Table of Contents
- Home remedies to treat nail fungus
- 1. Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
- 2. Rice flour and apple cider vinegar scrub
- 3. Tea tree oil
- 4. Baking soda
- 5. White vinegar
- 6. Oregano oil
- 7. Listerine mouthwash
- 8. Listerine mouthwash and white vinegar
- 9. Garlic oil
- 10. Lemon Juice
- 11. Lemon juice and olive oil
- 12. Lavender oil
- 13. Orange oil
- 14. Orange oil and grape seed oil
- 15. White vinegar, tea tree oil and Vicks Vapor Rub
- 16. Salt and white vinegar
- 17. Alcohol
- 18. Vitamin E oil
- 19. Onion
- 20. Turmeric powder
- 21. Hydrogen Peroxide
- 22. Sea salt
- 23. Sea salt and hydrogen peroxide
- 24. Lemongrass oil
- 25. Coconut oil
- 26. Harisa
- 27. Hot red pepper powder and olive oil
- 28. Hydrogen peroxide and bleach
- 29. Neem Oil
- 30. Yogurt
- 31. Tea tree oil with lavender, cedar oils and thyme
- 32. Chamomile
- 33. Olive leaf extract
- 34. Essential fatty acids
- 35. Vicks Vapor Rub
- 36. Garlic with vinegar
Nail infections are really annoying and painful and it is the last thing we want when we want to rock our new sandals. A nail infection is actually a fungal infection that starts off as a yellow or a white spot under the tip of the nails. As it spreads deeper into the nail it can cause discoloration of the nails and it might become a painful problem. Preventing the fungal infection is a better option rather than taking measures after it.
One of the most common nail infection is onychomycosis. It happens when the fungi invade a nail or the skin underneath it. Usually, it doesn’t cause pain unless is left untreated.
Swelling, inflammation, crumbling as well as yellowing of the nail are some of the symptoms of this infection. This infection can lead to splitting and cracking as well as loss of the nail.The fungus that causes the infection thrives if the immune system has weakened or when there is an abnormality in the skin’s pH levels.
Home remedies to treat nail fungus
1. Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
The ACV has acidic properties that kill fungus and bacteria and helps to prevent the spreading of the nail fungus. Soak the infected nail in equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar for half an hour every day.
2. Rice flour and apple cider vinegar scrub
The mixture of apple cider vinegar and roughly ground rice flour is a perfect exfoliating antifungal scrub. Gently scrub the infected area and repeat to three times a week.
3. Tea tree oil
With anti-fungal properties, the herbal oil is really effective in treating the infection. Just mix a few drops of the oil with coconut or olive oil and apply on the infected nail. Ten minutes later, scrub the nail with a toothbrush and repeat to three times a day.
4. Baking soda
Mix hot water and half a cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide and a half a cup of Epsom salt and then add ¼ cup of white vinegar. Soak the infected nail for ten minutes and then wash it with clean water.
5. White vinegar
Mix 2 parts of warm water with 1 part of white vinegar and soak the nail in this solution for about 15 minutes, and then rinse off.
6. Oregano oil
Just mix one teaspoon of olive oil with a few drops of oregano oil and apply it to the affected area. Wash it off after half an hour.
7. Listerine mouthwash
Soak the affected nail in Listerine for about half an hour and then gently scrub the nail. The alcohol in this mouthwash makes it an antiseptic and keeps the fungus away.
8. Listerine mouthwash and white vinegar
Simply mix equal parts of white vinegar and mouthwash, soak the nail in it for half an hour and scrub it gently. Repeat twice a day.
9. Garlic oil
The ajoene and allicin from the garlic are known to have strong antifungal properties. Just mix olive and garlic oils and apply it to the affected nail and use a bandage to cover it and leave it for a few hours.
10. Lemon Juice
The lemon juice has antifungal properties and the citric acid content will prevent the infection from spreading. Apply some freshly squeezed lemon juice to the infected nail and leave it for 30 minutes before washing it off.
11. Lemon juice and olive oil
Make a solution of lemon juice and olive oil and apply it to the affected nail and gently massage it. Before washing it off, leave it for a couple of hours.
