How You Can Cure Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus also known as onychomycosis is a condition that disfigures and can even kill your toenail. First off, in order to be able to treat and cure your toenail fungus you have to know what it is and how you got infected.

Toe nail fungus is caused one of many types of fungus that grow in moist warm environments such as your shoes. These fungi usually belong to a group of fungi called dermatophytes. As they grow they attack and eat the protein that makes up the hard surface of your toenails. It is rare that children get toenail fungus but you are more likely to get it as you grow older. An estimated 48% of people in the United States alone have had at least one toe affected by the time they are 70 years old.

What causes toenail fungus? As mentioned above, warm moist environments are the main cause of this fungus. More specifically, wearing tight fitting shoes and layers of nail polish increases your risk to developing toenail fungus. Not only that, but toenail fungus be contagious. This can happen in public areas such as locker rooms and showers. Since most people walk barefoot in these areas, the fungus can be spread to others as well. Other causes are due to health conditions such as diabetes, which affects your circulation. In most cases attacks the big toenail and the little toenail.

Once your toenail becomes infected your nail will become discolored and turn yellowish or brown. Also, the nail will most likely become very thick and overgrown. The worst part is that you may experience bad smelling remains under the nail. Eventually your toenail may crumble and even completely fall off; if not that your toenail can become so thick that it will be very painful for you to wear shoes.

Whether you have chronic toenail fungus or you are just starting to notice it on you feet, know that seeking treatment is never too late. However, be warned that simply removing the infected nail will not cure toenail fungus; it will just grow back and become re-infected. However if you do have chronic toenail fungus it is recommended to see your doctor if you haven't done so yet, especially if you have a health condition such as diabetes.

In the mean time, to alleviate your symptoms you can trim down the infected nail carefully. Also there are many great home remedies which have helped others that have gone through the same experience. Remedies such as Listerine, Vick's vapor rub and vinegar just to name a few. You can check these out at a great site called Nail Fungus Remedies at nailfungusremedies.net However it is always recommended that before trying any home remedy you always consult with your doctor.

If toenail fungus hasn't attacked your toenails yet here are some great tips to help you prevent toenail fungus.

- Wearing comfortable well fitting shoes every day.

- Change sock or hosiery every day.

- Wear flip flops in public areas such as locker rooms.

- Wash your feet daily and always apply foot powder to keep them dry during the day.

- Always check on your toenails, keep them trimmed and clean.

- Avoid wearing nail polish.

Victor is an expert writer for Toenail Fungus Remedies A site concentrating on bringing you nail fungus tips and solutions.

Vicks for Toenail Fungus: A Sure Way to Avoid Cold Feet!

Using Vicks for toenail fungus may be a sure fire way to avoid a case of "cold" feet but could this strange sounding home remedy really be effective at treating the stubborn bacteria that causes nail fungus?

Although it may sound strange to use a product that is intended to bring about relief from the common cold, including symptoms such as cough, congestion, and muscle aches and pains, there are numerous anecdotal accounts of people using Vicks VapoRub for treating onychomycosis, or nail fungus.

Using Vicks VapoRub for Toenail Fungus

The topical analgesic Vicks VapoRub features a combination of the ingredients camphor, menthol, thymol, the essential oil of eucalyptus, and petrolatum. The combining effect of its active and inactive ingredients is what is largely believed to have a healing effect on toenail fungus.

According to home remedies, to use Vicks VapoRub for toenail fungus the affected nails are to be generously coated with the product once or twice a day for anywhere from six to 16 months on average. Some recommend soaking the feet prior to using Vicks for toenail fungus in order to soften the nails and skin first.

The nails should be gently filed and the feet and toenails should be clean and dry before applying Vicks. Thinning the nails by filing is said to make it easier for the treatment to penetrate the infected and thickened toenails.

When applying Vicks, home remedies usually advise completely covering the nail, the cuticle area, and the underside of the nail as well as the bottoms of the feet if they are also infected with fungus. Wearing socks overnight is also recommended when using a fungus Vicks treatment.

The Popularity Behind Toenail Fungus Vicks Treatments

The Internet has become one of the very first places people look to when searching for answers to their health problems. Home remedies using a variety of ordinary products in different or unusual ways have become incredibly popular topics of discussion online. This is not only due to the initial convenience of resorting to home remedies or "all natural cures" but also because many are worried about the serious side effects that come along with some prescription medications, including those intended to treat toenail fungus.

