In terms of body parts, probably the most neglected and taken for granted body part would be our feet. Most people do not take too much time cleaning and taking care of their feet. However, foot health is also a part of overall health and self-esteem.
And you will realize that when discolored, yellowing and cracked toenails start to affect your capability to wear flip-flops. I’m talking about nail fungus or Onychomycosis— a condition when fungus starts to grow in your toenails which causes them to crack, yellow thicken as well as causing inflammation, swelling and pain.
Although fungal toenail infection is not life-threatening, it can be confidence-threatening so you will still realize the importance of cleaning your feet every now and then. You might get conscious of the unappealing appearance of your toenails or it makes you uncomfortable due to pain. Whatever the case, you are better off evading a fungus infection. And, in case you already have it, there are various nail fix antifungal treatment available today.
There are oral antifungal prescriptions and topical antifungal creams available in the medical market, however, such medications can provide serious side effects such as:
- Heart problems
- Liver damage
- Weight gain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Pain
Hoping to avoid such health consequences, more and more individuals are looking for natural ways in order to treat nail fungus at home. Here are some of them:
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Vicks Vapor Rub
Yes! This magic circle thing can do more than just helping your breathe easier when you have a stuffed nose or a cold. Vicks Vapor Rub can also be used in order to eliminate nail fungus! Vicks Vapor Rub contains a high amount of thymol or thyme oil which is known to have natural antifungal properties.
Spreading Vicks Vapor Rub on the affected area would help in disrupting the cell membranes of the fungus. And although you can have the same result with a thyme oil, Vicks is much easier to find in stores and you might even have somewhere in your medicine cabinet.
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Castor Oil or Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil and castor oil have been used for centuries in treating nail fungus, thanks to their natural antifungal and antiseptic properties. An undiluted tea tree oil can be directly applied to the affected nails in order to help kill the fungus.
But if you want best results, you can dilute it with carrier oils like olive oil or castor oil. Then, gently massage the oil into the nail after 10 minutes using an old toothbrush. You can do this every day for a few weeks after new toenail growth in order to prevent the return of fungus.
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Apple Cider Vinegar
A kitchen staple— apple cider vinegar is more than just a food ingredient. It can also help in curing nail fungus and is an awesome home remedy for foot rot when taken internally or applied topically.
Just mix Epsom salt and apple cider vinegar with hot water and soak your feet in the solution, two times a day for about 30 minutes in order to help kill nail fungus. Similarly, you can mix 8 ounces of water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar— as well as a small amount of honey for sweetness and drink it once a day.
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Oregano Oil
Just like Vicks vapor rub, oregano oil contains thymol— a powerful antibacterial and antifungal property. In order to treat toenail fungus, you can apply oregano oil to the affected toenail, two times a day, with a cotton swab.
You can also use tea tree oil and oregano oil together for better results. However, both oils are potent which can cause an allergic reaction or irritation, so you might want to take it easy in mixing.
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Antifungal Nail Polish
Wearing shoes which shows your fungal toenail can hit your self-esteem brutally. However, you need to understand that open-toed shoes are a great way for fighting fungal infections since they can help keep your feet dry and aerated.
But, you do not want other to see those unappealing toenails!
So what do you do?
Antifungal nail polish.
This nail polish can help in covering the discoloration that is associated with the fungal infection and also fighting the fungus itself. An antifungal nail polish allows you to continue wearing your favorite flip flops with no worries!
