Toenail Fungus

While fungal spores can be found everywhere, they normally won’t cause an infection in most healthy individuals. If your nails and skin are healthy, getting a fungal infection will be very unlikely. However, you may face an elevated risk of developing toenail fungus if you:

 • Have chronically brittle or dry toenails with cracks that allow fungi to penetrate

 • Have reduced blood flow to the feet

 • Are prone to getting Athlete’s foot

 • Walk barefoot in moist communal areas such as locker rooms and swimming pools

 • Are suffering from a minor skin or nail injury 

 • Have diabetes, a compromised immune system, or blood circulation issues 

 • Have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has Athlete’s Foot or ringworm (by hand or directly with the infected area) or get exposed to an infected surface

You can effectively prevent toenail fungus by doing the following:

 • Wash your hands and feet regularly

 • Keep the skin and nails of your feet hydrated but not sweaty

 • Keep your toenails trimmed straight across and disinfect your clippers after use

 • Wear moisture-wicking socks with copper fibers for anti-fungal and antibacterial protection, or change socks when they get moist

 • Wear breathable shoes that allow for heat and sweat to dissipate

 • Discard shoes contaminated with Athlete’s foot or treat them with special disinfectants (anti-fungal powders, Lysol, UV light, etc)

 • Wash socks and clothes contaminated with Athlete’s foot in hot water (140° F/60° C) and line dry them in direct sunlight

 • Don’t walk barefoot in public areas if it can be helped

 • Refrain from using nail polish and artificial nails, as this can suffocate the nail

 • Maintain your immune function with a healthy diet and additional supplements (if necessary)

You can safely treat toenail fungus at home as long as the infection is mild and is not affecting your daily routine. You can try the following remedies:

 • Over-the-counter anti-fungal medications—use exactly as directed

 • Tea tree oil—apply on the nail twice daily with a cotton swab or pad

 • Vicks Vaporub—apply on the nail at least once a day

 • Oregano oil—apply twice daily on the nail

 • Olive leaf capsules—take one to three capsules with meals twice a day

 • Vinegar foot bath—soak your feet in a solution that is 1 part vinegar (apple cider or white) and 2 parts warm water for 10 to 15 minutes every day

 • Garlic—apply crushed garlic directly on the toenail or eat garlic supplements with meals

While toenail fungus is very treatable, there are no fast fixes. Complete recovery from a toenail fungus infection can range from 3 to 12 months and recurring infections can be quite common. 

You should see your doctor right away if:

 • You have diabetes, weakened immune function, or a blood circulation disorder (don’t delay medical attention by attempting home treatment)

 • Your symptoms (pain, discoloration, thickening, disfigurement, etc) have not improved or have worsened despite home treatment 

If you have a very mild case of toenail fungus, it’s possible that it can heal on its own even when left untreated. In most cases, however, a fungal infection that has taken hold can be quite persistent and requires a dedicated treatment regimen for a full recovery. A toenail fungus infection usually occurs when the skin and nails of your feet are already ailing or compromised in some way, so forgoing treatment is generally not an option if you want your feet to become healthy again. 

Untreated toenail fungus can quickly get worse, resulting in chronic pain, permanent disfigurement to the nails, and the spread of infection to the surrounding skin. It can also increase your risk of developing a bacterial skin infection called cellulitis. Severe cellulitis could then lead to other deadly health complications, such as gangrene and sepsis.  

Your doctor may prescribe the following treatments:

 • Oral anti-fungal medications that are generally taken for 6 to 12 weeks 

 • Medicated nail polish that is applied once a day up for up to one year

 • Medicated nail cream that is applied daily for up to one year

 • Surgery (temporarily nail removal for direct application of medicine on the infection, or permanent nail removal for very severe cases)

 • Laser treatment  

While prescription oral medication produces reliable results, it may cause undesirable side effects in some patients such as liver damage or skin rashes. These medications can pose a problem if you are taking other therapeutic drugs or are suffering from other chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure and liver disease. Being over the age of 65 may also lower the efficacy of these medications in clearing the infection. 

Laser treatment is considered the most effective with a cure rate of over 80%, though it is the most expensive. It only takes one treatment for most patients, but it can take between 6 to 12 months for your nail to regain its original appearance (depending on the severity of the infection and your nail’s natural growth rate). 

Recurring toenail fungus can occur for a variety or reasons, such as:

 • Failure to effectively treat contaminated shoes and socks and re-wearing them

 • Wearing shoes that keep your feet hot and sweaty for a prolonged period of time 

 • Sharing clothes and shoes with someone who has a fungal infection

 • Exposing your feet in high-risk or infected areas (locker rooms, swimming pools, gyms, etc)

 • Having chronic conditions that predispose you to infections in general (diabetes, limited immune function, impaired blood circulation, dry and brittle nails)

Complete recovery from toenail fungus will take time and patience. While the risk of reinfection is always a possibility, you can easily keep your feet healthy and fungus-free by practicing good hygiene and taking the proper precautions.