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Home Remedy of Citric Acid & Baking Soda to Kill Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is caused by fungus called dermatophytes. The fungus gets beneath the nail where fungi feed on the nail's keratin. The infection will cause discoloration of the nail causing a yellow tint. Severe cases of toenail fungus cause nail disfigurement. Home remedies can be used to treat the toenail fungus, which will cause the infected toenail to fall off and a healthy one to grow in its place.

  1. Lemon juice

    • Lemon juice is a natural antiseptic with antifungal properties. The citric acid in lemon juice creates a condition where fungus cannot flourish. You can apply lemon juice directly to your toe, or soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and tape it to your toe using medical tape. Allow the juice to sit on the toe for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.

      Lemon juice is not recommended as a foot soak, as it can irritate skin. The lemon juice treatment can be repeated daily, and it should take a week for the toenail to fall off.

    Vinegar

    • Vinegar is contains mild citric acid and works well to kill toenail fungus. Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and warm water in a tub large enough for your foot. This foot soak should be done for 15 to 20 minutes, and can be repeated daily.

      After soaking your foot in vinegar, dry the skin off with a clean towel and make sure your toe is completely dry. The fungus prefers to grow in moist areas, so keeping the area dry helps prevent this. You can use a hair dryer to absorb all the moisture around the toenail.

    Baking soda

    • Baking soda is an effective home remedy that can help kill toenail fungus. Make a paste with lukewarm water and baking soda, and rub it on the affected toenail. Allow baking soda to penetrate for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with clean water.

      Use a clean washcloth to dry your toe, making sure the entire toe including the toenail is completely dry. The baking soda remedy can be repeated daily; it will take about a week for the affected toenail to fall off.

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