12. Lavender oil
Take five drops of lavender and tea tree oil and using a cotton ball apply it to the infected area. Leave it for about ten minutes and then rinse it and dry the affected area. Repeat to three times a day.
13. Orange oil
Apply few drops on the infected nail and under it and leave it on for 30 minutes. You should repeat this up to three times every day.
14. Orange oil and grape seed oil
Mix equal parts of orange and grape seed oils and apply to the infected area. Wash it off after half an hour and repeat two or three times a day.
15. White vinegar, tea tree oil and Vicks Vapor Rub
First, pour the vinegar on the infected area and then apply some tea tree oil. Seal this mixture in with Vicks Vapor Rub.
16. Salt and white vinegar
Mix the salt and the vinegar together and rub or soak your feet for about 5 minutes. Repeat two times a day.
17. Alcohol
First, take 70% isopropyl alcohol and then fill a 4-ounce dropper with it. Take two drops of the alchocol and apply it on the nail. You should repeat this every morning and evening.
18. Vitamin E oil
Rub the oil with a cotton ball and massage the affected area gently. Repeat this every day for fast results.
19. Onion
Gently rub a slice of onion on the infected nail every day.
20. Turmeric powder
Simply apply turmeric paste to the infected nail and let it dry completely. Then, wash it off and dry your nail.
21. Hydrogen Peroxide
Simply mix water and 3% hydrogen peroxide and let your infected nail soak in it for about twenty minutes. Then wash it off and dry properly.
22. Sea salt
Take a bowl and mix water and sea salt and then soak the infected area in it. Repeat this every day for fast results.
23. Sea salt and hydrogen peroxide
Also, you could use a sea salt water soak with hydrogen peroxide to treat nail fungus. Soak the nail for ten minutes and then apply some salt to it and leave it for three minutes. After that soak the nail again for half an hour.
24. Lemongrass oil
Packed with antifungal properties, lemongrass oil controls the spread of the infection. Use this oil with other carrier oils such as grapeseed or coconut oil to effectively treat the infection on your nail.
25. Coconut oil
Simply apply coconut oil to the infected area and gently massage it daily in order to help in healing the nail.
26. Harisa
Take this red pepper paste and apply it to your infected nail and then cover it with a bandage. Every evening after cleaning the area change the bandage and reapply Harisa.
27. Hot red pepper powder and olive oil
A mixture of hot red pepper powder and olive oil is another effective home remedy for nail fungus.
28. Hydrogen peroxide and bleach
For this remedy, you will need one part of each hydrogen peroxide and bleach and ten parts of water. Soak your infected nail in this mixture about ten minutes every day.
29. Neem Oil
Apply a few drops of neem oil on your infected finger and massage the area gently. Repeat every day and you will see results.
30. Yogurt
Rich in probiotics, the yogurt is an effective remedy for fungal infections. Simply include it in your daily diet in order to help in preventing the spread of the infection.
31. Tea tree oil with lavender, cedar oils and thyme
Massage this mixture on your infected nail every day and you will start noticing results in about 6 weeks.
32. Chamomile
Chamomile is best known for its ability to calm and soothe the mind. And everything else. It can also be used to treat nail fungus. Just take a used chamomile tea bag and apply to the infected nail. Repeat this two or three times every day.
33. Olive leaf extract
The olive leaf extract helps in destroying any fungus, bacteria or virus. Also, it kills the fungus that causes the infection in the nail.
34. Essential fatty acids
Increase your intake of fatty acids in order to help heal the nail from the fungus. Also, when you grow a new nail, it will be a healthy one.
35. Vicks Vapor Rub
Simply apply this almighty remedy on the infected area, cover it with a bandage and leave it overnight.
36. Garlic with vinegar
Crush few garlic cloves, add vinegar and soak the infected nail in the mixture.
Here are some tips and certain precautions to avoid complications when using these home remedies:
- When using oils always do a patch test first
- If the infection is worse after two attempts, try a different home remedy.
- If your skin is sensitive, consult a skin specialist in order to find out if it is safe for you to use a home remedy
- Also, always keep the affected area dry to prevent it from worsening.
- Never try to peel off the affected nail just use clippers to slowly remove the nail when the new one starts to grow.