Revealed: Popular Home Remedies For Nail Fungus
The treatment for nail fungus infections typically requires several months of consistent therapy. This is largely due to the fact that the fungus causing the nail is ‘protected’ by the nail and difficult to reach. In many cases the fungus is located underneath the nail, between the nail plate and the nail bed.
Oral antifungal drugs are available but many health professionals are concerned about unwanted side effects, including serious liver disease. So it’s no wonder that people have experimented with other products and topical remedies. Some of the treatments are described as ‘home remedies’ as they rely on products available in most households. These kind of remedies often inspire skepticism, but many nail fungus sufferers claim they are effective.
Four of the most popular remedies are described below:
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The treatment involves a daily soak (mixed in equal proportions with warm water) for at least 30 minutes. Some skeptics claim that improvements are the result of a bleaching effect rather than a reduction in the fungus.
- Tea Tree Oil – This oil has been used by the aboriginal population in Australia for centuries and is known to have anti-microbial properties. The oil is used in products such as Zetaclear and Funginix which are specially designed to combat the infection, but many sufferers claim it works just as well on its own.
- Vicks VapoRub – Although the makers of Vicks VapoRub did not intend the product as a treatment for nail fungus, many people swear by its results. The upside of this treatment is that it is quicker than a daily soak. You simply rub the product on the nail and the skin around it. Some people like to combine this method to improve their odds of getting rid of the disease.
- Listerine – Listerine has antibacterial properties. There have not been any clinical trials to determine its effect on fungal organisms and the manufactures have been quick to point out that is has not been designed to treat nail fungus infections of any kind.