Toenail Fungus & White Vinegar

Toenail fungus is one of the most common foot ailments encountered by podiatrists. Onychomycosis is a persistent fungal infection that affects the toenails or fingernails. These infections are more common on toe nails.

Presentation

Toenail fungus is caused by a microscopic organism that thrives in dark, damp environments such as that under and around toe nails. According to the Mayoclinic.com, affected nails may look thick, brittle, hard, distorted and discolored. In some cases the nail may loosen and separate from the nail bed. Onychomycosis is frequently associated with athlete's foot. Several factors make some people more susceptible to toenail fungus, including trauma to the nail, poor hygiene and decreased immunity.

Treatment Options

There are several prescription and home remedies for toenail fungus. The prescription remedies include both topical and systemic antifungals. According to the British Medical Journal, topical antifungals include preparations containing imidazole, terbinafine, or a polyene. The British Medical Journal lists the systemic antifungals as terbinafine and itraconazole and notes that they are associated with liver damage. According to Mayoclinic.com and toenailfungustreatments.com, home remedies for toe nail fungus include tea tree oil, Listerine, Vicks and vinegar.

Vinegar Treatment Considerations

None of the home remedies for toenail fungus have been proved effective in clinical trials. As with starting any new treatments, consult your doctor first. It is important to note that if utilized, these treatments require time to see an effect and several treatments will be needed to completely eradicate the fungus. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is effective in preventing fungal growth.

Vinegar Application Considerations

Since the fungus makes the nail hard, getting vinegar or any other topical treatment into the nail bed is difficult. The nail can be trimmed very short and the surface of the nail can be filed down to allow the vinegar to penetrate. Once you've sufficiently trimmed and filed your nails, according to Mayoclinic.com you can apply the vinegar treatment by soaking your feet in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water for 15 to 20 minutes each day.

Vinegar in Combination with Other Agents

Vinegar can be used in combination with Listerine or Vicks for treatment. Although no clinical trials on Vicks as a treatment for fungus are known, the Mayo Clinic does recognize it as a home remedy, because many anecdotal reports suggest that it works. Anecdotal reports also suggest that Listerine alone can decrease toe nail fungus when used topically. Tea tree oil and Vicks can be added as an adjunct to the treatment. In all cases, before beginning any topical regimen it is important to trim and file the nail.