Fungal infections of the nails (known as onychomycosis) affect 14% of the general population.
Yay… and our toes have their own… honors! Sandals, toys in the sand, close-up photos with the sea splashing in the background. Unless you’re one of those people who shy away from open shoes or bare feet because of the way their nails look…
Fungal infections of the nails (known as onychomycosis) affect 14% of the general population. In advanced cases, nails may become brittle, discolored, cracked, or even separated from healthy skin.
Although these fungal infections are difficult to completely cure, with the right treatment you can limit the problem and significantly improve the appearance of your nails.
How do we get toenail fungus?
Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital dermatologist Dr. Abigail Waldman says, “Feet sweat and moisture more, which creates a favorable environment for the growth of fungi.”
She says people can be exposed to a variety of fungi known as dermatophytes by walking barefoot or getting pedicures in locker rooms, spas or near swimming pools. Fungal overgrowth can infect the area between the toes or the soles of the feet, causing a sore called “athlete’s foot” (pedicum). After that, the fungus can spread to the nails.
Why is nail fungus difficult to treat?
While antifungal creams can easily treat skin infections, toenails are another story.
“Nail tissue is harder and thicker, so these drugs don’t penetrate very well,” explains Dr. Waldman. This also applies to antifungal drugs in the form of pills. Toenails grow slowly and the tissue is not very metabolically active. Thus, although the drug enters the blood, a small amount ends up in the nails. That is why it is difficult to get rid of nail fungus.
What is considered treatment?
Studies show that clinical cure rates range from 60% to 80%, but this simply means that there are no symptoms—that is, the toenails return to normal. A fungal infection may be there, but it’s hiding under the nails, Waldman says. Therefore, relapses are quite common.
However, there are treatment approaches that can improve the symptoms and appearance of your nails.
Home remedies
A foot bath (wetting the toes to soften the nail before applying the antifungal) will help the medicine penetrate the nail. For a foot bath, Waldman recommends a 1:3 mix of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and warm water. Soak your toes for at least 10 minutes (up to 40 minutes is best). Instead of vinegar, you can use Listerine, which is thymol, the main ingredient in thyme. Like vinegar, thymol also has antifungal properties.
Then dry your feet thoroughly and apply an antifungal agent to all affected nails.
One option is melted garlic paste.
Tea tree oil is ideal, but another popular choice is Vicks VapoRub (which also contains thymol and other essential oils that can fight fungus), Waldman says. Or you can use one of the creams sold for treatment “athlete’s foot» in your toenails.
Be sure to apply the product immediately after the foot bath.
Clinical cure rates for each of these approaches vary and depend on the severity and duration of infection. About 60 percent of people feel improvement after a few months of treatment, Waldman says.
Drugstores also have many nail treatments, including a patch that you apply to your nails overnight. It contains urea, an acidic substance that improves the appearance of nails, makes them less brittle and reduces discoloration. Another product that promises similar results uses a small LED light that you attach to the nail after applying a nail softener containing polyethylene glycol.
During and after treatment, Waldman recommends using two nail clippers—one for problem nails and one for non-problem nails—to prevent the fungus from spreading. If you are embarrassed about the appearance of your nails, you can use nail polish for a short time.
Buying new shoes after you finish treatment will help prevent reinfection.
“I always recommend that people take a diluted vinegar foot bath once or twice a week after treatment, which helps prevent any re-infection of the nails,” she says.