Fungal toenails, or onychomycosis, is a painful, irritating, and grotesque issue that should be treated as soon as possible. Although the best way to treat fungus is through prevention, there are still many steps you can take to treat after you have discovered you are victim.
Vinegar Soak
Despite its rather rancid scent, vinegar can prove to be quite useful in a wide variety of situations. The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source.
To take full advantage of this, mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with at least 2 cups of water – this will dilute the vinegar so that it won’t burn your skin. Once you have mixed the water and apple cider vinegar, add two to three tablespoons of baking soda, and soak your entire foot in the solution for 15 minutes, one to two times per day.
Vicks VapoRub
If you don’t want to soak your foot in an acidic bath (despite its effectiveness) and would rather use a medication of some sort, look to Vicks VapoRub. The rub has many antifungal ingredients that, when utilized properly, can be a very effective treatment. To use this treatment, simply take a cotton swab of the rub and apply VERY small amounts of the rub on any affected nails once a day. Within a week, you should begin to see improvements.
Talk to a Professional
If you are looking to properly take care of this condition, the best way is always to seek professional attention. If the fungus doesn’t look “natural” or normal for what typical toenail fungus looks like, be sure to contact us at Foot and Ankle Specialists of Illinois to schedule an appointment.
