Toenail fungus is a common fungal nail infection that attacks the toenails. It is also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium. Toenail fungus infection occurs when cracks or cuts on your skin allow fungi to penetrate. Since the toes are often enclosed in shoes, the warm and damp environment allows the fungi to thrive, hence cause an infection.
The common signs of fungal nail infections include yellow and white spots under the nail bed, hardened nails, thickened and cracked nails. Toenail fungus is not attractive to look at and can be embarrassing. In addition, it is contagious and can spread to other toes. As such, it is advisable to use the best toenail fungus treatment to treat the fungal infection.
There are several over-the-counter therapies that treat toenail fungus. Below, we have listed the best toenail fungus treatment options and factors you should consider before buying any treatment.
In a hurry?
This is our Winner!
Best Toenail Fungus Treatments
Rank | Product Image | Product Name | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|  | |
2 |
| | |
3 |
| | |
4 |
| | |
5 | |
Best Toenail Fungus Treatments - Reviews
Foot Cure offers a natural nail solution for treating toenail fungus. The toenail medication uses natural tea tree oil and oregano oil to eliminate nail damage caused by the fungal nail disease. In addition, the tea tree and oregano oil blend help stop the spread of nail damage and athlete's foot.
This fungal nails treatment is designed to penetrate to the core of nail damage and remove it completely. This is because the treatment nourishes the skin and nails and repairs toenail and fingernail damage to give you beautiful skin and nails. As a result, the treatment offers the antifungal properties needed to treat the affected nail and skin.
Foot Cure’s toenail treatment is made with extra care to nourish and repair irritated nails while simultaneously getting rid of toenail irritations. As a result, the nails are stronger and free of damage. In addition, the treatment's components work fast and deliver results as early as within four weeks of use.
Foot Cure values the health and wellbeing of our customers and hence offers a 30-day Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee with no questions asked. This encourages you to try out the nail treatment confidently without having to worry about wasting your money.
Pros
Cons
Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal treatment is medically reviewed and clinically proven to reduce discoloration and thickness caused by fungal nail disease. In addition, the treatment hydrates and exfoliates fragile nails to improve the appearance of damage.
The fungal nail renewal treatment combines the keratolytic properties of urea with hydrating propylene glycol and lactic acid to penetrate nail plates. This property is unlike traditional nail polish. In addition, due to the fast penetrating property, Kerasal fungal treatment delivers results fast.
Kerasal is among the non-prescription brands recommended by doctors since it improves the appearance of fungal nails damage fast.
Pros
Cons
Fungi-Nail Antifungal Solution offers a strengthening formula that stops the fungus from growing around the nail. In addition, the solution stops the burning, itching and pain resulting from the infection and restores the skin to health. Moisturizing solution restores skin.
The Nail formula is medically reviewed and proven to have antifungal ingredients that kill fungus and stops it from spreading. Additionally, the solution contains undecylenic acid and zinc undecylenate active ingredients. These ingredients are FDA approved to treat fungal nails.
The antifungal solution comes in a pen-shaped applicator container. This design makes it easy for application between the toes, on nail cuticles and beneath the nail.
Pros
Cons
Purely Northwest Antifungal Bodywash treats severe athlete's Foot, Nail Fungus, Jock Itch, Yeast, Ringworm and Tinea Versicolor. This Natural Tea Tree Foot & Body Wash is manufactured with a combination of 100% Pure Essential oils that are gentle enough for people with sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema.
In addition, this antifungal body wash combats smelly feet and body odor. As a result, your feet and body are left feeling fresh and clean. On the other hand, sweat and bad odor create a favorable condition for fungi to thrive. For this reason, this body wash is suitable to keep fungus at bay.
The Purely Northwest Body wash is made of natural ingredients such as tea tree, aloe vera, rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, oregano, cajeput and camphor. These ingredients have high antifungal properties and help treat fungus and moisturize dry skin. In addition, natural ingredients help in lice prevention.
This antifungal wash is versatile and can be used on other parts of the body and as a foot bath. One of the uses is to treat dry, flaky and itchy scalps. In addition, the properties of tea tree oil and peppermint oil help cleanse clogged pores and fight bacteria build-up, hence treating body acne.
Pros
Cons
Neomen Fungus Treatment is made of natural ingredients that reduce infection and penetrate the skin to fix discolored and damaged nails. In addition, the treatment soothes and alleviates intense itching, burning and pain as a result of the infection.
This nail repair pen is an effective treatment solution that makes the fragile nails strong and helps to remove the damaged layers and restore a healthy nail appearance. It is gentle and safe to use since it is made of plant-based ingredients.
