Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, mostly affects your toenails, but it can appear on fingernails as well. The combination of sweat and a dark environment allows nail fungus to grow. You may get fingernail fungus if your hands are wet a lot, or if you wear artificial fingernails. One popular home remedy for nail fungus is to soak the affected nails in a solution containing vinegar.
Treatment Claims
One folk treatment recommends mixing one part vinegar with two parts warm water. Soak your affected hand or foot in the solution for 20 minutes, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. The treatment calls for repeating the procedure daily, but MayoClinic.com advises cutting back to two or three times per week if the solution bothers your skin. You can also dilute the vinegar so the solution is less acidic if your skin is irritated.
Effectiveness
Applying vinegar or soaking nails in vinegar will not cure nail fungus, according to Drugs.com. The vinegar is unable to penetrate deeply enough to get to the root of the fungal infection. Although the remedy is safe and will not harm you if you do decide to try it, it may allow the fungus to spread to other fingernails or toenails, or to other people in your household. Maintaining excellent hygiene by keeping the hands or feet clean and dry and not sharing towels with family members can prevent spreading the fungus while you are waiting to see if the vinegar treatment works.
Recommended Treatment
If you think that you have nail fungus, see your doctor or dermatologist. He should confirm that the discoloration is in fact a fungal infection, and can prescribe the appropriate medication to clear it up. Nail fungus can be a persistent infection and it may take a long time to completely eliminate the infection. Follow through with the entire course of treatment that your doctor prescribes to prevent a recurrence. Ask the doctor if you should try the vinegar treatment while taking your medication.
Prevention
Since nail fungus is hard to eliminate and may recur, it makes sense to try to prevent the problem in the first place. Wear flip flops in public showers and at the pool. Change your socks frequently and rotate your shoes so they have a chance to fully dry in between wearings. If you are prone to nail fungus, avoid using artificial nails and nail polish, as these can trap moisture and cause or exacerbate a fungal infection. If you have a manicure or pedicure, bring your own instruments or only use salons that sterilize all of the equipment in between clients.
Member Comments