Nail Fungus Treatment Ideas

Any nail fungus treatment has a difficult task because nail fungus is usually underneath the nail or embedded within and treatment may take a long while to get rid of all traces of the fungus. For mild cases there are several popular over the counter topical medications that can be applied directly to the nails. Some of them include Lamisil, Canesten, Tinactin and Lotrimin. These medications, which normally come in cream form, can most likely be found in any drug store. Some of these have serious side effects so be sure to do your research before using them.

Home Remedies

Medicated rubs such as Vicks and Meijer's have actually been proven somewhat clinically to help fight nail fungus, although you would have to use the products for up to 16 months to see total recovery. It seems as if the combination of Menthol, Eucalyptus and Camphor (and other ingredients) has some fungicidal effects and makes a pretty decent nail fungus treatment.

Some people have had good results applying vinegar to infected nails twice daily. The acidic nature of vinegar seems to be harsh to fungus. Some over the counter treatments work this way as well and may be preferable as they don’t reek of the smell of vinegar! Although, keep in mind that not all infections are affected by an acid treatment.

Bleach is a very potent substance known to kill many organisms, even living tissue! It can also be effective against nail fungus but be sure it is diluted! Bleach can severely irritate skin, dry out your nail plate, nail bed and surrounding skin. At the very least use a 1 to 3 part bleach solution to apply to nails to help fight nail fungus. Clorox bleach is excellent for this purpose!

With all of these treatments, apply the substance directly to the nails and if possible try to get some under the nail as well. Getting under the nail would only be possible if the nail plate has already begun to become detached. Be sure to apply these treatments everyday without skipping. If you skip the fungus will have time to rebound and then you’ll have to begin the process all over again. You can apply them twice a day also but this might be too much trouble if you have a busy schedule.

There are most likely many other topical nail fungus treatments and home remedies out there. These are just a few that you can try for yourself. Whichever one you choose though, be sure to be vigilant in your application of it. Make sure to follow any and all directions. They will most likely advise you to use the product everyday without missing days in between. Be sure to follow this directive for the product to be totally effective.

Remember that topical treatments, whether store bought or home made, will most likely take months to clear up nail fungus, so don’t become discouraged in the first few weeks. Keep on applying. Once they’ve gotten rid of the fungus you’ll start to notice new, healthy nail growth. Just let it grow and push out the infected portion of the nail.

 If these treatments do not work, it would be necessary to consult a physician or podiatrist who may then prescribe a more potent oral medication that can work from the inside out.

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