Nail fungus (onychomycosis in doctor-talk) is a very common problem. Most health care providers don’t consider it serious, although some readers have told us that terrible nail fungus can make nails rough, so that they snag on socks, or make them so misshapen that it is difficult to wear certain shoes. There are a number of possible treatment options, but some of the prescription drugs for this problem are very pricey (like Jublia) or have potentially serious side effects (such as Sporanox). That’s why we are always interested in success stories about home remedies for this problem.
Tea Tree Oil Worked on Nail Fungus:
Q. Not long ago, you had a letter from a long-time toenail fungus sufferer who used Polysporin to clear up the infection. I had been using a prescription cream for four years with minimal success. Then I tried treating the nail with tea tree oil twice a day and spent half an hour daily with sunlight shining on my bare toes. That cleared it up.
A. Thanks for sharing your success story. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) does have antifungal activity (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Aug. 4, 2023). In addition, however, it also fights bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Sep. 2024).
In some cases, a treatment-resistant toenail infection is actually due to bacterial rather than fungal pathogens. The tea tree oil discourages both, and sunshine may also be an additional disinfectant. Certainly, you can’t beat the price of sunlight!
Urea Removes Infected Nail:
Q. I have cured my toenail fungus with 40 percent urea. After applying it and covering the nail daily for two weeks, the affected portion peeled off, leaving only the healthy area. I am surprised that there is not more information about this.
A. Dermatologists have long utilized 40 percent urea applications to treat terrible nail fungus. We would discourage self treatment with such a high concentration of urea. That’s because this compound can lead to the destruction of the nail. It often falls off, which can be alarming.
Used under medical supervision, however, 40 percent urea appears to enhance the effectiveness of topical antifungal creams (Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, April 11, 2019). Dermatologists may use it as a pretreatment before photodynamic therapy (Archives of Dermatological Research, May 2023). When they use urea as a pretreatment, they get better results in the medium term (nearly a year).
Apple Cider Vinegar Vanquished Terrible Nail Fungus:
Q. You had a question from a person with terrible toenail fungus. The doctor recommended surgically removing the nail. You suggested that urea paste could dissolve the fungus-infected nail.
WAIT! My 85-year-old mother had both big toes infected with fungus, making them unsightly. She didn’t like wearing open-toe shoes.
We found a solution and within eight months both nails are much improved. We started with twice-daily applications of tea tree oil, then moved to twice daily applications of apple cider vinegar.
This was not a bath or soak, just applying the vinegar with a cotton swab after a shower, before bedtime and once during the afternoon. We allowed the nail to dry completely. With patience and occasional clipping, we have conquered this problem.
Why You Need Patience to Overcome Nail Fungus:
A. Patience is critical to any treatment of toenail fungus because toenails grow so slowly. Thanks for your detailed account of your successful treatment strategy. We haven’t seen any studies of vinegar against nail fungus, but we did find research demonstrating that a commercial product containing acetic acid (vinegar) with other ingredients helped somewhat to inhibit the Tricophyton mentagrophytes fungus responsible for some nail infections (Mycoses, May, 2016).
Readers who would like more details about other home remedies for nail fungus may wish to order our Guide to Hair and Nail Care.
