The Best Dermatologist-Recommended Home Remedies to Treat Toenail Fungus
Table of Contents
Why Consider Home Treatment for Toenail Fungus?
Selected Products Based on Evidence in Literature
How Do Home Remedies Work To Treat Toenail Fungus?
Other Home Remedies With Evolving Evidence
Prevention Tips To Avoid Toenail Fungus Returning
Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a very common fungal infection that affects millions of people. This infection occurs when fungi called dermatophytes get under the nail and begin to grow, damaging the nail.
Men are more likely to be diagnosed with toenail fungus (80 vs 60%) based on epidemiological studies. In fact, it’s one of the most commonly brought up concerns by male patients in our clinical experience. While it’s usually not dangerous, it can certain appear unattractive (this is the most common reason why men ask for treatment). It can also predispose patients to cellulitis, an infection of the skin. Treating toenail fungus can be challenging, but using home remedies may help clear up infection and get rid of unsightly, thickened nails.
In this article, our team of board-certified dermatologists will help you explore why home treatment can be a good option, examine some of the most popular and potentially effective home remedies for toenail fungus, and provide tips on prevention. Read on to learn more about natural ways to combat this stubborn infection at home - as well as how effective these home treatments seem to be in the medical literature.
While some of these treatments are effective based on the medical literature, you should always consult a board-certified dermatologist to ensure that they are safe for you.
Why Consider Home Treatment for Toenail Fungus?
While over-the-counter and topical prescription medications are available to treat fungal toenail infections, they do not always work and may cause side effects. They are typically better at treating foot fungus on the skin, but are not a good treatment for onychomycosis. Because the infection is embedded in the nail, it can be difficult for over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments to fully penetrate and kill the fungus.
Oral antifungal medications are usually more effective but have risks like liver damage or drug interactions (e.g. not good for patients who drink alcohol frequently, those with underlying medical conditions, or who take tylenol frequently, among many other reasons not listed). They also require months of treatment, can be expensive, and have a high recurrence rate (upwards of ~50% in the literature). This makes chronic home remedies an appealing option for many seeking to avoid harsh medications.
Home treatments like vinegar soaks, essential oils, and Vicks VapoRub have been touted to help fight infection and support healthier nails - often at a fraction of the cost of prescription remedies. While homemade mixes may not fully cure severe, chronic fungal infections, they can help provide relief and prevent mild cases from worsening over time. Trying them first might make sense for some patients before pursuing more extensive treatment options.
Selected Products Based on Evidence in Literature
These are some of the evidence-based treatments that you can safely perform at home.
Continue reading below to understand how each works, the efficacy, and the possible side effects!
How Do Home Remedies Work To Treat Toenail Fungus?
Many household items have antifungal or antiseptic properties that make them useful for combatting stubborn toenail infections when applied topically. The most common home remedy ingredients like vinegar, tea tree oil, and mentholated rubs can penetrate nails and inhibit fungus from further growth or destroy fungal cells.
Soaking nails in diluted vinegar changes nail pH, making it harder for fungi to thrive. Tea tree oil disrupts cell membranes of fungi due to its terpinen-4-ol content. And mentholated rubs like Vicks VapoRub may destroy fungi and prevent spore production.
Used consistently, these treatments may clear mild cases of toenail fungus. They can also be combined with oral antifungal supplements and good foot hygiene to boost treatment effectiveness.
While home care may not quickly resolve severe, long-term infections, trying natural remedies before considering prescription antifungals can promote nail health with fewer risks. So what mix of home ingredients works best? Based on our literature review, here are some of the most popular tried-and-true contenders.
Vinegar Foot Soak for Fungus
Perhaps the most widely used natural home treatment for toenail fungus is vinegar. Vinegar is an inexpensive household staple with acetic acid that changes nail pH, creates an unfriendly environment for fungi to live, and may kill fungal cells.
