Toe fungus may develop between the toes or affect the toenails. Tinea pedis, or Athlete's foot, is the most common type of fungal infection of the feet. It spreads by direct contact and causes the skin between the toes to turn white and peel away. Onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, may occur along with tinea pedis or alone. This type of infection causes a yellowing and thickening of the nails and is difficult to treat. Both tinea pedis and onychomycosis generally respond to topical or oral anti-fungal medications.
Step 1
Soak your toes in a solution of one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The Mayo Clinic recommends soaking your feet in the solution for 20 minutes once a day. Rinse and dry well after each soaking.
Step 2
Apply an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream or spray to the affected toes. Over-the-counter creams and sprays are most effective when used at the first sign of toe fungus.
Step 3
Try a prescription-strength topical ointment if over-the-counter medications fail to eradicate your infection. Topical medications are often used in conjunction with debridement, a procedure performed by a doctor that involves filing away the surface of the nail to enable topical treatments to penetrate deeper into the infected area.
Step 4
Ask your doctor about an oral medication, such as griseofulvin, itraconazole, fluconazole or terbinafine. Toenail fungus and chronic tinea pedis are difficult to treat using only topical medications. You may need to take oral antifungal medications for several months to one year, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Step 5
Avoid wearing nail polish on affected toes, and steer clear of heavy, oil-based moisturizers. Both can lock moisture and fungus into the skin and reduce the effectiveness of topical treatments. Mild toenail infections, however, may actually benefit from a special nail polish called Ciclopirox. This polish contains an anti-fungal medication that is effective at treating some nail infections, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 6
Keep your feet as dry as possible to discourage your infection from spreading or worsening. Wear open-toed shoes whenever possible, dry your feet after washing, and use an over-the-counter anti-fungal foot powder every day.
Step 7
Sterilize nail clippers and any other tools used on affected toes to prevent spreading the infection to your other foot or to other areas of the same foot. Pouring rubbing alcohol over nail clippers and then allowing them to air dry is generally sufficient.
Step 8
Undergo surgical removal of any affected nails that are painful or fail to respond to other treatment options. Surgery for toenail fungus involves removing infected nails in entirety to allow new, healthy nails to grow.
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Over-the-counter anti-fungal spray or cream
- Anti-fungal powder
- Rubbing alcohol
