflicting the nail.
Vinegar Properties
Vinegar's high amount of acetic acid is purportedly what gives it medicinal properties. The Vinegar Institute, an association of cider vinegar manufacturers, cites a study conducted by the Instituto de la Grasa in Seville, Spain, and published in May 2007 in the Journal of Food Protection demonstrating vinegar's potency. The Mayo Clinic says there's no evidence to suggest that vinegar can get rid of toenail fungus, but it can inhibit bacterial growth.
The Vinegar Soak
Joe Graedon of "The People's Pharmacy" recommends a vinegar soak for toenail fungus. Mix one part vinegar with two parts warm water. Soak the foot for 15 to 30 minutes each day. Give it time--at least six weeks.
Cautions
After a vinegar soak, dry your feet well, including between your toes. Vinegar may irritate your feet. If you notice irritation, the Mayo Clinic advises soaking less frequently--two or three times weekly--or using a more dilute vinegar solution. The University of Michigan Health System says that although you may be able to treat toenail fungus effectively, the condition often returns, even in people who use oral anti-fungal medications. Additionally, some types of fungal infections, such as distal subungual onychomycosis--the most common type--can be a lifelong problem. Others, such as white superficial onychomycosis, resolve more easily.
Other Tips
Applying tea tree oil or a medicated chest rub that contains camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol to infected nails are other home remedies that some swear by, although there's no clinical evidence to support their effectiveness, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Whichever method you use to treat problem toenails, make sure that the feet are kept clean and dry to avoid reinfection. Wear dry cotton socks and roomy footwear or open-toed sandals. Avoid walking barefoot in damp public areas, such as public pools and don't share footwear, socks or grooming tools such as toenail clippers.
See Your Doctor
Toenail fungus is often difficult to resolve, and it can even cause permanent damage to your nails, cautions the Mayo Clinic. People with diabetes, impaired immune systems and those who have received an organ transplant may develop more serious complications. If you think you have toenail fungus, the Mayo Clinic advises that you contact your treating physician.
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