Everybody has gone through the nail fungus stage once in their lifetime. The fungus goes inside the nail bed, thrives in the rich environment of the nail, destroys the nails on our fingers and toes as it feeds. And since it is protected by the nail that acts as a shield, it is really hard to reach so the medication can cure it. I once had a nail fungus infection and was in shock to discover that the cure I needed was just in my son’s medicine cabinet. Never did I think that the regular Vicks Vapor rub Mentholatum was the only cure I needed to rid myself of this unsightly fungus.

Prepare a Container
What you do is find a small container, refill it with Vicks Vapor rub. The container should big enough to dip your finger in without creating an overflow of Vicks. Have this container emptied and cleansed after each use. Do not use the original container of Vicks because this will be contaminated with the fungus when you dip your affected finger there. Fungi are known to be contagious and re-occurrence is a high probability.

Insert Infected Nail Into Container
How you start treatment is, fill half of the treatment container with Vicks. Dip the affected nail inside the container and it creates a pushing motion for the Vicks to go up, “soaking” the infected nail. Make sure that the entire nail is covered with Vicks and keep on dipping till the first digital joint is covered as well. Why we are doing this, one may ask. Let me explain a bit more here on how this simple dipping action works.

The fungus lives deep inside the nail bed and when you use topical treatment, the medicine doesn’t reach the fungi because it is protected by the nail acting as its shield. When you soak your infected nails in Vicks, the mentholated wax softens the nails, and then it penetrates the infection, killing and healing the infection. This is how Vicks Vapor Rub attacks the nail fungus.

Wipe Clean
You can just lightly wipe the excess Vicks away but not clean. Let it dry on its own so the full treatment of Vicks Vapor rub for nail fungus can be achieved. Just keep on doing this routine till the nail shows of improvement. The fungus dries out and a new nail will grow and you can just trim the affected nail area as it grows.

Final Word
There is no medical explanation as to how this miracle cure works. The mentholatum of the vicks Vapor rub just penetrates and seeps into the nail, then for some reason just stops the growth of more fungus inside the nail bed. When the Vicks enters the nail bed, it stops the fungus from getting nourishment from inside the nail. I just continued doing this for a straight month and my nails were growing nice and clean just about the 4th week. I’m fungus free on both my fingernails and toenails, but just in case I get another attack from this fungus, I know where to look.

photo credit: goodcatmum
Nail fungus or Onychomycosis, is caused by a fungus called dermatophyte on both fingernails and toenails. They love dark, warm and moist areas and this is why most people who have this condition are people from warmer climates who wear shoes.

Fungus usually enters the toes by a small break in the nail, by weak toenails to wearing shoes that are on too tight. Since fungus loves warm and moist environment, wearing damp shoes will increase chances of breeding the fungi. If you cut your toenails too close to the skin, this causes a small opening for the fungus to go in. If your perspire more often than most people, this can be a major cause as well.

If you are experiencing brittle chipped and flaky nails, if they develop a yellow, black or brownish hue, you may have toenail fungus infection already. If your toenails are getting thick and inflamed toes with the feeling of pain and discomfort already, you have caught the infection already. If your toes smell, you have a full blown toenail infection condition.

But don’t fret because there is a lot of treatment readily available most especially if your infection is in its early stages. The sooner you notice the signs, the sooner you get it treated so it wont spread to the other toenails and chances of the infection reoccurring will be halted.

Vinegar
Vinegar (either apple cider or distilled vinegar) will combat the early signs of toenail infection. All you need to do is fill a basin with a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water, soak your feet for 20 minutes then wipe it dry with either a cotton towel or absorbent paper towels. Do this treatment twice a day for maximum efficacy.

Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is a nature’s fungicide and antiseptic all rolled into one. With a Q-tip or cotton ball, just saturate it with tea tree oil and apply it on the affected toenail, for twice a day like in the morning and just about before you go to bed. Do this regularly till the fungus is gone.

Listerine
Use the regular Listerine mouthwash and soak affected toenails for 20 minutes twice a day. The antiseptics in the Listerine formulation will eradicate the fungi.

Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol that you can find at any pharmacy will do the job. Soak the feet for 20 minutes, twice a day. Dry thoroughly with absorbent paper or cotton towels.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide at 3% can also be used. Just use full strength and soak the feet for 20 minutes daily and at least twice a day. If this is too strong, try a solution of 50-50 water and hydrogen peroxide then towel dry.

Vicks Vapor Rub
Vicks Vapor rub has been known to stop the growth of fungus but not actually cure it, so there are doubts surrounding this method.

Prevention
Avoid public shower stalls and bathrooms. Make sure that nail clippers are fully disinfected before use. Air out sandals that hasn’t been used for quite some time.

photo credit: Kai Hendry
Toe nail fungus treatment isn’t overnight, especially if it’s really severe. You need to have dedication and patience to cure it even if you’ve had the condition for quite a while. Nail fungus does look bad, so you just have to follow-up on treatments.

Here are a couple of things to be considered when treating toenail fungus.

1. We are talking of a long term treatment, and it usually takes up to 6 months. You need to follow through on the regimen of cleansing and applying medication religiously.

2. Since fingernail infections are more exposed to air than toenails, fingernail infections tend to heal quicker than toenail. Toes are covered most of the time, and fungus thrives on warm, moist and dark environments, treatment and healing may take some time. You just need to take medication for up to six weeks for the fungus to disappear.

3. Prescription medicine always has side effects, and nail fungus medication is no exception. Worst case scenario maybe liver damage (though rare) so need to consult a doctor if your liver is healthy so you can proceed with the toenail fungus treatment.

4. Doctors would normally recommend oral medication for toenail fungus treatment but there are other treatments readily available of the infected nail. If your nail infection just started or is mild, you just might be given a nail lacquer or the alternative tea tree oil to kill the living fungus present in the nails.

5. If you have severe or a reoccurring case of infection, though rare, your doctor would recommend total removal of the infected nail.

6. Just leave it alone if the nail infection isn’t inflamed or is not causing you discomfort. There are a lot of treatments readily available in treating nail fungus infections.

Three Categories
After careful research, treatment for nail fungus infections generally falls under three categories. It is always best to see a doctor first to get treatment tailor-made for you.

Itraconazole pills, or most commonly known as Sporanox. These are antifungal pills for treating fungus nail infections.

Terbinafine pills or its brand name Lamisil. These are antifungal pills for treating fungus nail infections, but are not usually prescribed to people with nail infections.

Ciclopirox lacquer or Penlac Nail Lacquer, is an antifungal nail polish if taking oral medication leaves a bad taste in your mouth. This easier and quicker to use because you just brush the affected nail with it.

Griseofulvin pills or its brand name Grifulvin V is an antibiotic pill and it doesn’t seem to work as well as other antifungal infection medication.

Ketoconazole pills or more commonly known for its brand name Nizoral, is an antifungal drug but can cause liver damage.

Terbinafine cream or spray (Lamisil) is an antifungal medication that comes in creams or spray. The spray kind is much easier to use for treatment.

If your nail infection is severe and it reoccurs, removal of the nail is what your doctor may suggest but not often.

photo credit: dungodung
Onychomycosis simply means that a person is suffering from a transferable fungal infection of the both arms and feet. It is caused by a microflora of the yeast family known as dermatophyte, which enters the extremities from a small opening like a scratch or wound. It resides in the dark, warm and moist area of the nail bed where it gets it nourishment from the rich supply of blood present. It grows and gets the skin inflamed, causing you much comfort and pain. Once it has reached it peak growth, the nail will slowly fall off. Nobody wants such unsightly finger and toenails, so there are over the counter nail fungus treatments readily available.

Over the counter ointments are readily brushed or dropped onto the nails, often used for toenail fungus or ingrown nails. A common brand called Futspa, contains both antifungal and antibacterial ingredients like thyme and lavender. Since the fungus causes the nails to thicken, cracks the brittle edges of the skin and creates an overgrowth of keratin, used several times daily, the anti-inflammatory and healing properties of the over the counter nail fungus treatment, alleviates the pain and discomfort.

