Thursday, June 25, 2009

Common Home Remedy For Toenail Fungus

There are many common home remedies to cure toenail fungus that have been followed since many years. The most common and widely used home remedy is the use of white vinegar or apple cedar vinegar. The acidic nature of the vinegar helps eradicate the fungus. It can be used concentrated or diluted with equal amount of water to treat the infection. The infected nail area can be dipped in this solution for approximately 15 to 20 minutes twice daily for approximately 36 weeks for a complete cure.

Various oils like the tea tree oil can be used as toenail fungus home remedy. The antimicrobial nature of the tea tree oil is utilised to kill the fungus. Not only tea tree oil but other oils like Oregano oil are also used very often.

Very surprisingly, the mouth wash liquid, Listerine is one of the most commonly used home remedy king for toenail fungus. Dipping the infected toenail in Listerine helps to get rid of the fungus in a due course. The antimicrobial agent in Listerine which is used to kill the germs in the mouth has also proved effective against the nail fungus. Twice every day, the infected nails have to be dipped in the mouth wash for about 20 to 30 minutes till the fungi vanish from the nail and nail bed.

Hydrogen peroxide is also effective to cure toenail fungus infection. Hydrogen peroxide when combined with the vinegar can not only help to kill the fungal resident but also helps in the faster re growth of the healthy nails. The hydrogen peroxide supplies the required amount of oxygen to the nail bed thus helping in the quick growth of the nails.

Vicks also comes under the list owing to the antimicrobial property of the eucalyptus oil in the composition. Rubbing it over the infected area before going to bed and when ever possible helps the fungal eradication over some months period. This might extend up to 8 months for a complete cure.

The most important way to fight the fungus is to avoid dampness of the feet, especially after the treatment, the toes have to be completely dry and absolutely no dampness. Even a bad smell from the foot is an indication of the microbial infestation on the foot. The home remedy care fights to help the pain due to toenail fungus infection. Good result is achieved only on continuous use of the toenail fungus treatment products for a longer time. Withdrawal from the application in the middle of the course might make the infection severe.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Hydrogen Peroxide As Toenail Fungus Remedy

Why we can use Hydrogen Peroxide As Toenail Fungus Remedy? Hydrogen peroxide is more often than not an essential item in first aid boxes but it is also a home toenail fungus remedy. In nature, prostaglandins, lipid groups that are needed in performing bodily functions like fighting infections are produced by stimulation of fatty acids via natural peroxide in vitamin C. Freshly squeezed juices from fruits and vegetables contain natural hydrogen peroxide. Applied as a toenail fungus remedy, the three percent solution that’s sold over the counter is used.

Mixing it with vinegar to make peracetic acid, an alternate solution with vinegar and as an antiseptic base for other antifungal solutions, are three techniques of using hydrogen peroxide as toenail fungus remedy. Peracetic acid, a mixture of vinegar and peroxide is a corrosive substance that is used to disinfect tiles and floors. A potent anti fungal solution, the effects on growing nail and skin should be considered since it is a caustic chemical. As an alternate solution with vinegar, it is employed as a soak or applied pure with a dropper on interchanging days. The last technique of peroxide as toenail fungus remedy is applying the antiseptic solution purging as much of the infection as possible then applying a second topical solution such as tea tree oil or other anti fungal cures. It takes at least six weeks to six months of treatment on all techniques.

Success on hydrogen peroxide nail fungus remedy depends on strictly following treatment schedule and duration of soaks. Treating your nail fungal infection with it is still a gamble, since there are no studies proving it is effective against the fungi.

Treating with hydrogen peroxide toenail fungus remedy is inexpensive, one of its advantages, but the cost of time consumed in soaking and preparing, not to mention the fact that missing a treatment could mean new fungal growth. Instant success is not possible at any treatment but instead of the inconvenient soaks and damaging nail and skin with peracetic acid, try a natural toenail fungus remedy that can cure and not as time consuming. In natural antifungal remedies, undecylenic acid is the active ingredient, a straight chained fatty acid that is clinically confirmed to possess antifungal qualities. Lavender, jojoba and lemongrass oils are essential oils present in this herbal cure that contain conditioning and preserving qualities that aids nails in getting back to health. Choose natural and convenience in a bottle, instead of going through the processes that are discouraging and may lead to failure.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Medical Toenail Fungus Treatment

How to cure toenail fungus using medical treatment?An unsightly and potentially painful and foul-smelling nail fungi infection can be a problem. Medically termed as onychomycosis, the beginning stages may appear as a white or yellow spot at the tip of our nail .When the fungus spreads, it discolors and thickens nails which then develop into crumbling edges. At the first site, nail fungus treatment should be sought since symptoms can persist indefinitely if ignored und untreated. The infection commonly happens on the toenails since fungi thrive on warm, dark and moist areas inside your shoes. If you have already noticed the early onset of the signs on your toenails here are doctor recommended toenail fungus treatment.

