You are viewing the article How To Cure Toenail Fungus: Are Natural Remedies Beneficial? at Lassho.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.
This article was co-written by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a licensed naturopath in Washington. She received her ND degree from the National Medical University in 2007.
There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 25,027 times.
Tinea capitis (popularly known as foot fungus) is a common fungal skin disease that manifests as red, scaly patches of skin on the feet. The disease usually begins in the toes and spreads from there. Tinea capitis is not dangerous but very uncomfortable and itchy. The simplest and most effective treatment is to use an over-the-counter antifungal cream that usually kills the fungus within 2 weeks. [1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source Unfortunately, home remedies are less likely to be successful. You can still try some natural remedies to see if that works. If not, switch to an antifungal cream or visit a podiatrist for treatment.
Steps
Home remedies can work
Tinea capitis can be difficult to treat, and home remedies often show conflicting results. You can try using these therapies to see if they work. If 1-2 weeks have passed and you don’t see any improvement, switch to an over-the-counter antifungal cream containing miconazpe, clotrimazpe, terbinafine or tpnaftate, which are usually the most effective. Apply the medicine according to the instructions for use. [2] X Trusted Source MedlinePlus Go to Source
- If you have concentrated tea tree oil, you can use it by diluting it to a concentration of 50%. Use a carrier oil like jojoba or olive oil. Mix ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of carrier oil with ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil for a 50% mixture. [4] X Research Sources
- Lower concentrations of tea tree oil (minimum 10%) may help improve symptoms, but generally do not kill all fungi. [5] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
- You can also use fresh garlic as a fungal remedy. [7] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source However, fresh garlic has not been proven by research to be effective against tinea pedis.
- Vinegar foot therapy should only be done once a week, so you may want to try other methods.
- Vinegar is acidic, so it can cause stinging or irritation if your feet break.
Prevents red patches from spreading
Tinea capitis is contagious, so it can spread from person to person or to other parts of the body. Whether you’re using home remedies or using an over-the-counter antifungal cream, you must take steps to prevent the fungus from spreading until it’s gone. The following tips can help you manage your symptoms while you wait for the medication to work.
- Remember to wash your hands after washing your feet to prevent the fungus from spreading.
- This is also an important step to prevent tinea pedis, so you should wash your feet every time you shower.
- You can apply talcum powder to keep your feet dry even more. [12] X Research Source
- Use the wipes only once and then wash them to prevent the fungus from spreading.
- Try leaving your shoes near a window or somewhere where they can dry more easily. [14] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
- You can also sprinkle talcum powder or antifungal powder on your shoes to dry the shoes and kill any residual fungus. [15] X Research Source
- If you’re taking off all your socks, be sure to put on slippers. The fungus can spread if you walk barefoot.
- If you accidentally touch red patches on your feet, you need to wash your hands right away to avoid spreading it.
- Keeping personal items separate is generally good hygiene, even if you don’t have tinea versicolor. That way people won’t accidentally pass on fungi or bacteria to each other.
- If you have to go to similar places, don’t go barefoot everywhere. Always wear sandals or other footwear so as not to spread the fungus.
Medical treatment
Tinea capitis is a treatable disease, but home remedies are not always successful. Some may work, but usually not as well as antifungal creams. If you want to use natural remedies, you need to monitor the fungal skin patches to see if the condition improves. If not, switch to an over-the-counter antifungal cream to increase the chances of a cure. If this method still does not work after 2 weeks, you need to see a podiatrist for definitive treatment.
Advice
- Many over-the-counter antifungal products instruct users to continue applying the medication for an additional week after the red patches on the skin have disappeared to make sure all of the fungus is gone. [20] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Podiatrists often prescribe stronger topical creams for tinea pedis. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe oral medication if the fungal infection is widespread. [21] X Trusted Source MedlinePlus Go to Source
This article was co-written by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a licensed naturopath in Washington. She received her ND degree from the National Medical University in 2007.
There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 25,027 times.
Tinea capitis (popularly known as foot fungus) is a common fungal skin disease that manifests as red, scaly patches of skin on the feet. The disease usually begins in the toes and spreads from there. Tinea capitis is not dangerous but very uncomfortable and itchy. The simplest and most effective treatment is to use an over-the-counter antifungal cream that usually kills the fungus within 2 weeks. [1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source Unfortunately, home remedies are less likely to be successful. You can still try some natural remedies to see if that works. If not, switch to an antifungal cream or visit a podiatrist for treatment.
Thank you for reading this post How To Cure Toenail Fungus: Are Natural Remedies Beneficial? at Lassho.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.
Related Search: