It’s safe to say, most Americans would rather not see a doctor. About one in three men and one in five women have no regular doctor, according to a survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund research foundation in New York City. For some people, it’s fear of bad news or shame about their lifestyle choices. For others, it’s about drumming up the money for co-pays and treatment options, or an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. Toenail fungus sufferers especially fall into that last category, because there are so few treatment options that are any good. However, there are a few tricks you can try to eliminate toenail fungus without a visit to the doctor.
Some people avoid doctors due to lack of money for co-pays and treatments.
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Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
According to Nurse Suzy, you can treat toenail fungus at home by:
- Reducing stress to avoid fungal infection flare-ups.
- Soaking your feet in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts warm water for 15 – 20 minutes.
- Applying Vicks VapoRub, which some people swear by, although we’ve found no scientific evidence.
- Using over-the-counter ointments, which are effective for athlete’s foot (a possible cause of onychomycosis) but may or may not work in this case.
- Treating with an antifungal nail lacquer, which can help a mild case of nail fungus in the early stage.
When You Should See a Doctor
For more serious cases, you may need an oral prescription of Lamisil or Sporanox from your doctor. In rare cases, a nail may be surgically removed. Laser toenail fungus treatment is another option, but it will cost you hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket.
Fungus likes to grow in warm, dark, damp surroundings — which makes the shoes the ideal breeding grounds.
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Prevention Is the Best Cure
Our feet can be covered in bacteria and fungi, but not infected. Infections occur when an overabundance of harmful pathogens colonize, reproduce rapidly, and find a portal into the body — through a cuticle, a blister, a cut, a cracked heel, or a callus. To avoid infection, you should keep your feet clean, cool, and dry to discourage fungal growth. You can do this by wearing sandals more often, choosing sweat-wicking socks, alternating footwear to give your shoes time to dry out, and drying in between your toes with a towel after showering.
A 45-minute treatment will sanitize 99.9% of the bacteria and fungi in your shoes.
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What Is the SteriShoe UV Shoe Sanitizer?
The patented, podiatrist-recommended SteriShoe ultraviolet shoe sanitizer is the only product that has been clinically proven to sanitize the inside of shoes using germicidal ultraviolet light. We wash every article of clothing in between wears, except for our shoes — which come into the most direct contact with our surroundings. Sweat and heat from our feet turn our shoes into ideal breeding grounds for fungus and bacteria to cultivate.
People who have had foot fungus in the past can be re-infected after treatment if they have not sanitized their footwear of fungal spores. That’s why SteriShoe is recommended for anyone who has had a fungal infection, as well as people looking to reduce odor in their shoes or protect their diabetic feet from ulcer development. You can buy a SteriShoe UV shoe sanitizer for your home here.
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