There’s no way to get rid of fingernail fungus quickly. Prescription medications are the only treatments that can cure it. However, home remedies, such as tea tree oil and Vicks VapoRub, may help manage symptoms.
Nail fungus (onychomycosis) refers to a common type of infection that develops when fungi enter and spread in your nails. It often affects the toenails, but it’s also possible to get this type of infection in your fingernails.
There’s no way to get rid of fingernail fungus quickly, and prescription medications are the only treatments that can cure it.
However, you may be able to use some home remedies to manage symptoms while waiting for medical treatments to be effective. It is important to seek an accurate diagnosis before trying to treat suspected nail fungus.
Learn more about treatment options for nail fungus and how you may possibly prevent the fungi from spreading to other nails.
To date, however, there is limited evidence supporting various home remedies, and they may not effectively clear up the infection. They also don’t work any quicker than medical treatment prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Consider some of the following home remedies as complements to medical treatment. They will not cure the infection, but they may help reduce symptoms.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is considered to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It’s
While tea tree oil may possibly help treat fingernail fungus, it’s important to note that more clinical research is necessary to support this method.
Also, tea tree oil can cause irritation in the surrounding skin. It is best to consult a healthcare professional before using tea tree oil to manage symptoms of a fungal nail infection.
Vicks VapoRub
Vicks VapoRub is a cough suppressant and topical analgesic. It traditionally helps alleviate symptoms of a cold or joint pain.
However, its key active ingredients of camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol have garnered interest for other possible topical uses, including nail fungus.
So far though, only one study, from 2011, has looked at the benefits of Vicks VapoRub. Interestingly, most study participants reported positive results using the product for nail fungus after 48 weeks.
The focus of the study was also on toenail fungus.
If you do decide to use Vicks VapoRub for fingernail fungus, the idea is to apply it topically every day. Keep in mind that there are no established instructions for the purposes of fungal nail treatment.
Seek medical help if you are experiencing possible signs or symptoms of a fingernail fungal infection. These can include:
- discoloration of your fingernail, which can be:
- white
- yellow
- brown
- green
- black
- white spots on your nail
- nail thickening or brittleness
- thin nails that may also break easily
- difficulty trimming your nails due to texture changes
- pain in the affected finger
You should also consider seeing a doctor if you experience the above and have a condition that increases your risk of nail fungus, such as an autoimmune disease, psoriasis, or diabetes.
If you’ve already started treatment for fingernail fungus, call a doctor if you’re not seeing improvements within the time that they’ve specified based on the treatments they’ve recommended. Some treatments can take several weeks to begin working.
The only way to fully get rid of fingernail fungus is with medical treatments. These can also help prevent the fungus from spreading to other fingernails or parts of your body, as well as to other people.
A doctor may recommend one of the following treatments for a fungal nail infection:
- Antifungal medications: These may be available in the form of oral tablets or as a topical that you apply to the nail.
- Laser therapy: If the infection doesn’t clear up with medications alone, laser treatments may help destroy fungi via high dose light energy. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved laser therapy to treat the nail after the infection has cleared. They have not approved it to treat the infection directly.
- Surgery: In severe cases, and if other treatments have failed, a doctor may surgically remove the infected nail.
A doctor will help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of different treatment methods. For example, while oral antifungal medications are effective, they can cause side effects. Topical versions do not cause side effects but
It can take around 6 to 12 weeks for the fungal infection to clear. However, it can take at least a year for the nail to fully grow out.
A healthcare professional can provide more information about how long treatment is likely to take to fully clear up fingernail fungus.
Once you’ve treated fingernail fungus, it’s important to take steps to help prevent the infection from returning or spreading to other nails. You can reduce the risk by:
- keeping your hands clean and dry
- washing hands and bath towels on a regular basis
- not sharing towels with others
- keeping nails short with scissors or clippers
- not sharing nail clippers with other people
There isn’t a single best OTC treatment for nail fungus. To truly get rid of the underlying infection, you will need to consult a doctor for medical treatments, such as prescription antifungals.
Oral antifungal medications are some of the best treatments for severe cases of nail fungus. Laser treatment and nail removal are other options.
Fingernail fungus cannot be treated quickly, though prescription antifungals can help cure the infection.
There’s currently no evidence that any home remedy can fully clear up a fungal nail infection. Medical treatments, such as oral or topical antifungal medications, are necessary.
It can take at least 6 weeks for a fingernail fungal infection to clear, so it’s important to follow your treatment plan as prescribed by a healthcare professional. They can advise on how long the treatment will last based on factors such as the type of treatment and the severity of the infection.