Cures For Finger And Toenail Fungus

Finger and toenail fungus can be irritating and unsightly. It is a common infection that is easily transmitted especially in places like public pools and gym locker rooms that are damp and people go barefoot. This is why you should always keep a pair of flip flops in your bag to wear around the pool or to the showers in the locker room. Once you get the infection that causes the nail fungus, it is very hard to get rid of. All the cures for it take a lot of time and patience over the course of several weeks or months.

Nail fungus is most common under toenails since they are trapped in sweaty socks and shoes for a large portion of each day. This moist environment is the perfect breeding ground for fungus. The infection starts under the edge of the nail and works its way back towards the base moving under the nail, next to the toe. If allowed to progress, the nail will become discolored, usually either yellow or brown. Then it will begin to thicken and curl. Finally the unhealthy nail will fall off. It is also possible to develop the infection on your hands. This is especially common after you have it on your feet and it begins to spread.

Cures for finger and toenail fungus can be found right in your medicine cabinet. Hydrogen peroxide is good to use right at the onset as it will kill all the germs and bacteria on your skin and can destroy the infection. It is not recommended for repeated use because it also kills the good bacteria on your skin that help keep it clean. Another choice is tea tree oil. It has natural infection fighting properties and will work on fungus. It should be applied to the tops of all infected nails several times per day then allowed to air dry.

If these do not work, you can try soaking your finger or toe in Listerine. It is meant to kill germs in your mouth, but there is no reason it cant work on your foot too. Soak the infected area for fifteen minutes per day and keep the routine up for a week after all signs of the fungus are gone just to make sure that it is truly gone and not just dormant. As an alternative to Listerine, bleach can be used for the soaking solution. It should be mixed in twenty percent with warm water and used to soak the infected areas.

If home remedies are not able to solve the problem, it is time to see a doctor. Your doctor will recommend a topical ointment designed to kill fungus or an oral supplement to do the same. It is critical that you follow through completely on the treatment prescribed by your doctor to ensure that you completely wipe out the problem. Even with professional help, the treatment process takes time. Fungus is an ancient organism and very tough to kill. You will need patience and follow through to rid yourself of nail fungus.