Reports of toe fungus Vicks treatments are prevalent online as some swear by its effectiveness at treating toenail fungus. However, proponents of the treatment admit there is no scientific evidence proving that the topical treatment is effective when used in this manner but many still continue trying the remedy in hopes for success.

The Case Against Toe Fungus Vicks Treatments

The very first thing to keep in mind when it comes to using Vicks for toenail fungus is that Procter & Gamble, the manufacturer behind Vicks VapoRub, states that their product has not been approved for the treatment of nail fungus by the company itself or by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and do not recommend using it as such.

None of the ingredients in Vicks have been confirmed as a being an effective antifungal agent although they have been known to cause permanent damage to the nails and nail beds. Therefore, Vicks is not able to actually treat the root of the problem and may very likely cause irreversible damage in the process.

Although toenail fungus is not a life threatening or serious health condition, it can cause pain and discomfort and be rather difficult to treat, not to mention causing unsightly, discolored nails. While many prefer to avoid prescription drugs, instead of resorting to questionable home remedies, using over-the-counter products for nail fungus is another method of treatment to consider. Some OTC products can be quite effective when used in therapeutic dosages bringing about visible results but without serious side effects.

If you have been affected by toenail fungus your absolute best course of action is to explore all of your treatment options thoroughly before proceeding. Although Vicks for toenail fungus may be a popular home remedy at the moment, treating the root of the problem is always imperative when it comes to toenail fungus in order to save both time and money and also for experiencing real results.

To seriously address your nail fungus problem, read the "Nail Fungus Report". This 32 page pdf report has incredible value for nail fungus sufferers and can be downloaded for FREE at http://www.toenailfungustreatmentreview.com/nailfungusreport.html

Heather Stewart is the founder of Toenail Fungus Treatment Review, an independent organization devoted to empower consumers with the most accurate information on toenail fungus remedy options and alternative treatments. Read her review to weigh the pros and cons of each treatment and find the most suitable cure for you.

Toenail Fungus Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Options

Toenail fungus causes are no laughing matter and nothing to be taken lightly! The fact is that about 12% of the population in developed countries is afflicted with some degree of toenail fungal infection, and 25% of all adults over the age of 40 will be infected with nail fungus at some point. It gets worse with age, with people over 60 having a 50% chance of getting a fungal infection on their toenails. So what causes the toenail fungus that affects so many people? And how can toenail fungus causes be prevented and eradicated?

A fungal toenail infection might begin merely as a white or yellow spot beneath one of your nails. This means that the fungus has begun to grow and colonize. In time, the fungal infection on your nails develops, and the appearance of your feet will become unsightly, with scaly skin and hideous-looking yellow nails that are cracked and brittle. While regarded as an embarrassing aesthetic problem that can harm one's self-confidence, it is also possible for the infection to compromise the sufferer's immune system, making him or her more susceptible to disease or less capable of recovering from an illness.

Toenail Fungus Causes

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and if you understand beforehand the cause of toenail fungus then you can take measures to prevent yourself from becoming infected. The basic cause of nail fungus is the over-exposure of your feet to a wet or humid environment. Wearing sweaty socks a lot is a prime cause of toenail fungus, for instance. However, it is also possible to become infected by someone else. You would be most susceptible to this happening if you were to go swimming in a pool that is open to other people, get a shower in a publicly available place such as the YMCA, or use a public sauna. It would also be possible for you to get a toenail fungus infection from someone else whom you live with and share the bathroom with, but presumably you would already know that they are infected, whereas you may have no idea about someone who is in a public setting.

While this exposure to sweat and humidity is the basic cause of the fungal infection, and while you can get infected by others, keep in mind, too, that some other factors do increase your risk of getting a toenail fungus. Being an athlete is one of those risk factors, for your feet are sweating constantly, and if you get athlete's foot your odds of contracting a toenail fungus go up significantly. If you already have the fungus on one toe, having it spread to your other nails becomes much, much more likely. And, as alluded to above, once you are a senior citizen your risk factors for this ugly fungal infection go up significantly.

How to Protect Yourself against the Causes of Toenail Fungus

With the above toenail fungus causes in mind, we can look at some preventive measures to take so that you lower your risk of being a victim of this hideous infection.

