Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus. How does It work?

How to use apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus? How does it work? Is it effective? How long should I apply this remedy? And finally, what are the other natural remedies to treat nail fungus?

I. Brief Reminder About Toenail Fungus

Nearly 10% of French people are affected by nail fungus, i.e. about 5 million French people per year.

Nail fungus is also called onychomycosis. It is an evil which is due to a fungus, a Candida. It is thus a fungal infection.

Particularly affecting people of a certain age, nail fungus often develops on the toes. It often appears on the big toe, which turns yellow and becomes hard. You may also experience itching, redness, and peeling of the skin around the nail.

If the infection gets worse, there’s even a chance that the nail will peel off and fall off.

Because it is contagious, the fungus can also spread to fingernails.

# Symptoms of Toenail Fungus

There are signs that you may be suffering from toenail fungus.

First, there is a nail that changes color and thickens.
Then you can see a yellowish streak in the flesh attached to the nail, called the “nail bed”.
Your nail, although thickened, is much more brittle and fragile.
It can happen that your nail starts to peel off the flesh of your toe.
After a certain period of time without treatment, the fungus can become painful. In these cases, even wearing closed shoes is an ordeal.

# How Do I Know if My Toenail Fungus Is Dying?

To find out if the toenail fungus you have is healing, all you have to do is look at your nails.

Normally, the symptoms of toenail fungus should start to subside. Toenail fungus is over when your nail looks normal again.

# What Happens if You Leave Toenail Fungus Untreated?

If toenail fungus is left untreated, it can get worse. This can lead to the loss of your nail, but it’s not the only thing that can happen.

The fungus can also spread to other nails, and you can become contagious to your loved ones. In addition, the nail plate of the nail can be permanently destroyed.

II. Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus

1. How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Act on Mycosis

Apple cider vinegar works on nail fungus due to its acidity. Being an antiseptic and antifungal, apple cider vinegar fights against the fungus.

Using it allows you to get rid of the Candida that causes the fungus.

It should be noted that fungi grow ideally in environments with an acidic pH. Apple cider vinegar can regulate the pH of an environment.

Thus, when used on the affected nails, it creates a hostile environment for the multiplication of fungi. The fungus eventually disappears, the environment has become hostile to it.

2. How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat Toenail Fungus

To use apple cider vinegar against your nail fungus, you can take daily foot baths.

As often as you can, soak your feet in a basin full of water. In it, you will have diluted three tablespoons of cider vinegar. The mixture can also be made with equal parts of water and cider vinegar, for more effectiveness.

Do this for at least 30 minutes before removing your feet from the water.

Then dry your feet properly.

There is a variation to this bath, suggested by Readers Digest. In this one, you won’t use water for your foot bath. Instead, you must use mouthwash.

You can also drink cider vinegar. This will work on your immune system from the inside and fight your fungus.

Mix in about 500 milliliters of water, 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar. Drink this throughout the day.

Note that all the remedies to cure fungus, and nail fungus, in particular, are long-term. So you must be patient and not give up applying these natural remedies for at least 6 months!

3. Apple Cider Vinegar and Epsom Salt

The mixture of apple cider vinegar and Epsom salt works wonders for toenail fungus. In a basin with warm water, add a handful of sea salt and a cup of cider vinegar.

Let your feet soak in it for 15 to 30 minutes. Afterward, remember to dry your feet thoroughly and moisturize them.

Epsom salt helps relieve inflammation, as does cider vinegar. Cider vinegar also works directly on the fungus that causes the infection.

4. Tea Tree Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar for Toenail Fungus

Tea tree oil has indisputable antifungal properties. Combined with apple cider vinegar, you will cure your toenail fungus faster.

Start with a foot bath, with equal parts of water and cider vinegar. Soak your feet for about 30 minutes.

Once they are dry and clean, you can apply drops of tea tree oil to your infected nail.

Leave the oil on for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing your nail and drying it.

It is important to always test essential oils on a small area of skin beforehand. This way you will know if it is suitable for you or not.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda for Toenail Fungus

In a basin, make a mixture of apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and a few drops of thyme oil in warm water.

Leave your feet immersed in this bath for at least 30 minutes.

At the end of the bath, make sure to wipe your feet to remove any traces of moisture.

You can also mix 3 measures of bicarbonate with one of vinegar until you obtain a paste. This paste will be applied to your diseased nail for 20 minutes.

Repeat the operation at least twice a day.

6. How Long Does It Take for Apple Cider Vinegar to Cure Toenail Fungus

It’s hard to know how long it takes for apple cider vinegar to cure your nail infection. It all depends on how advanced the infection is. The more advanced the fungus, the longer it will take to be cured.

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months.

7. What Is Better for Toenail Fungus White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar

Both types of vinegar are useful for toenail fungus. However, it appears that white vinegar is more frequently used for cleaning and housekeeping.

Cider vinegar has the reputation of being more effective for health and physical well-being. In the case of mycosis, if you have to choose, it would be better to choose cider vinegar.

But both types of vinegar are effective.

III. Other Natural Remedies for Toenail Fungus

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used in different ways to work against nail fungus.

One of them is in the form of a paste. You can mix baking soda with water until it becomes a paste, and apply it to the infected nail.

Wrap it with gauze, let it dry for ¼ of an hour before removing it.

The baking soda paste will absorb moisture, which creates an environment for fungus to grow.

Once the baking soda is removed, rinse your toes and dry them well.

If several of your nails are affected by fungus, in this case, make a warm foot bath.

Dilute 5 tablespoons of bicarbonate in a basin of water and soak your feet (or hands). Do this for about 15 minutes.

This remedy should be applied daily until the fungus disappears!

2. Garlic

Make a paste with garlic and apply it to your infected nail.

You can also make one mixed with white vinegar.

Keep the paste on your nail with a bandage for several hours before removing it.

Rinse and dry your nail. Do not hesitate to repeat the operation often, until the fungus disappears.

3. Castor Oil

Castor oil can be used alone or with Tea Tree oil. With a cotton swab, apply this oil to your clean nails.

You can then leave it on overnight for more effectiveness.

Do this on nails that are not only clean but also free of polish.

The omegas that castor oil contains make it a very practical oil for the health of your nails. They will strengthen them in addition to fighting the bacteria and fungi responsible for fungus.

4. Betadine

Cleaning your feet with Betadine Scrub is another way to fight nail fungus.

After this application, rinse and dry carefully.

You can also use a hairdryer to make sure you dry your feet properly.

5. Bleach

Using bleach to cure your nail fungus is also a method. You need to soak your feet for 5 minutes in a basin of water mixed with bleach.

This practice is done for one week. You can then decide whether or not to continue this treatment.

This is not a scientifically validated method. Many sources advise against using this technique for fungal infections.

6. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil can be used to treat nail fungus. It is necessary to apply it locally on the nail(s) affected by the fungus.

Make sure that the nail is clean and cleaned with alcohol.

Once your nails are clean, apply a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil.

Do this once a month for a month.

Another method is to mix a vitamin E capsule with Tea Tree essential oil. Leave on the affected nail for half an hour before rinsing with warm water and drying.

Do this twice a day for 1 month.

7. Epsom Salt

Epsom salt can be used as a foot bath. Put a handful of Epsom salt in a basin of warm water and leave your feet soaking in it for about ten minutes. After that, dry your feet.

8. Vicks VapoRub

It seems that applying Vicks Vaporub on an infected nail can cure it. All you have to do is to apply this product twice a day to your nail.

9. Listerine Soaks

Listerine is a mouthwash with antiseptic properties. Perhaps that’s why it’s effective in cases of nail fungus. To use it, make a foot bath with Listerine instead of water.

Some people even add vinegar for maximum effect.

10. Olive Leaf Extract

At the first signs of nail fungus, you can take olive leaf extract. It is available in capsule form, to be taken for one month, one or two capsules every day.

IV. How to Prevent Toenail Fungus

To prevent the appearance of toenail fungus, you can adopt certain habits.

Avoid walking barefoot in wet, communal areas, such as bathrooms or gyms. Wear flip-flops instead.
Clip your nails often to check their condition and keep them clean.
Choose cotton socks, which allow your feet to breathe better. Likewise, choose lightweight shoes that your feet are comfortable in.
Use your own socks, shoes and towels.
Avoid keeping your feet wet. Fungi grow more easily in a moist environment. Keep your feet as dry as possible.

V. Do Any Vinegar Soaks Help Toenail Fungus?

The composition of vinegar makes it an ally for general health. Footbaths with vinegar, whether white or cider, help to fight against fungus.

Vinegar acts on inflammation, reducing the sensation of pain. Moreover, because it is acid, it allows fighting directly against the fungus.

VI. How to Make a Vinegar Foot Soak

There are several ways to make a vinegar footbath. You can decide to use warm or hot water and add a certain amount of vinegar.

In some recipes, the water and vinegar are in equal parts. In other recipes, only one cup of cider vinegar is added to a basin of water.

The main thing is to have a mixture of water and vinegar and to soak your feet for at least ten minutes. Then dry them and coat them with a moisturizing cream.