Lamisil & Lotrimin
Lamisil and Lotrimin are over the counter antifungal creams that reduce fungi to a minimum while curing smell and discoloration of the nails. Miconazole and econazole are the active ingredients in this medication, it can be used to treat other strains of fungus like jock itch, athelete’s foot and yeast infections.

Cream Medications
Over the counter cream medications are not as strong as their doctor-prescribed counterparts, you definitely need to go to the doctor for a stronger kind. So after using the Over the counter cream for a while and you haven’t seen any results, go get a prescription.Over the counter medication works best if you have a mild case of nail fungus infection and has just started.

Tea Tree Oil & Apple Cider Vinegar
Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are some of the alternative treatments for nail fungus for they kill the fungi and bacteria that’s the culprit for the infection. They area safe for daily use, several times a day, on both fingernails and toenails.

Use tea tree oil in its highest concentration by saturating a cotton swab, rubbing the affected nails for at least twice daily. Something in the tea tree oils antiseptic properties stops the inflammation. Soak your nails in a container of unadulterated apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes daily. Try the 50/50 solution of water and apple cider vinegar, make sure that the affected nails are soaked. Add a couple of drops of lavender oil to increase its potency. The high acidic content of the vinegar helps to subside the inflammation and somewhat stops the continued growth of the fungi.

Alternatives
If you would prefer the alternative type of medication over the over the counter nail fungus treatment, drop by any health food and organic stores to get you tea tree oil concentrate and apple cider vinegar is readily available at any grocery stores.

photo credit: Andyrob
Homeopathic remedies are often the most inexpensive and effective way to treat any condition. Onychomycosis or fungus of the toenails can be treated with ingredients readily available at home. Though very hard to rid off, the acidic properties of vinegar kills nail fungus is a popular household remedy.

A fungus enters the skin through a small opening in the skin and they begin with little white or yellow spots that are very visible. As the fungus grows and multiplies, these spots gets bigger, the nails are thickened and become brittle. And since the fungus lives in between the nail and the skin, it feeds on the rich supply of blood, it grows making the nail bed inflamed, eventually making the nail fall off.

Nail fungus is caused by a fungus of the micro flora family called dermatophytes or from a yeast derivative. It multiplies when it has found a conducive environment to multiply which is most often the moist, warm and dark area of the nail bed. 1 out of 10 people do suffer from nail fungus conditions.

Effectiveness of Vinegar
Vinegar has proven its worth to help alleviate the pain and the itchiness brought about by fungal infections. Its high acidic content helps to relieve the discomfort, balances the PH balance of the nail bed which is necessary in fighting the fungi present. Vinegar is a result of the oxidation process of ethanol in fermented fruit juice, cider or wine and other alcoholic liquids.

How to Use
Soak the affected toes in unadulterated apple cider vinegar for 30 minutes twice daily, this stops the fungus from developing in the toes. In addition to this, soak a small cloth or paper towel in vinegar and lay it in the affected nail several times daily to hasten the recovery. Depending on the severity of the problem, results may be quick or could take up to months. Time, dedication and patience are important in treating nail fungus infections. Some people say that if you apply a full concentrate of the vinegar directly to the affected nail is better than soaking.

White Vinegar
Some people prefer to use distilled or white vinegar to cure such an affliction instead of apple cider vinegar. The acidic content (the high concentration of acid stops the fungus from growing); you can use any type of vinegar as long as it helps in treatment of the nail fungus. If you do want to use distilled vinegar, make a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar, and soak the nails for at least 10 minutes a day. You could even put the solution in a spray bottle and spray several times a day.

Nail Fungus Treatment
For treatment of nail fungus infection, doctors would recommend antifungal medications like the oral prescription Lamisil (terbinafine) and Sporanox (itraconazole), Loprox or Penlac (ciclopirox), an antifungal nail lacquer. And for some reason, the usage of Vicks Vaporub helps alleviates the discomfort and gets rid of the nail fungus, according to MayoClinic.com.