Wear rubber sandals whenever you use public facilities such as locker rooms, gymnasiums, or showers. Wear these sandals on your feet when you are out of the water at a public pool, too. After every time you immerse your feet in water such as when you get a shower or go swimming, or get them wet from things like outdoor rain puddles, dry them off very thoroughly. Never go around in wet socks. Keep your toenails well groomed and short so that the fungal environment is little present. A reputable pedicure salon can help you with this. If you are physically active a lot, use preventive fungal sprays on your socks and shoes, and change socks frequently. Do not pick your toenail skin or hangnails, for this could break the skin and let in fungal elements. Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet. Loss of physical health is a major reason why senior citizens are more susceptible to toenail infections than younger people are.

If you see any signs of a toenail fungal infection starting, go to your doctor immediately. Once you are already infected and the fungus starts growing and spreading, the process of treating your toenail fungal infection is long and arduous, taking months and perhaps years to complete. To make matters even more complicated, there is no certainty about any of the treatment methods. The home-based remedies, such as applying Lavender oil, are proven to have very, very little chance of success. Commercially available topical medications may work, but they may not. The same uncertainty goes for laser treatment. And finally, the pharmaceuticals that many infected people must ultimately turn to come with the usual assortment of unwanted side effects.

Knowing toenail fungus causes and then doing all that you can to protect yourself against exposure to the cause of toenail fungus infections is really the best thing you can do about it. If you have already been affected, then you should consider very carefully which treatments have the best odds of success for you.

Heather Stewart is the founder of Toenail Fungus Treatment Review, an independent organization devoted to empower consumers with the most accurate information on toenail fungus treatment options. To weigh the pros and cons of each treatment and find the most suitable cure for you, read her review at
http://www.toenailfungustreatmentreview.com

Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus

If you are trying to cure your toenail fungus which is giving you embarrassment, home remedies fungus are made available for you. So, do not worry because your toenail can recover from fungus. The normalnail will grow after doing some of the home remedies for nail infection. There are many treatments. Because many people are experiencing this problem, there are researches about curing this. Many people discovered the use of some home remedies.

Home remedies for toenail fungus treatment are used by many people because of the four things: it is safe, affordable, practical and effective.

What are the home remedies that can cure toenail fungus? You can choose from vinegar to Vicks and antiseptic mouthwash. Essential oils like oregano oil, tea tree oil, olive and lavender oil as well can help you.

How to cure toenail fungus using home remedies?

Let's start with vinegar. If you would prefer this option for curing your toenail fungus, what you need to do is to soak your feet in the vinegar for 20 minutes daily. Keep doing this simple procedure until you will see good results.

If you would prefer essential oils as a cure for toenail fungus, you can choose from all those given above. For Oregano essential oil, you can get this from extracting the oil from oregano leaves. You would need at least a teaspoon of oregano oil. Apply the oil on the infected toenail by using cotton ball. You can repeat the procedure two to three times a day. The result would not immediately be seen. It would take a longer time.

Using oregano oil can be harmful. It is not used for cooking. You have to be extra careful when using this for curing your toenail. Do not apply too much because it can harm your skin. If you are pregnant, ask first your doctor if you can use oregano oil.

After applying oregano oil, you can use Vicks vaporub. It can also heal the infection. What's good about this is it provides comfort to the infected toenail when applied. It has anti bacterial property. This is usually used for skin infections and this is the reason why it can also help in curing toenail fungus infection.

Another essential oil is the tea tree oil. It has natural antiseptic property that helps in fighting the fungus and the bacteria associated with it. Tea tree oil will be mixed with a few drops of olive oil. After this, you can now apply the oil on the affected toenail. You should keep doing this until the toenail fungus will disappear.

Rubbing alcohol is another possible treatment for toenail fungus. What you need to do is to soak your feet with toenail infections for about 20 minutes daily. You can do this twice a day and keep doing this until you will see a better result.

If you have antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine, you can also try this. You can try this by soaking your toenails onto this. You can do this at least twice a day.

If you feel sluggish to try home remedies for toenail fungus cure, you have other sources with useful information on Listerine for toenail fungus AND Laser for toenail fungus for nail infection.

Listerine Therapy For Toenail Fungus

Podiatry problems solution is a daunting task. Yet most of the people search for some easy solutions to such podiatry problems. If you are one of them, trying Listerine therapy for toenail fungus could be the exact solution you are looking for. However like any other treatments for the toenail fungus, it is necessary to find out the exact reasons of the fungus infection first of all.

