What Is Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus is a common condition that affects the toenails. It is also known as onychomycosis, and it occurs when fungi colonize the space between the toe and the toe bed (tissue right underneath the toenail), resulting in thick yellow or brown toenails. This typically occurs through a cut or crack in your toe. It is highly contagious and can spread to other toenails quickly (1).
According to a study conducted on 3,226 patients, onychomycosis is one of the most common nail infections seen in clinical practice. Out of these, 27.99% of the patients had onychomycosis. It was further noted that 81.49 % of men were infected with onychomycosis in their toenails than women (60.26%).
Toenail fungus can be caused by a variety of factors. Read the next section to find out all about it!
Causes Of Toenail Fungus
Nail fungal infections are typically caused by a class of fungi known as dermatophytes, which include species of Candida. Some of the common causes of a toenail fungal infection:
- Poor foot hygiene.
- Athlete’s foot.
- A nail injury.
- Previous infection.
- Sharing personal items, like a towel or a nail clipper.
- Physical contact with a person with toenail fungus.
- Sweaty socks and shoes.
Curious to know how to get rid of this condition? Check out the most effective home remedies and treatments for toenail fungus in the next section.
How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus
1. Tea Tree Oil
Image: Shutterstock
Using tea tree oil is a great home remedy for toenail fungus. It can be used to treat onychomycosis. Applying it topically can help treat the symptoms of nail fungus and improve the appearance of the affected nails (2).
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
- A carrier oil like coconut oil
- Cotton pad
What You Have To Do
- Mix a few drops of tea tree oil and coconut oil.
- Dab this mixture on a cotton pad and apply it to the affected toenail.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this 2 times daily.
2. Vicks VapoRub
This decongestant is formulated using menthol that can help alleviate the symptoms of toenail fungus (3). Harjinder Sidhu, a YouTuber, dealing with toenail fungus shared how applying Vicks on the affected toenail helped heal the issue. He says, “This is something I have observed in my own life on my toenails and I got it cured by applying Vicks VapoRub (i).”
You Will Need
- Vicks VapoRub
- Sterile gauze
What You Have To Do
- Trim the affected nails and wash them.
- Apply some Vicks VapoRub on the affected nail.
- Cover the toe with sterile gauze and leave it on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this for a few weeks, every night before going to bed.
3. Snakeroot Extract
Snakeroot extract can help heal the affected toenail and alleviate the symptoms of toenail fungus (4).
You Will Need
- A few drops of snakeroot extract
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Mix a few drops of snakeroot extract with water.
- Apply this solution to the affected nail.
- Wash it off after an hour or so.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2 times daily.
4. Oregano Oil
Image: Shutterstock
Oregano oil is an essential oil made from the oregano herb that possesses powerful antifungal properties (5). Hence, it can help alleviate the symptoms of a fungal nail infection by destroying its root cause.
You Will Need
- 3-4 drops of oregano oil
- 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Add three to four drops of oregano oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil.
- Mix well and apply it to the affected nail.
- Leave it on until it dries completely.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2 times daily.
5. Olive Leaf Extract
Research shows that olive leaf extract exhibits antifungal properties (6). Its bioactive constituents can eliminate the fungal infection and make your toenail healthy again.
You Will Need
A few drops of olive leaf extract
What You Have To Do
- Apply a few drops of olive leaf extract to the affected toenail.
- Leave it on and let it dry.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2 times daily.
6. Ozonized Sunflower Oil
Ozonized sunflower oil may exhibit fungistatic properties. This can make it suitable for treating toenail fungus as the ozone can diffuse into the fungal wall, thereby inhibiting its proliferation (7).
You Will Need
A teaspoon of ozonized sunflower oil
What You Have To Do
- Apply several drops of ozonized sunflower oil to the affected toenail.
- You must cover it with sterile gauze.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this once daily. Also, you can use ozonated olive oil to treat the infection (7).
7. Vinegar
Image: Shutterstock
A vinegar foot bath is one of the common home remedies to treat toenail fungus. This can be attributed to the antimicrobial properties of the vinegar solution that can also prevent further infection (8).
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
- 2-3 cups of water
- A shallow tub
What You Have To Do
- Mix all the ingredients mentioned above in a shallow tub.
- Soak your feet in this solution for about 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily.
8. Garlic
Garlic contains a bioactive compound called ajoene that possesses antimycotic properties (9). This helps garlic to fight the fungal infection that causes toenail fungus.
You Will Need
1-2 peeled garlic cloves
What You Have To Do
- Crush two cloves of fresh garlic.
- Apply this paste to the affected toenail.
- You must leave it on for half an hour and then wash it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2 times daily.
9. Baking Soda
Image: Shutterstock
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, exhibits antifungal activity against fungal infections (10). This makes it suitable for use in the treatment of toenail fungus or onychomycosis.
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda
- Water, as needed
What You Have To Do
- Prepare a paste by mixing baking soda and water.
- Apply this paste to the infected nail.
- Rinse it off after 20-30 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1 to 2 times daily.
10. Hydrogen Peroxide
A solution of hydrogen peroxide can be used as an antifungal agent (11). Its bioactive compounds can help eliminate toenail infection.
You Will Need
- 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide solution
- 3 cups of water
What You Have To Do
- Take a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and mix it with three cups of water.
- Transfer this solution to a small tub.
- Soak your feet in this solution for 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily.
11. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has wound healing and antifungal properties (12). Both these properties can help fight the dermatophytes that cause nail fungus.
You Will Need
Aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
- Extract gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf.
- Apply it to the affected toenail.
- Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this 1 to 2 times daily.
12. Mouthwash
Mouthwash contains active ingredients like cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, essential oils, fluoride, and peroxide that exhibit antifungal properties (13). This may help treat onychomycosis.
You Will Need
- Mouthwash
- A bowl
What You Have To Do
Soak your toenail in a bowl of mouthwash.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this for 30 minutes daily.
13. Castor Oil
Castor oil may have antifungal attributes. A study showed that castor oil contains a compound known as undecylenic acid, which is renowned for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties (14). However, remember that the efficacy of castor oil against toenail fungus lacks scientific evidence and warrants further research. You should also consult a doctor before using it to prevent spreading the infection.
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of castor oil
- Gauze
What You Have To Do
- Apply several drops of castor oil to the affected toenail.
- Cover it with sterile gauze to prevent the infection from spreading.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily.
Apart from the above-mentioned remedies, you can also apply calamine lotion, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, and onion on the infected toenail to help eliminate the infection and provide relief due to their antifungal properties (15), (16), (17). However, if these home remedies are not proving effective and the infection persists, consult a doctor about other treatment options.