Find Relief For Your Nail Fungus
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008Nail Fungus is known in the medical world as onychomycosis. Strange word for a fairly disgusting condition. Disgusting though it may be, nail fungus is very common, especially in the toenails.
Nail fungus is caused by bacteria that makes its way into the toenail and gets embedded between the nail bed and the outer nail. It is embarassing and unsightly, and can be caused by a number of factors, like getting a crack in the toenail.
Fungus thrives in damp or moist environments. That is why you need to be especially vigilant if you sweat a lot or spend a lot of time in pools, or other moist spots. People who work in moist environments, wearing shoes, are very likely to get nail fungus in one form or another.
There are no easy or quick cures for nail fungus. There are, however, some home remedies that you can try. It is important to allow your feet to dry thoroughly after they have gotten wet, and to allow them to breathe freely throughout the day.
The germ killers in mouthwash are believed to be fairly effective against nail fungus. Soak your nails in a bowl of Listerine. Not only can it help the fungus go away, but your feet will smell minty-fresh, not medicin-y!
Mixtures of 50/50 white vinegar and distilled water can be effective, as can Eucalyptus oil applied directly to the affected nails. There is another oil, tea tree oil, that is supposed to be even better.
Finally, try applying Vick’s Vapo-Rub to the nails. Again here, it’s Eucalyptus that makes a difference and will help kill the bacteria.
If those remedies don’t help, you should talk to your doctor about getting a prescription medication.