The treatment pen is easy to use and comes with a brush applicator. The applicator helps to apply the clear liquid onto the affected areas. In turn, this stimulates the growth of healthy nails that are smooth, rosy and glossy. In addition, the Neomen fungus formula fights against discolored and damaged nails powerfully without any discomfort or pain.
Pros
Cons
Factors to Consider Before Buying The Best Toenail Fungus Treatment
1. Location
Toenail fungus starts as a small rash on the foot that later spreads to the nails. This rash is a common sign for an athlete's foot. Determining the location of your fungal infection will help you know the right over-the-counter treatments to use. For example, if it's a case of an athlete's foot, ointments and sprays can be used as treatment. However, if it is a case of toenail fungus, you will need to get the right treatment depending on the location.
2. Severity
A mild case of toenail fungus often mirrors yellow and white spots that grow under the nail bed. Thicked, cracked and discolored toenails coincide with a severe case of toenail fungal infection. The treatments will vary depending on the severity of the infection. Mild cases can easily be treated with over-the-counter therapies. However, if left untreated, the infection becomes hard to treat. Prescription-strength over-the-counter products can treat severe toenail fungus. In addition, it is advisable to seek help from a board-certified dermatologist.
3. Types
Toenail fungus treatments come in various types. However, topical, oral and natural remedies are the commonly used forms of treatments. Topical medications are best used for mild toenail infections. This is because it is difficult for the treatments to infiltrate the nail plate. As such, these treatments take a longer time to show results and have a low efficacy rate. In addition, due to the period it will take to see results, topical treatments end up being expensive to use.
Oral antifungal drugs treat infections faster and effectively than topical treatments. Commonly used oral medications to treat toenail fungus are Lamisil and Sporanox. The downside of using oral antifungal drugs is that they cause side effects that may be adverse to some people. In addition, oral medications are not recommended to people suffering from liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other conditions. It is always best to consult your doctor if you have any of these conditions, as they make you susceptible to developing fungal infections.
Natural remedies are effective when used as preventive measures. However, once the fungi have entered your skin, it is best to use an antifungal backed by research. In addition, make sure that the antifungal you choose is FDA approved.
4. Active Ingredients
The FDA has certain approved ingredients to treat toenail fungus. These are undecylenic acid and zinc undecylenate. As such, you should keenly look at the ingredients list to make sure the treatment's components will kill the fungus. In addition, most prescription medications are in the azole family. This is because the compounds present hinders the structure of the fungal cell membrane hence killing it.
Tips to Prevent Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a contagious infection that can reoccur even after treatment. Adopting preventative measures will help keep your nails healthy and strong. Some of the practices you can embrace include:
1. Regularly Washing and Drying Your Feet
Maintaining clean and dry feet will reduce your chances of getting a toenail fungus infection. Yeast and fungi thrive in damp conditions. For this reason, leaving your feet wet or dirty will promote their growth.
2. Wearing Breathable Footwear
Wearing breathable shoes will allow the hot air and sweat in your socks and shoes to evaporate. In turn, your feet will feel dry and fresh. Fungal growth will not thrive in such conditions.
3. Applying Antifungal Powders Inside of Shoes and Socks
Using antifungal foot powder when wearing socks and shoes is key to prevent a recurrence of toenail fungus. This is because the dampness and sweat in shoes create an optimal environment for the fungi to flourish. As such, it is important to kill any growing fungus with an antifungal powder.
4. Avoid Sharing Shoes and Nail Maintenance Tools
Nail clippers and nail files used to trim the nails are very sensitive. Therefore, sharing these tools can increase the risk of contracting nail fungus and other fungal infections. Therefore, refraining from sharing such items is best. In addition, it is recommended to sanitize and disinfect nail clippers and files after every use.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) on Toenail Fungus
1. What Kills Toenail Fungus Fast?
The best and fast toenail fungus treatments depend on the severity of the infection. Topical medications are best for treating mild toenail fungus. However, topical prescription medications are best for severe infections alongside oral antifungal drugs. In addition, home remedies are suitable when used as preventative measures.
2. How Do You Get Rid of Hard Toenail Fungus?
The first step in getting rid of hard toenail fungus is using a treatment on the affected nail. Treating toenail fungus takes time and patience. Treatments can be administered orally or topically. Topical treatments include creams, ointments and medicated nail polish. Using natural home remedies alongside the treatments can help kill toenail fungus fast. Examples of natural remedies include soaking feet in an Epsom salt bath or hydrogen peroxide, among other easy-to-reach at-home items with antifungal properties.
3. What Happens If You Leave Toenail Fungus Untreated?
When left untreated, mild nail fungus spreads to other nails and becomes severe. Hardening and thickening of toenails are some of the signs of severe fungal infection. It is difficult to treat severe toenail fungus, hence seeking advice diagnosis or treatment from a dermatologist is recommended.
