The toenail fungus can be defined as a common problem in which, a fungus or bacteria get attracted to dark and damp environments and locate right under and around the toenails. There, the microorganism thrives under protection of the nail itself. Fungus feels best in warm environment provided by your socks and shoes. It gets enough sweat or moisture to live and spread and finally, makes the nail discolored, one of the features of fungal infection of the toenail.
The condition is medically known as onychomycosis that is generally featured by little pain (initial stage), itching and discoloration of the nail. The discoloration can be brown, yellow, dark purple or white. There will be swelling of the toe and thickening and crumbling of the nail. There are streaks of spots on the nail and in worse cases the entire nail is destructed.
To get rid of toenail fungal infection, one should take precaution that the fungus should not progress further. The first thing to be done is keeping the hygiene. The socks are to be washed with disinfectant solution and one should put disinfectant powder in the socks and shoes. Such powder absorbs the sweat and other moisture from the fungus infected nails and cuticles keeping them dry and healthy.
One can apply some essential oils such as lavender, tea tree or olive essential oils alone or in the combination onto the affected areas. These essential oils are having healing property for the skin and hence, can be effective in treating the toenail fungal infections. Some of the people suggest using vinegar; whether white or apple cider to cure fingernail or toenail fungal infection in a safe way.
Some of the naturopaths suggest using simple vapor rubs as simplest way to cure fingernail infection. However, there are no researches, studies or clinical trials, but vapor rubs are considered to be effective treating toenail infections especially the fungal infections. Soaking affected food into the lukewarm water containing fresh raw garlic bulbs can also help curing the situation up to major extent. Garlic is disinfectant, anti-fungal and antibacterial agent that can cleanse that local area in very effective way. One should keep in mind that after any application or soaking, the toenail are to be thoroughly dried because if it remains wet or moist, there are fair chances for fungus to grow again.
Another great way to cure toenail fungal infection is applying diluted Listerine and clove's oil that has capability to eliminate any infection especially fungal. One can apply mixture of those oils through eyedropper. However, if the nail has almost destroyed due to the fungus that has now deeply seated into the nail tissues and is not responding to any of the natural or home remedies, local incision remains the only treatment. This is the surgical procedure in which, the affected nail is removed and then the affected area is covered with bandage for some days; patient being on antibiotic courses should change the dressings on the regular basis.