To treat nail fungus with vinegar:
Mix one part vinegar to two parts warm water (undiluted white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
Soak the affected foot for 15-20 minutes per day
Use the soak daily until fungus clears
Dry the skin thoroughly after you soak your feet
The acidic vinegar bath softens the nail, allowing better penetration of the vinegar to inhibit fungal growth under and on the nail’s surface. Studies show vinegar’s effectiveness against nail fungi both in lab tests and in humans. While more research is needed, this common pantry item may hold promise for treating stubborn fungal nail infections. Source 1 and Source 2 - Good Evidence
Antifungal Essential Oils
Here on this blog post, we don't typically support the use of oils from a cosmetic standpoint. However, they seem to have some benefit for toenail fungus. Essential oils derived from plants like tea tree oil, clove oil, neem oil and thyme oil naturally contain powerful antifungal compounds and are commonly used to treat toenail fungus. Source 1 - Good Evidence. Oils are thought to penetrate nails better than vinegar solutions alone to reach infection trapped under the nail.
To use antifungal essential oils:
Apply undiluted antifungal oils directly to the toenail and nail bed daily
Observe to ensure tolerability of a nail oil for your toenails
Soak feet in a bath with several drops of antifungal oils
Combine oils with vinegar soaks
Continue for several months until infection resolves
Of all essential oils, tea tree oil shows the most promise against stubborn fungal nail infections. Source 2 Multiple studies demonstrate tea tree oil’s ability to kill dermatophytes that cause fungal nail infections both in lab tests and in people. While more clinical research is needed, tea tree oil may be the best home remedy for nail fungus when used regularly.
Mentholated Rubs
Believe it or not, those mentholated vapor rubs like Vicks VapoRub marketed for colds and congestion may also fight stubborn toenail fungal infections. The proposed mechanism is that menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oils found in these rubs penetrate the nails and destroy nail fungus or inhibit fungal growth and reproduction. Source - Good Evidence
To use mentholated rubs on nails:
Apply a small amount of mentholated rub onto affected nails before bed
Cover treated nails with socks overnight
Repeat nightly for up to 48 weeks or until the infection clears
Combine with occasional vinegar or antifungal oil soaks
Limited research supports the fungus-fighting capability of over-the-counter mentholated products. One small study in people with fungal nail infections found that using a mentholated ointment containing thymol improved nail appearance in about half the participants after daily use for 48 weeks with no side effects. More research is still needed, but this common, inexpensive home remedy may bring relief.
Other Home Remedies With Evolving Evidence
While vinegar, oils, and menthol rubs show the most promise, other household items tout antifungal effects that have been listed in the media which may help toenail fungus. However, they have not been directly or extensively studied in toenail fungus and wouldn’t be recommended at this time:
Hydrogen Peroxide for Toenails - Its bubbling reaction can help remove nail debris and may have antifungal effects. Source but (poor evidence)
Listerine Mouthwash - Applied topically, the alcohol and thymol may inhibit fungus (poor evidence).
Snakeroot Extract - This Native American remedy shows anti-fungal properties in labs (moderate evidence).
Olive Leaf Extract - Early lab research notes anti-fungal effects but not tested in humans (poor evidence).
Garlic - Contains antifungal compound allicin (poor evidence, only tested in mice).
Keep in mind that these home remedies have limited evidence about their efficacy against nail fungus. But some of them depending on the level of evidence may be beneficial additions to foot soaks or rotation when treating mild fungal nail infections at home.
Prevention Tips To Avoid Toenail Fungus Returning
Successfully getting rid of toenail fungus using home care takes patience and consistency for a few months, at minimum. It can also take more than 6-9 months to see a benefit as the toenails grow at a glacial pace. And since fungal nail infection can recur easily, preventive care after treatment is key. Here are some tips to stop the infection from coming back:
Disinfect shower floors and wear shower shoes in public showers
Avoid picking at nails or skin around nails
Wear moisture-wicking socks and rotate shoes regularly
Apply antifungal powder in shoes and spray with disinfectant
Use antifungal spray or powder on feet after exercise
Keep feet clean and dry thoroughly after washing
Apply antifungal cream weekly under nails as prevention
Get pedicures from reputable salons with proper sanitization
Staying diligent with preventive foot care and using home remedies when needed can help keep stubborn fungal infections away for good.
