You wouldn’t want to put on your favorite pair of open shoes when your feet nails are all infested with foot fungal nail infection. In fact, even if one nail is affected, there is still a high likelihood that you can pass it to other toes too. Onychomycosis involves whitish, yellowish, or brownish discolorations that dry, breaks, and eat up your toenail.
So, what causes foot fungal nail infection? Well, there will be a high likelihood that your toes are under psoriasis, yeast, or bacterial infection for you to taste positive for foot fungal nail infection. Treating foot fungal nail infection can be very challenging, especially if doctors aren’t able to establish the kind of fungus on your nails. Moreover, the fungus may also regrow onto your nails again, even after successful treatment, although not so common. So, what are the remedies you can have in place if you are suffering from foot fungal nail infection? Here are some solutions:
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Medication
The best thing to do first when you realize that you are suffering from foot fungal nail infection is to visit a doctor for the right diagnosis and possible treatment options. It is essential because the fungus may be severe, and you still treat your nails causally with home-based products. However, note that this isn’t discrediting home-based remedies because they are also effective, but it would help if a professional’s hands are involved right from the beginning. Remember, if you don’t treat foot fungal nail infection properly, it will likely multiply and spread to other parts of the body beyond the feet. The feet nails may also be permanently damaged. The long term effect is that you’ll likely develop a weak immune system or diabetes.
Medication options include the following:
I. Oral antifungal drugs
Oral antifungal drugs may come in the form of syrup for children and pills for adults. This option may take up to six months to start registering treatment effects. It works by helping new nail growth free of any bacteria or fungus. However, you must know that these drugs may cause side effects such as liver damage and skin rash.
II. Medicated nail cream
Medicated nail cream may take up to a year to treat a single fungus infestation. You must also note that such creams may only work at best if you have thin nails.
III. Medicated nail polish
Medicated nail polish works like any other typical nail polish. They don’t need any special instructions but wiping the polish after seven days with alcohol and repainting. For best results, medication nail polish needs to be used alongside oral antifungal drugs so that funguses are fought from both within and without the body.
- Home remedies
If you visit a doctor and the medication doesn’t work or proves to take ages, then you can resort to basic home remedies that have proven reliable in most cases. However, you should only resort to such options if your doctor certifies that the medical options aren’t working in your isolated incident. Home remedies are not that expensive, but when done well can help you regain healthy feet nails and lead a normal lifestyle like before. Here are examples of home remedies that will greatly help:
i. Diet change
You’ll agree that almost all health situations we find ourselves in have something to relate with diets, and foot fungal nail infection is not an exception. For instance, when you eat healthy food at all times, it reduces the odds of any fungal attack, let alone providing a favorable breeding environment for the same. You’ll need to eat food rich in proteins to support new nail growth, probiotic-rich yogurt, and irons to prevent nail brittleness. Vitamins should also help in boosting the immune system to put a spirited fight against fungus.
ii. Garlic
That garlic that you love in your goat meat can help you to get rid of feet fungal nail infection. Remember, garlic has both antifungal and antimicrobial capabilities, which are just what you need to drive fungus away. Moreover, you only need to chop small pieces and place them on affected areas for at least thirty minutes every day until you start experiencing some improvements. If your infection is not that severe, then garlic should do it for you.
iii. Vinegar
You don’t just use any vinegar, but specifically apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has antifungal properties that are specifically lethal to foot fungal nail infection. Unlike garlic, you’ll need to use this at least twice a day for better results. Mix the vinegar in lukewarm water and have your feet soaked for at least twenty minutes every session, twice a day. It may, however, take long before the nails are fully treated.
iv. Ozonized oils
Oils from olive and sunflowers have high oxygen concentration that kills bacteria and fungus to promote rapid growth of new nails. These oils work by deactivating microorganisms such as bacteria and fungus, which cuts them short of life. Best results are achieved when you apply the oil on affected areas for at least twice a day.