Peppermint oil – peppermint is known for a number of medicinal qualities and has been proven to have antifungal properties too.
At present, thyme (Thymus sp.), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), peppermint (Mentha piperita) or clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum) are the most widely tested EOs in terms of their antifungal activities [23,24,25,26].
#5 Peppermint
This minty oil has a soothing, cooling effect on the skin. It can also help with headaches, indigestion, and bug bite relief. It is a very effective essential oil for athlete's foot as it will fight off the odor, fungal infection, and itch that comes along with it.
Essential oils of peppermint, orange or lemongrass kill most strains of fungal and bacterial infections.
Some oils contain antifungal, anti-bacterial, and/or antiseptic qualities. Tea tree oil, oregano oil, and peppermint oil are popular oils that include one or more of the above qualities. All you have to do is dab some of the oil directly on the toenail 2 or 3 times a day using a clean cotton swab.
The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated.
Your health care provider may prescribe an antifungal cream, such as efinaconazole (Jublia) and tavaborole (Kerydin). You rub this product into your infected nails after soaking. These creams may work better if you first thin the nails.
Antifungals are medicines that kill or stop the growth of fungi (the plural of fungus) that cause infections. They are also called antimycotic agents.
You'll know that the medication is working and the toenail fungus is dying when your toenail changes back to its natural color, decreases in thickness, shows healthy new growth, and you see a clear delineation between the infected part of the toenail and your new nail growth.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the best essential oils for sore feet. In addition to its fresh, minty aroma, it also acts as an analgesic, cooling the area and temporarily masking pain. If you've been on your feet all day, using peppermint oil can help to reduce tension and swelling, while also energizing the body.
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal creams, ointments, gels, sprays or powders effectively treat athlete's foot. These products contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate or terbinafine. Some prescription antifungal medications for athlete's foot are pills.
There are topical drugs that work to get rid of nail fungus: Ciclopirox (Ciclodan, Penlac, Loprox) Efinaconazole (Jublia) Naftifine (Naftin)
Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is naturally antifungal and antibacterial. Mix it with any carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil and dab over the infected area about three to four times a day. This is one of the most effective home remedies to treat fungal infections.
Fungi are more challenging than bacteria to treat without damaging the host because eukaryotic animal cells and fungal cells share many of the same basic cell structures and machinery. This can lead to off-target drug effects that may manifest as serious side effects in patients.
The strongest candida killers are generally recognized to be antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole (brand name Diflucan), nystatin, and clotrimazole.
Antifungal resistance can occur for many reasons. It sometimes develops spontaneously. Or it may result from antibiotic overuse or misuse of antifungal medicines. People with compromised immune systems are most at risk for developing fungal infections that can lead to antifungal resistance.
Vicks Vaporub softens and lightens toenails. This makes it look like the fungus is being treated. Vicks may have some antifungal qualities, but it is unable to penetrate the toenail well enough to cure the infection. Many topical antifungal medications have this issue.
The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source. To take full advantage of this, mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with at least 2 cups of water – this will dilute the vinegar so that it won't burn your skin.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
Soaking your feet and toes in a bath containing Epsom salts can help dry out fungal infections by killing fungal spores. Add 1–2 cups of Epsom salt to a footbath of warm water and soak for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to 2 cups of water and soak a cotton ball in it.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse.