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Store Bought vs. Natural Remedy for Toe Fungus

Toe fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection in the nail bed of the toe that affects both skin and nail. You know that you have a possible toe fungus when your toenail darkens and becomes brittle and crumbly. You may also experience itching and irritation. Treatments include prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments and natural or home remedies.

  1. Treating Toe Fungus

    • It is essential that you treat your toe fungus. Left alone, it destroys the nail and can easily spread. When treating toe fungus, whether you use prescription medications, over-the-counter preparations or natural remedies, you are trying to get rid of the dermatophytes that live under the nail and cause the fungal infection. There are several ways to get rid of them; you must be the one to determine which is right for you.

    Prescription Medications

    • Prescription drugs like terbinafine (Lamisil) and butefine (Lotrimin) are antifungal drugs that attack dermatophytes by killing them or destroying fungal cell membranes. They are very effective, but they are harsh on your system and many have side effects, some serious. Lamisil, for example, when prescribed as 250mg oral tablets, can cause liver damage, so your doctor will require a liver function test before prescribing it.

    Over-the-Counter Treatments

    • OTC treatments, like Lotrimin 1% topical cream, also work to destroy the dermatophytes. They are safer, because the concentration of medicine is lower, but they are less effective and take longer. Most OTC treatments take six months to a year, and the fungus can come back if the treatment is stopped too soon.

    Natural Preparations

    • Two effective natural preparations are Fungisil, whose main ingredient is undecylenic acid, and ZetaClear, whose ingredients include: antimonium crudum, arsenicum album, nitricum acidum and sulphur. Fungisil also contains tea tree oil, which is noted for its anti-fungal properties. Both of these topical preparations are safe when applied properly to the nail. Fungisil takes about 12 to 15 weeks to eradicate the fungus in mild cases, and 4 to 5 months in severe cases, according to its literature. ZetaClear requires a minimum of 2 months for mild cases and 6 months for severe cases.

    Home Remedies

    • Two effective home remedies for fungal infection are tea tree oil and vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar is fine). Tea tree til, applied topically to the nail, possesses demonstrated anti-fungal properties against 26 strains of dermatophyte species, according to research done at the Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig. Vinegar works by counteracting the pH imbalance in your skin created by the dermatophyte. The acidic properties of vinegar restore your pH balance, making it harder for the fungus to thrive. Soak your toe in a solution of one part vinegar to one part water, at least once a day, for 30 minutes. Also apply 2 drops of vinegar on the base of your toenail twice a day, in between soakings. Adding hydrogen peroxide to the vinegar solution will help kill bacteria as well.

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