Some home remedies can help you remove nail fungus. Essential oils, used with caution, can be very helpful. However, it is good hygiene and dryness in the feet, which will help us the most to prevent their appearance and eliminate them.
While it is simply known as nail fungus, the scientific or medical name for this condition is onychomycosis. This infection changes the appearance of the nail, affecting color and thickness. Learn more about this problem in the following article.
What is onychomycosis?
Having nail fungus is a very common condition in the population around the world, which begins with a single finger (toes or hands). It usually spreads to the rest due to a lack of treatment. Some may also have athlete’s foot because it is the same fungus that affects the skin.
Onychomycosis can only be seen by changes in the nail, be it the color, shape, or thickness. On the other hand, it does not present symptoms like aches or pains. Many people take a long time to treat nail fungus, which is why it takes several months or even years to fully heal.
Although it is usual to treat nail fungus as an aesthetic alteration, in very advanced cases it can cause chronic pain that is difficult to solve. Early diagnosis is ideal to eradicate the fungus permanently.
Causes of onychomycosis
Among the causes of onychomycosis, we find three different types of fungi; the best known of them is Candida albicans. They are transmitted by direct contact and can coexist in our body without causing infection. However, when certain conditions or factors that weaken our immune system occur, the risk of developing this pathology rises.
Aging is one of the reasons, for example, since with age the fungi that colonize the foot accumulate, in addition to the body’s defenses being weaker.
Another possible cause is frequent wet feet. This is the case of swimmers or people who use inappropriate footwear (rubber, nylon socks, etc.). It also increases the risk of suffering from other skin diseases such as psoriasis or athlete’s foot.
Diabetes is also related to onychomycosis, as it affects the body’s defenses. If you have relatives with onychomycosis, it is more likely to suffer the problem, either due to genetic predisposition or due to the transmission of the fungus by using the same towels, shower, shoes, etc. Finally, immunosuppression or the use of drugs can also be the cause of nail fungus.
How to prevent nail fungus?
The main problem, it is believed, is aesthetics, due to alterations in the appearance of the nail. We can distinguish several types of modifications:
- The edge of the nail turns yellow and thickens, the surface is rough and fragmented.
- The nail matrix (the root) is damaged, with white or yellow areas.
- Small white spots or spots are seen on the surface of the nail.
- The nail is brown (rare cases of melanonychia ).
- The nail is completely deformed, it is curved, thickened and hardened, it easily breaks down into fragments.
To prevent the appearance of onychomycosis, good hygiene must be maintained, thus preventing the proliferation of fungi or bacteria. It is also advisable to wash your hands and feet and dry them well every time and wear suitable cotton socks and shoes that are not too tight, allowing the foot to breathe and perspire.
It is also important to avoid bathing barefoot in changing rooms or gyms, as well as sharing towels with infected people.
When you have onychomycosis, you need to keep your nails short, so that they do not protrude from the finger. After using the tools, they need to be disinfected. Finally, it is not advisable to use false nails or paint the nails.
Home remedies for nail fungus
To find the most appropriate treatment for onychomycosis according to the particularities of each case, it is essential to go to medical consultation. Below we will present some home remedies that may help, but in no way replace the professional’s instructions.
Tea tree essential oil
Tea tree oil is one of the best known natural treatments for onychomycosis. It is used for mild or moderate cases, since it is a powerful fungicide and antiseptic, as confirmed by scientific studies.
Remember that the essential oils are incredibly concentrated and condense all the potency of the properties of the plant in very small quantities. For this reason, they should not be ingested or in contact with delicate areas such as the eyes.
Also, they should always be applied topically and extremely diluted in other non-essential oils. Always acquire essential oils of a therapeutic degree in your herbalist. They should not be used in children and pregnant women should be informed about the type, dosage and other recommendations.
A way of use indicated by traditional medicine is as follows. We recommend consulting with a professional before resorting to him:
- Cut the nail trying to remove, as far as possible, the entire affected area.
- Wash the nail to remove remains, and dry it.
- Mix 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil in a tablespoon of the oil of your choice (coconut, olive, almond, etc.). It is important to maintain a dilution of no more than 2%.
- Apply the mixture on the nails with cotton.
- Allow 15 minutes to absorb.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
Apple cider vinegar
The second treatment that could help treat nail fungus is apple cider vinegar. It has proven properties that are beneficial for burns, dandruff and scars, and is also said to be antifungal (although there is not much evidence for this).
Traditional medicine advises purchasing 100% concentrated, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar for results. Again, another widely used mode, but that you should not carry out without the professional’s permission:
- Cut the nail trying to remove as much as possible the entire affected area.
- Wash the nail to remove remains and dry it.
- Prepare a foot bath with vinegar and warm water in equal parts.
- Dip the affected areas for 20 minutes.
- Dry well with a clean towel, emphasizing the affected nail but also between the fingers.
- Do not reuse the towel before washing it again.
- Repeat 2 times a day for faster results.
Other remedies with essential oils
- Put two cups of water and three tablespoons of thyme, another proven antifungal, in a saucepan. Traditional recipes call for boiling for five minutes, turn off the heat, cover and let cool. Lastly, soak a cotton ball or swab and place on the nails with onychomycosis.
- Boil a liter of water with 10 broken cinnamon sticks, whose properties are also supported by scientific studies. Lower the heat to a minimum and cook for five minutes. Let it sit for 45 minutes and, while still warm, pour into a container where you can submerge your nails.
Other remedies with ingredients from your kitchen
- Mix baking soda, with proven antifungal properties, in water and form a paste. Pass this preparation through a cotton ball and then spread it all over the nail, trying to get it to enter the skin below the affected nail as well. Leave a few minutes, rinse and dry.
- Extract the juice from an onion and dip a cotton ball. Rub on nail fungus. You can also directly pass the onion cut in half. Both methods come from ancient medicine, but in fact, some studies have shown antifungal properties of onion.
- Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice, five drops of hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons of aloe vera gel, another ingredient with proven effects to treat these skin problems. Place on the affected nail and let it dry on its own. The combination with lemon and hydrogen peroxide, however, does not have scientific support.
- Boil five cloves of garlic (effective against certain types of mushrooms, according to this research ) in a cup of water. Pour into a container with cold water and put your feet in there, letting it rest for 15 minutes. This is a recipe for traditional medicine and has not been scientifically proven.
Final recommendations
Remember to always buy the highest quality products possible and follow the directions to the letter if you are going to use essential oils. These are very concentrated and can cause reactions if we do not use them well. Always consult a health professional before resorting to them.