- Oral antifungal medications such as Itraconazole (Sporanox); Fluconazole (Diflucan); Terbinafine (Lamisil). If the infection is quite severe, your doctor may recommend removing infected nail. These medications allows your nail to grow free of infection and replaces infected portion slowly

- Be patient for you have to take the toenail fungus cure for 6-12 weeks. Like any other drug, these medications may cause side effects. You may have to be thoroughly assessed before these drugs may be prescribed.

- Antifungal lacquer. Antifungal nail polish called ciclopirox (Penlac) is used if the infection is mild to moderate. It is a 1week treatment of applying your nails with the paint once a day and on 7th day, wiping it clean with alcohol the piled-on layers of your nail.

- Topical medications .Another option would be antifungal creams or ointments. These home remedy may not provide a cure but may be use in conjunction with the oral antifungal medications

Cure Nail Fungus With Herbal Products

Nail fungus is a common problem affecting individuals of any age group. This infection is brought about by microbial action of fungus at edges of the nail which is in contact with the skin. These micro organisms cause damage to toenails and fingernails. Though this condition is not contagious or harmful to internal organs yet it gives a filthy appearance to nails making them look discolored or yellowish, dry, dull, flaky and subjecting them to easy breakage.

Weak immune system may contribute to such nail fungus infection but other causes may not be ruled out such as lack of personal cleanliness, unkempt soggy surroundings, wet footwear etc. Nail fungus infection is caused either by dermatophytes fungi or yeast.

There are plenty of herbal product that could be used to cure nail fungus infection effectively. One such line of herbal toenail fungus treatment is the application of tea tree oil over the infected nails. Similarly one can also use essential oils like lavender oil over such fungal infections. These oils contain active complexes that naturally heal nail infection.

As a safeguard the patient must ensure to keep his or her fingernails and toenails clean and dry. This can be done by applying talcum powder on the feet before wearing shoes. If it is feasible, try to wear sandals instead of shoes till the problem of fungal infection continues to persist.

Another effective herbal treatment is to soak the affected foot or hand in lukewarm salty water then to apply some bleach over the nails. This will keep fungus at bay. The simplest natural method is to keep nails as short as possible and apply bleach powder over them. This not only absorbs excess moisture but also kills the microbes. Repeat this process in the morning after bath and at night before bedtime.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

10 Facts on Nail Fungus Remedy

You might try to using a nail fungus remedy to eradicate fungus infections on your nails. Before you choose a home remedy, you must know some important facts. These are 10 facts on nail fungus remedy that you must know:


Fact #1: There are many different remedies for toenail fungus.
Fact #2: There's no way to tell if a remedy will be effective on you.
Fact #3: Home remedies may or may not work.
Fact #4: Home remedies for toenail fungus do not have standards.
Fact #5: You could be making your condition much worse.
Fact #6: Many other factors may affect the effectiveness of a remedy.
Fact #7: The sooner you resort to a remedy, the better.
Fact #8: There is no quick cure for toenail fungus.
Fact #9: Treatment success depends on how you use a remedy.
Fact #10: Prevention still makes the best sense.


These are ten important facts you should know about using a home nail fungus remedy. If a remedy does not work well for you, your next best option would be to try a natural nail fungus treatment product.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Onychomycosis, Nail Fungus Infections

The word onychomycosis simply refers to fungal infection of the nail: "onycho" is Greek for "claw" and mycosis is the medical term for fungal infection of any kind. Though this term may be unfamiliar to most people, the nail fungus infection, unfortunately, is far from uncommon. In North America, as many as 13% of people may suffer from nail fungus infections, with the incidence increasing with age.

Early signs of onychomycosis or nail fungus include a yellowish or brownish discoloration of the infected nail, often starting near the tip of the toe or the fingertip and progressing back toward the cuticle. In some cases a white spot appears and grows gradually larger. The nail may appear to be separating from the nailbed and it usually becomes distorted and crumbly. Nail Fungus treatments tend to work better when started early in the course of the fungus infection. The first step is to get a proper diagnosis from a medical professional, then begin nail fungus treatment.