The Bottom Line on Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a common problem that can be tricky to resolve. While home remedies like diluted vinegar soaks, essential oils, menthol rubs show promise against fungal nail infections, they may not fully cure the fungus. Home treatments are most effective for mild or moderate cases of fungal infection caught early before it worsens.
Using natural treatments consistently alongside proper nail and foot care provides the best chance to clear infection and regrow healthier nails. Rotate through different home remedies over a few months to beat stubborn fungal colonies, but stay consistent with each while rotating through the schedule. Prescription antifungals can treat more severe cases if over-the-counter and home options fail.
For patients who prefer at-home treatment and not having to take a pill, it might make sense to try these tips before pursuing more intensive medical routes. However, it’s always a good idea to be evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist to ensure that these treatments are appropriate for your specific situation. With diligent care, you may conquer infection, avoid recurrence, and have better looking toenails.
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What is toenail fungus?
Toenail fungus is a common nail infection that affects the toenails. It is caused by various types of fungus and can lead to discoloration, thickening, and crumbling of the nails.
What are the treatment options for toenail fungus?
Treatment of onychomycosis includes topical and oral antifungal treatment, as well as novel treatment options such as using over-the-counter mentholated ointment, which have shown efficacy in combating the infection.
How can I get rid of toenail fungus?
To kill toenail fungus, one can consider soaking their feet in a solution of water and vinegar, as this has been found to help treat toenail fungus. Additionally, there are natural remedies for toenail fungus and effective treatment methods that can be tried at home.
Are there any home remedies for toenail fungus?
Several popular home remedies are available to get rid of nail fungus, including the use of home remedies such as soaking the infected toenail in a solution containing vinegar or applying nail oil to the affected area.
Can toenail fungus be treated without prescription medication?
Apart from prescription medications, there are treatment options that individuals can try at home to treat fungal infections. These home remedies may or may not help to treat fungal infections of the toenails. Using over-the-counter mentholated ointment and other home remedies have shown to help with toenail fungus.
Is it possible to prevent toenail fungus from recurring?
To prevent toenail fungus from recurring, it is important to maintain good foot hygiene, wear breathable shoes, and avoid walking barefoot in damp public areas
Are home remedies strong enough to cure severe toenail fungus infections?
For mild to moderate nail fungus cases caught early, home remedies often clear infections with diligent use. However, severe, chronic fungal infections may require prescription oral medications since topical treatments can't fully penetrate the nail bed.
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We are a group of dermatology residents and attending physicians based in Boston, MA. Our team of Ivy League-trained dermatologists is demystifying the cosmeceutical industry by offering unbiased, scientifically supported reviews of skincare products. We are extremely passionate about skincare and making it accessible to all through education. We value integrity, practicality, and inclusivity. No sponsorships were received for the products prior to testing; we feel strongly about providing un-biased reviews. After blogs are published, following the links in this blog post may result in commission.
Dr. David Li is a recent graduate from the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program. He is now in private practice as a procedural dermatologist in Downtown Boston where he offers skin cancer screenings, skin cancer surgeries, and laser and cosmetic rejuvenation. He has published more than 25 peer-reviewed research articles, is active as an advisor for multiple early-stage companies, and is an angel investor in the healthcare technology space. In his free time, he enjoys running to stay fit, cooking, and playing with his Australian shepherd, Laika.
Dr. Nelson Ugwu is a dermatology resident at the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program. His clinical interests include general dermatology, skin of color and skin cancer prevention. Nelson has discovered mutations that cause skin diseases, as well as new treatments for skin conditions. In his free time, Nelson enjoys weightlifting, playing soccer and trying new recipes.
Dr. Arash Mostaghimi is an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, the director of the inpatient dermatology consult service, and co-director of the Complex Medical Dermatology Fellowship at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. He is also the principal investigator of the Mostaghimi Lab, where he leads a diverse group of physicians and researchers to study alopecia areata, an autoimmune hair loss condition which afflicts his daughter. In addition to his research, he is an advisor to multiple companies and is an associate editor of JAMA Dermatology.
