Monday, July 6, 2009

Natural Way of Curing Toenail Fungus

By Rashel Dan

Curing toenail fungus can be tough. Toenail fungus is one of the hardest fungal infections to treat since the fungus lives under the nail, and is thus more difficult to reach. Also, since the feet are more exposed to the warm, dark and damp environment caused by wearing socks and shoes, they are more susceptible to the infection compared to fingernails. Toenail fungus rarely goes away on its own and proper treatment is needed for its cure.

What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus symptoms are very noticeable. You can see, smell or feel the infection once it takes hold. The most observable sign is discoloration. The infected nails turn yellow, brown and may have white patches and streaks.

Nails with infection are usually discolored black. There is irregularity in shape, growth and texture of the nail. It could get flaky, chipped and brittle. Also, it could become so thick that it causes pain when wearing shoes. Debris may collect under the nails and infected nails could emit a foul odor. The nails could also become separated from the nail bed.

If you have any of these symptoms, then have it diagnosed by a doctor. It is important that you seek professional help right away so that you can proceed with the proper treatment. The earlier you start treatment, the easier toenail fungus will be to treat.

Oral Medication - Your doctor may recommend oral prescription medication. These are effective in treating toenail fungus. However, such anti-fungal prescription medication is unsafe. In fact, the FDA or Food and Drug Administration issued out a public health advisory during May 2001 regarding two of the most popular prescription medications for the treatment of nail fungus. The FDA concluded that side effects such as congestive heart failure and hepatic complications occur with these therapies. Because of such high risks, it is wise to turn to safer and more natural methods in curing toenail fungus.

Home Treatment - A safer method is by using home remedies. Soaking the infected nails in a fifty-fifty solution of apple cider and hydrogen peroxide for 45 minutes everyday may help cure toenail fungus. Another home remedy is by using a bleach and water mix, where you soak the infected nails into the solution for about a minute for several days. However, keep in mind that these home remedies rarely work and is generally ineffective. The bleach could even irritate your skin. Relying solely on home remedies is a waste of time, making the fungus even harder to treat.

Topical Treatment - The best option would be to use topical solutions. In looking for a topical solution, make sure that you choose one that is made of natural ingredients such as essential oils found in plants. Because it is all natural, you are guaranteed that it is safe to use. And, don't rely on topical creams and lotions that don't get to the source of the nail fungus. There is a topical solution that actually penetrates and protects the nail so that it reaches the underlying cause of nail fungus. - 14130

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