Onychomycosis or nail fungus treatment may require topical application of an antifungal agent or a prescription for an oral medication. Curing the fungal infection tends to take months or years, depending on severity, thus it is better to start in the early stages. Prescription medications for nail fungus infections are relatively new and are still quite costly and plagued with side effects but, because this type of infection has been around since ancient times, there are many home remedies for toenail fungus infection that people swear by. Most of these involve soaking the affected nail in a solution (dilute bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide etc.).

Toenail Fungus Treatments

Toenail fungus infections are caused by fungi that live in dark and moist areas. Fungi are microscopic plants that do not need sunlight or fresh air. These plants are the cause of foot diseases such as athlete's foot and toenail fungus infection. Yeast and moulds are also part of this plant family and can also cause toenail fungus infection. The first step to toenail fungus remedies is proper detection and diagnosis. Don't wait for the nail to turn yellow, brown or black and in some cases green. The earlier it is diagnosed the better for it to receive proper treatment.

Once it is properly diagnosed, the doctor may prescribe either oral toenail fungus treatment or topical antifungal solution or creams or both. Oral antifungal medications are prescribed under strict supervision of the doctor. Before prescription, the blood is tested for liver function, heart diseases and skin sensitivity. Three kinds of oral toenail fungus remedies out in the market are Terbinafine (Lamisil), Itraconazole (Sporanox) and Flucozanole (Diflucan).

The most effective and widely used oral toenail fungus treatment is Terbinafine. It has been proven to have seventy to ninety percent effectiveness if prescription is followed. Terbinafine is a synthetic antifungal drug that dissolves in fats, oils and lipids and stores in fatty tissues, nails and skin. It is prescribed as a 250mg tablet or as a topical cream depending on need of the patient. In cases of toenail fungus infection, the tablet is usually prescribed, taken once a day for the period of six to twelve weeks. Although this drug is FDA approved, monitoring of liver functions is taken as a precaution for possible liver damage. The topical antifungal cream is used against fungus causing jock itch and athlete's foot.

Itraconazole and Flucozanole are synthetic drugs belonging to azole antifungal variety. These oral toenail fungus treatments are to be taken with food for better absorption. Dosage starts at 200mg capsules or tablets once daily for six to twelve weeks. There are cases where Itraconazole is taken intravenously but these cases are rare. Flucozanole is taken once weekly at a starting dosage of 300mg for the period of six to twelve weeks since it can stay for a longer period inside the body. These oral toenail fungus remedies have several side effects including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and rare but possible case of heart failure. Itraconazole is proven to be seventy to eighty percent effective for treating toenail fungus infections.

Most of the times, while taking the oral toenail fungus treatments, doctors still prescribe topical antifungal solution or cream to supplement the oral medication. Topical toenail fungus treatments with natural oils like tee tree oil are have antifungal agents that can help re-grow the infected nail's healthy appearance. Hygiene and proper foot care are still required to prevent spreading of the infection to other toenails or to other people. Always wear proper shoes or sandals that are breathable and change socks to prevent moisture buildup. Seclusion of towels, clippers and other personal hygiene materials is a must.

Toenail Fungus Infections

Fungus is an organism which likes to live in moist dark environments such as the region on your toenails. Toenail fungus is quite a common infection that can infect just about anyone. It can be found on the feet or hands, although the feet are more common because they are trapped in shoes all day. You may be especially prone to growing the toenail fungus if you do not change out of sweaty socks and shoes. Infected nails develop a yellow or brown discoloration that spreads from the underside.

The toenail fungus infection area is not easy to cure because it is under the nail. It can be the result of chronic athlete's foot, an infection often caught in the locker room. It comes from walking around barefoot and picking up the fungal infection from another person who already has it. This is why you should always wear shoes or flip flops in a community locker room, especially in the wet areas like the bathrooms. It only takes one person with the toenail fungus infection to spread it to the rest of the group. Once you develop it, it can be difficult to cure and many people have the toenail fungus infection permanently unless they seek treatment. The fungus will cause the toenail to thicken and curl and eventually fall off. This is accompanied by the discoloration of the toenail and an unpleasant odor. The fungus usually starts under the big toe, possibly because this toe is often in direct contact with a moist sock. If not treated, the toenail fungus will spread to the other toes as well.