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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffSometimes, because current treatments can take a long time to work and aren't always effective, people turn to home remedies. Two remedies purported to help nail fungus infections are vinegar and Vicks VapoRub.
- Vinegar. While there's no direct evidence that a vinegar soak can cure nail fungus, some studies have shown that it can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Experts suggest soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Be sure to rinse well and pat your feet dry when you're done. You can soak your feet like this daily. But if your skin becomes irritated, try soaking only two to three times a week, or increase the amount of water in the mixture.
- Vicks VapoRub. As with vinegar, there have been no controlled clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub on nail fungus, but there have been numerous anecdotal reports that it works. There's no consensus on how often to apply this product, so check with your doctor before using it on your nails.
References
- Onychomycosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch125/ch125c.html?qt=nail%20fungus&alt=sh. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Goldstein A, et al. Onychomycosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Nail problems. American Podiatric Medical Association. http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/Foot-Health/FootHealthBrochures/GeneralFootHealthBrochures/NailProblems.aspx. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Watanabe D, et al. Successful treatment of toenail onychomycosis with photodynamic therapy. Archives of Dermatology. 2008;144:19.
- De Berker D. Fungal nail disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:2108.
- Hinojosa J, et al. Which antifungal is best for toenail onychomycosis? The Journal of Family Practice. 2007;56:581.
