Nail fungus is a pretty common condition, however, it can also prove fatal and even cause severe problems if not dealt with at the right time.
So, to keep yourself aside from such fatal nail fungus issues, there are some amazing nail fungus treatments at home that you can use. Keeping proper socks and shoe care can be one of the ways to keep away fungus. Moreover, you can also use light therapy as one of the most effective means of nail fungus treatment at home.
Therefore, in this blog post, we’ll let you know all the ways of nail fungus treatment at home to keep your feet from getting severely affected by further bacteria complications.
Table of Contents
Possible Nail Fungus Treatment at Home
Proper Shoes and Socks Care:
Changing your socks and shoes regularly can also help prevent foot fungus. Socks and sporting shoes can be washed in hot water to remove fungus and yeast from the fabric.
Baking soda or vinegar added to the washing machine can help kill fungus and bacteria on shoes and socks. Some shoes can be dried by machine or under the sunlight
Non-machine washable footwear can be cleaned with water and vinegar solution or sprayed with an OTC antifungal spray. Detergent powders can also treat shoe fungus.
Taking off shoes and socks to allow the feet to breathe can also help avoid fungal growth. So, it’s important to wear clean socks and breathable shoes.
Toenail fungus can also be prevented by keeping the feet clean and dry. You should also wash or soak your feet with warm or soapy water or a foot bath. A natural, homeopathic combination can help reduce or eliminate toenail fungus.
Light Therapy:
Depending on the severity of your disease, your doctor can recommend a number of treatments. Since chronic problems like fungal nails can be a challenge to treat, it is essential that you follow their instructions.
Some people may need more sessions than others and after the initial treatment, prophylactic treatment may be given to prevent future spread.
So, light therapy uses a sensitizing medication and visible light to selectively destroy microorganisms, including fungi. A photosensitive light and oxygen are applied to induce a chemical effect to deal with the nail fungus.
Moreover, the fungal nail must be debrided first to disclose the underlying fungal materials before starting the light therapy treatment. Not all gel may not reach fungus beneath the nail, decreasing the treatment’s effectiveness.
So, apply high-quality anti-fungal gel underneath the nail to kill fungus and bacteria and this gets triggered especially when a light therapy device emits visible light.
Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is another home treatment for toenail fungus. Vinegar is an antifungal agent that can be used in a foot soak. Its acetic acidic contents prevent infection spread to other toes as well.
Soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and vinegar for 20 minutes daily. For a stronger foot soak, use 2 part vinegar to 1 part water. However, if the smell is pretty strong, you can add essential oils to make it more pleasant. White vinegar can also be a suitable substitute.
Salt Epsom:
Foot fungus can also be treated by soaking in an Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) bath. Take 1 cup of Epsom salt in 2 quarts of warm water for 10-20 minutes. It can be pretty effective if you try an Epsom salt mixture that includes:
- 4 cups of hot water
- 1 cup of Epsom salt
- 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 cup of bicarbonate
Olive Extract:
Oleuropein, found in olive leaf extract, is antimicrobial and antifungal. Toenail infections can be treated with an olive leaf salve. You can even take extract pills to improve your immune system and cure toenail fungus systemically. For long-term benefits, use two olive leaf extract capsules twice daily. You can also consult with your physician before using olive leaf extract as a toenail fungus treatment.
Garlic:
Apply chopped garlic to afflicted nails for 30 at least minutes as a topical therapy. However, raw garlic can cause a chemical burn if overused.
So, ask your pharmacist about garlic herbal supplements. Oral supplements can treat skin infections, heart disease, high blood pressure, prevent tick bites, and cancer.
However, patients with stomach ulcers, bleeding disease, and digestion issues should avoid garlic supplements. It may also reduce the efficacy of birth control. Therefore, always consult a doctor before taking any garlic supplements.
Cornmeal:
Cornmeal is antifungal. So, apply it like a paste or soak and then let it sit for some time. Make a paste by dissolving cornmeal in warm water. However, don’t use this hot paste immediately on your feet. Wait at least for an hour. Take an inch of cornmeal as a soak and then pour an inch of water on top of it and then let it get mixed on its own. It can be an effective toenail fungus treatment.
Follow Proper Diet and Exercise:
Your present diet may be feeding Candida overgrowth fungus. Here are some diet adjustments to improve toenail fungus:
- Sugar-free foods
- Avoid alcohol consumption
- 1 cup of carbs each day
- Using coconut oil
Moreover, regular exercise can also help to speed up toenail fungus recovery. Faster blood flow eliminates pollutants and delivers vitamins. Just remember to keep your feet clean at all times to avoid toenail fungus.
You should always take off your shoes immediately after an exercise to allow your feet to breathe, and use sandals in showers or pools. Finally, always remember to wash your feet with antibacterial soap and dry them well afterward.
