Vinegar Treatment For Toenail Fungus

If you're suffering from an unsightly toenail fungus, you're probably looking for a cheap, effective way to rid yourself of the problem at home. Although folk herbalists and alternative health practitioners claim that vinegar treatments for toenail fungus work over a period of time, no scientific evidence exists to support these claims. Therefore, you should speak with your doctor about prescription toenail fungus treatments as well as various home treatments to determine which therapy is best for you.

Identification

The fungus onychomycosis can cause your toenails to turn yellow, become thick and brittle, have rough, jagged edges or separate from your nail bed, says FamilyDoctor.org. Treating your fungus with distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and water may alleviate or eradicate the problem.

Theories/Speculation

Although no scientific evidence exists to back up the claims that vinegar treatments cure toenail fungus, vinegar treatments may inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, says the MayoClinic.com, which can lead to a reduction in toenail fungus. However, folk herbalists believe that vinegar contains natural anti-fungal properties that can eradicate toenail fungus over time, says Home Remedies.

Methods

The MayoClinic.com suggests soaking your feet in two parts warm water and one part vinegar for 15 to 20 minutes at a time every day to get rid of toenail fungus. Other treatments include rubbing a vinegar-soaked cotton ball over the affected area several times per day or making a stronger vinegar bath that consists of half-vinegar and half-water and soaking your feet in the solution for 30 minutes a day, three times a day.

Time Frame

Because vinegar treatments are folk home remedies that have not been tested by scientific research, no exact time frame for alleviation or eradication of toenail fungus has been established. That being said, some anecdotal evidence suggests that three daily vinegar baths may help you get rid of your toenail fungus problem over time, says Disabled World.

Considerations

Although vinegar treatments for toenail fungus are popular home remedies because of their low cost, the treatments may or may not work for you. Furthermore, if the treatments do not work for you, your toenail fungus may become worse during your course of self treatment. Therefore, you should speak with your primary care physician about the benefits and risks associated with at-home vinegar treatments for toenail fungus before you attempt one on your own.