Home remedies for toenail fungus:
Bleach
Name: Bleach
Treatment Form: solution
Fungal toenail infections can be difficult to get rid of, but one effective home remedy that often proves very successful in fighting toenail fungus is household bleach.
What is Bleach?
Bleach is a common household cleanser and disinfectant. It is an antiseptic which can kill microbes such as the fungi that cause toenail infections. Bleach will quickly be absorbed into the toenail and skin, where it will be able to kill the fungus.
Administration of Bleach
Bleach can be used to cure toenail fungus by soaking the infected toes in a dilute solution of bleach. The bleach solution should be prepared by mixing one tablespoon of bleach (about one capful) with one gallon of warm water. The toes should then be soaked in the bleach solution for a quarter of an hour twice a day, or for 30 minutes once each day. The feet should be washed with soap and water, rinsed and dried carefully afterwards. Soaking in the bleach solution should be done once or twice a day until the fungal infection has been cured, which is likely to take several months.
Stronger solutions of bleach can be used, but they will be more likely to cause problems with skin irritation. Some people recommend a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water. These stronger solutions may be applied directly to the nail, rather than used to bathe the feet, but soaking the feet in a bleach solution can be more effective since it allows plenty of time for the bleach to penetrate the toenails.
Once the toenail fungus in under control, the diluted bleach solution can be used on a weekly basis to prevent the recurrence of a toenail fungus and keep the feet healthy.
Advantages of Using Bleach for Toenail Fungus
Treating a toenail fungus with a bleach solution can be time consuming, but it allows the potentially serious side-effect of prescription antimicrobial medicines to be avoided. Another benefit of using bleach to combat fungal infection is that it is much cheaper than many of the other home remedies and medications that are available. Bleach will also target all microbes, so it should be effective whatever kind of fungus is causing the infection.
How Does Bleach Work on Toenail Fungus?
Bleach is an antiseptic which can is believed to kill microbes such as the fungi that cause toenail infections.
Is Bleach an Effective Treatment for Toenail Fungus?
Like many home remedies for toenail fungus, there is widespread anecdotal evidence that bleach cures toenail fungus, with many people reporting positive results from using household bleach as a soaking solution. However, there are no known scientifically controlled studies which confirm that bleach is an effective treatment for toenail fungus.
Side-Effects of Bleach Solution for Toenail Fungus
Bleach can whiten the toenails and the skin surrounding them, but this effect will only be temporary. Bleach can also cause some skin irritation, so it should not be used by anyone who has very sensitive skin.
Warnings and Precautions When Using Bleach
Household bleach is hazardous chemical and is highly corrosive. Bleach should be handled with caution. Prolonged contact with skin can irritate the skin. To reduce the irritation, bleach used for toenail fungus should always be diluted before use.
Fumes from bleach should not be inhaled; they can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. Bleach should never be mixed with vinegar or household cleaning products, as the combination will produce hazardous gases.
If any serious irritation, such as pain or a rash, is experienced when using bleach for toenail fungus, the treatment should be stopped immediately.