Fungal nail infection is a long-lasting and embarrassing battle. The feet are the least taken care of when it comes to body parts yet do most of the job on point. They carry us all day, going back and forth even when you’re wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Our feet end up having odor, pain, blisters, and fungus. Good thing there are pretty straightforward solutions to these woes that are found in our kitchen cupboards. Vinegar soak is a popular home remedy for toenail fungus. But does this solution effectively treat fungus-like an athlete’s foot? How does it work?
Is It Effective To Use Vinegar Soak For Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus infection or onychomycosis affects billions of people around the world. It’s self-diagnosed and develops on the skin or nail around the toes. It comes from various origins, including fungi, yeast, and mold, which come in contact with the body. Later on, this grows into cracks.
Several people are infected with athlete’s foot in locker rooms or swimming pools when the feet remain sweaty, damp, or moist. This paves the way for the fungus to grow on the affected area or toenails. Assessing the efficacy of vinegar soak compared to other top toenail fungus treatments is vital. Checking treatment, cause, and symptoms are vital to helping you decide whether home remedies work well or you’ll need to check available medical treatments.
You will find lots of anecdotal evidence that suggests and proves the efficacy of vinegar soak when dealing with onychomycosis. This home remedy can help get rid of infections, especially with toenail fungus, under repeated use. While there is no solid clinical evidence of its efficacy, many users have testified of how it cures mild cases concerning fungal infections.
It’s a low-risk home remedy and won’t cause anyone any harm, so trying it out won’t hurt.
Doctors won’t recommend home remedies and will often give you prescription medicines or topical nail paint treatment.
Vinegar soak works due to its acidic properties that provide antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Acetic acid is used to dilute vinegar, making it safe for consumption.
The process makes the vinegar great antifungal property that slows down various fungus growth.
It makes the body inhabitable to fungus due to the acidity level of the skin.
How To Make Vinegar Soak
Making your vinegar soak at home is easy. If you have a toenail fungus infection, here’s how you can prepare it:
Step 1. Prepare your chosen vinegar, either white or apple cider. Ensure that it’s pH 2 to 3.
Step 2. Fill the bowl or sink with warm water (2 parts) and vinegar (1-part).
Step 3. Soak your foot for about 15 to 30 minutes on the mixture every day. Don’t exceed soaking your feet for over 30 minutes.
Step 4. Thoroughly dry your feet after soaking.
Step 5. Every day, repeat the process described until the infection disappears.
For sensitive skin, vinegar may cause irritations. You can modify and decrease the time you soak your feet into the solutions. You can add essential oils if the vinegar smell is too strong.
What’s The Best Treatment For Toenail Fungus?
Finding the most effective remedy for toenail fungus infection is essential. If a home remedy is not your thing, you may opt to check with your doctor and ask for medication concerning the issue.
However, oral antifungal medications are the best treatment for toenail fungal infection. These medications clear the infected area quickly compared to other topical drugs. This oral antifungal medicine helps grow a new nail that is free from infection as it slowly replaces the infected nail or area.
Home Remedies That Cure Toenail Fungus
Aside from vinegar soak, there are other home remedies you can try with toenail fungal infection like:
Baking soda
Black Tea
Hydrogen peroxide
Garlic
Olive leaf extracts
Essential oils
Epsom salt
Cornmeal
Ozonated oils
Snakeroot extract
Zinc
Exercise
Change of diet
Tea tree oil
Vicks VapoRub
Listerine soaks
Experiencing persistent infection is not normal and requires medical aid. Checking for a specialist will help you deal with stubborn fungal infections. A podiatrist or dermatologist may assess the symptoms, do laboratory tests, and analyze the cause of infection.
Since there are different types of yeasts and fungi that cause toenail fungus, it’s essential to determine the cause early and treat the condition accordingly. Changes on your nail can be a sign of underlying issues like diabetes and psoriasis. Always check with a professional if the condition worsens or persists.
Conclusion
Vinegar soak works on mild cases of infections but if you’re in doubt about your current situation, always seek medical advice before the condition gets worse. The significant advantage of vinegar soak is its convenience, affordability, and easy home remedy. Prescription treatments are created to fight fungal infections more effectively.
