Getting Rid of Nail Fungus

Once nail fungus takes hold, it can take years to get rid of it without the proper treatment.  What makes nail fungus so hard to get rid of is the fact that it lives underneath the nail which makes it very hard to get at.  The infection can result in a thickening in the nail and also turn the nail yellow or brown. If you are affected by a fungal nail infect, the following are some tips to help you get rid of it.

If you are applying a topical therapy, make sure that you take the time to scrape away the thickened layer of the nail.  This will help expose the fungus to the medication and allow it to do its work.

Make sure you expose the infected nails to sunlight at least once a day.  Fungi grow best in dark and damp environments, so throw on some sandals or go barefoot and go for a walk outside.  This will dry out your feet and expose your feet to cleansing sunlight.  If you live near the beach, swimming in saltwater will also help to prevent or weaken a fungal infection.

Common anti-fungal drugs include Penlac and Loceryl.  Both of these are applied as topical treatments and many sufferers report considerable success with applying essential oils such as tea tree oil or neem oil that have antimicrobial qualities.  These essential oils are best mixed with a thin carrier oil such as sunflower oil which will help the oil to penetrate deep into the nail.

Fungal infections take a significant amount of time to treat because it will take several months for a healthy, fungus free nail to grow out.  Get your treatment started as soon as possible and make sure you stick with it so your healthy and fungus free nail can start growing!