Understanding the basics of toenail fungus

Toenail fungus grows beneath the toenail of the patient. It could either be caused by damages to the nail that makes it very easy for the fungus to get underneath the infected toe. Such fungus growth could also result due to moisture retention with wet socks. Best growth of fungus takes place in dark and damp conditions. That is why the socks and shoes are ideal environment for fungus growth. Ordinarily the toenail fungus is neither painful nor difficult bearing. However it makes your toenail discolored and distorted.

Toenail fungus - Normal treatment

People will often tell you that removal or curing toenail fungus requires drastic action. Drastic neither mean you pain your toenail nor do something out of the way. It only means that you should remove the entire fungus so that there is no recurrence of the fungus infection. One of the recommended treatments is to remove the infected nail. On the other hand if you do not like the option, some anti-fungal medications could be applied on the affected area. Bad news for you is that while these medications are available on one side over the counter and on the other hand are quite expensive, they may not solve your problem of toenail fungus infections. Your doctor will also rarely prescribe any oral medicines as experience shows that such medicines do not work well for the toenail fungus and create serious after affects as well.

Plausible cure for toenail fungus - Listerine Cure

Listerine cure is one of the most powerful mouthwash and at the same time very good antiseptic component. Inclusion of menthol has made it real anesthetic in nature. Moreover the presence of thymol, a strong antiseptic content helps enhance its anti fungal performance. Thymol has proved very effective as anti fungal when applied on the fingernails and the toenails. Thus Listerine containing thymol also becomes very useful for removal and curing of the toenail fungus.

Effects of Listerine on toenail fungus

When you start using Listerine for treatment of toenail fungus, different people will come up with divergent advices. However, most of them will suggest that you soak your toenail in 100% Listerine. There are also others who will suggest that the toenail be soaked in mixture of equal proportions of Listerine and Vinegar. In either case you require soaking the toenail for thirty minutes in the solution. After using the solution the toe should be dried perfectly. Putting the toe back into dark area all over again in wet condition may result in further fungus infection.

The only thing to take care is to be patient. Toenail fungus infection curing requires time and you cannot expect overnight results. Also prevention may be better than cure. Clipping nails regularly and cleaning shoes and socks could be well for you.

Now you would possibly like to know which cure is most safe and a lot efficient, which is a good question. You can locate this advice on the link below this text.

Discover the Best Treatment for Toenail Fungus Today & Kill the Fungus in 2 Weeks.

Visit http://www.ClearNailSolution.com Now!

Dr. Eswararamanan VR is the author of this article. This article can be used on your website with all the links intact.

Toenail Fungus Cures - Natural and Medicated Remedies to Treat Toenail Infection

Toenail fungus is a common nail disease that is prevalent today. The fungus 'Dermatophytes' primarily contaminates the base of the toenail or the small cavity beside the nail. It further spreads by feeding on keratin in nails. The affected toenail thereby becomes brittle, crumbling, discolored and tends to emit a foul smell. In addition, the growth of the fungus further builds up the keratin debris which makes the nail to peel and fall out from the nail bed. It is regarded that if ideal toenail fungus cures are not applied to prevent the disease it could result in adverse fungal infections on other parts of the body.

Causes: Poor hygiene practice is a major factor that increases the spread of the fungus. The fungus usually appears in the moist and warm areas of the feet. Besides individuals who frequent gyms, swimming pools, saunas, manicure or pedicure nail salons are at high risk of developing the infection. Further, the extensive use of tight footwear that is not breathable also crumbles or blackens the toenails. As a result, immediate treatment is required to avoid developing further painful affects on the toenail. There are both natural and medicated toenail fungus cures to treat the infection.

Natural Remedies: Herbs, vinegar and essential oils like tree tea oil or lavender with anti fungal properties are considered the best natural nail fungus cures that help to remove the infection on a permanent basis. The use of the pure herb extracts or oils of tree tea or lavender produce effective healing results than over the counter fungicides. While apple cider vinegar is the most natural and affordable toenail fungus cure. This acidic solution is perfect to inhibit the growth of the fungus. On the other hand, probiotic products also make perfect anti-fungal remedies to heal the infection. The nonpathogenic bacteria present in products like yogurt aid to prevent the activities of the fungi.

Medicated treatment: There are oral and topical toenail fungus cures that are employed to treat toenail infections. The most popular oral toenail fungus treatment or pill is Lamasil. The oral anti-fungus medications are employed when the infection become severe and unresponsive to other treatments. Since, these treatments hold several side effects, it is thereby recommended to seek doctor's advice to get a thorough idea on the treatment. It is also necessary for individuals with other serious illness to provide full information on the undergoing treatments or medications.

Similarly, topical toenail fungus cures or topical creams are applied directly on the affected areas. These creams however provide only temporary symptom relief. Now laser treatments are being used for nail fungus treatments. Although in the nascent stage, this treatment employs laser beams to kill the fungus without causing any harm to the skin. The studies have proved that laser toenail fungus cures have no toxic reactions or other health and age limits.

Prevention: To prevent the fungi infection it would be best to regularly wear dry and breathable shoes, clean socks, avoid use of acrylic nails or share towels, shoes and other personal items with those who have toenail infections, maintain clean and trimmed nails, sterilize nail clippers etc. It can thus be regarded that natural toenail fungus cures are the safe and effective treatments to cure toenail infections.

Read more... toenail fungus cures

Toenail Fungus Home Remedies and Prevention

Fungal Infections are common in both toenails and fingernails but are found more often on the toes. These infections are harmful because as they grow they begin to feed on the keratin that makes up the surface of the toenails. In toenail fungus infections, the toenails that are most often likely to be effected are the big and little toe. These two toes are the most susceptible. Toenail fungal infections cause disfiguration and discoloration of the nails. In some cases toenail fungus can be hereditary. There are natural cures for toenail fungus.

Most often, sufferers run to home remedies for toenail fungus, for both treatment and cure. Home remedies for toenail fungus eliminates the fungus creating the infection and does not damage the actual toenail unlike prescribed medications. Bleach and Peroxide appear to be the tried and true method of home remedies that helps to quickly kill the fungus, stop it from spreading and in turn treating and/or curing the infection.

Other at home remedies to treat toenail fungus:

Tea Tree oil. This potent natural antiseptic will help eliminate and kill the fungus. Dilute the tea tree oil with olive oil and apply to the affected toe nail. Be sure to leave equal parts of your mixture on the nail for 10-15 minutes before bathing or rubbing off to be sure the solution has absorbed into the nail. Continue the use of this natural home remedy for toenail fungus for several weeks after the fungus has cleared to keep it away.

Listerine Mouthwash. This very powerful antiseptic contains several compounds like eucalyptol and salicylate thymol, which creates a strong at home remedy for toenail fungus. This remedy requires you to mix equal parts of mouthwash and a strong natural acid ( which helps neutralize and break down the fungus ) like apple cider vinegar or undiluted lemon juice. Due this once a day for a course of 1 week where you will then see noticeable differences. When the fungus is gone continue on for a couple weeks to ensure all strands are gone. If you are susceptible to fungus infections, use this remedy once a week for maintenance.

Vicks Vapor Rub. For mild to moderate toenail fungus, some, swear by this all natural remedy to curing their toenail fungus. Using a Q-Tip, apply the vapor rub, rubbing it into the toenail, cover with a band-aid or other form of gauze. Leave on overnight. Remove bandaging in the morning and wash the toenail. Some have seen drastic improvement in as little as one day.

Decolorized Iodine - Otherwise known as clear iodine or non staining iodine. Apply liberally, massaging into the toenail, up to two times a day for several weeks even after the fungus has remedied itself to be sure all fungus and pathogens are gone. This is great for maintenance as well if you are prone to fungal infections.

Toenail fungus, as ugly and unattractive as it may be, is curable. As your fungus starts to clear you may see flaking of the toenail. In many cases the left over fungus that has grown on top of the nail can be fluffed off with a nail file or nail buffer. Always disinfect these products with bleach or alcohol after each use to avoid reinfection of your nails with fungus. Begin NOW to prevent toenail fungus in the future. Allow your feet and nails to breath especially when it comes to toe nail polish. Never reuse the same socks, always wear clean socks. At signs of moisture on socks, remove. Keep toenails clean, cut short and filed. Spray fungicides in shoes and use foot powders to prevent moisture.

As with any new or at home remedy or regiment, always discuss with your Doctor prior. Be sure to discuss any allergies or medications you are taking, especially blood thinners. This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure, only a licensed physician can do so.

Charles Mallard invites you to visit our website for home remedies and natural cures as we constantly update the site with new articles and reviews on new products and solutions for common ailments. Visit our website for more on toenail fungus and home remedies. You can submit your questions and add your comments to share your experiences with home remedies that have worked for you. Hope to hear from you soon. TheHomeRemediesReview.com.