Toenail Fungus

How to avoid it & what to do about it.

What is toenail fungus?

A fungal infection of the toenails is a common problem, found in approximately 10% of all people. This type of infection is referred to as “onychomycosis”, and affects toenails because they are a perfect environment for this problem due to often being in warm, dark, and moist places like shoes & socks for long periods.

A fungal infection of the toenail results in the nail becoming thick & yellow, and often brittle. The noticeable changes are due to the damage to the nail itself, as the fungus lives, grows, and multiplies underneath the nail.

Many people live with this type of infection for long periods, not knowing what to do about it. In this article, I will provide some simple ways you can prevent or fix the problem, and I want to emphasize how important it is to get a toenail infection cleared. When left untreated, toenail fungus can lead to complications such as serious infections in the toes, feet or legs. Furthermore, these infections can be an indicator of deeper issues such as problems with the immune system.

How is it diagnosed?

Most of the time, toenail fungus is diagnosed just by looking at it. A toenail that is infected with a fungus typically has a hazy yellow or brown discoloration, becomes thick and somewhat brittle, and can have a foul odor. However, a lab test can be done as well, which will help to determine exactly what type of fungus, yeast, or mold is causing the issue. Such a test can be an important step if an infection is stubborn and won’t resolve.

If you believe you may have a fungal infection of the toenail, I encourage you to seek a trained professional to confirm the diagnosis. There are features of toenail fungus that can mimic more serious problems such as cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, vitamin deficiency, or a bacterial infection that should not be missed. If this is something you’d like assistance with, please feel free to click here to get connected to my telehealth practice and I’ll be glad to help.

Can it be prevented?

Yes, toenail fungal infections can be prevented with a few simple strategies:

Strengthen your immune system

• Help optimize your immune system by supplementing with vitamin c, vitamin d, zinc, and NAC daily. These vitamins and supplements are proven to strengthen your immune function and reduce your risk of infections. Read more about each of these in the links above. For access to high quality vitamins and supplements at a discount, visit my Fullscript dispensary HERE.

• Drink plenty of water. For most adults drinking 0.5 to 1 ounce of water for each pound of body weight daily is a good general guideline. For a 150 pound adult this would be 75-150 ounces daily.

• Get enough sleep! Adequate sleep is a critical component to keep your immune system in strong working order. Read more about sleep optimization here.

Improve your diet

• Optimize insulin sensitivity by reducing the amount of calories you get from carbohydrates (breads, pasta, candy, soda, juices), and instead eat a diet high in protein and healthy fats. The fungus that causes this problem loves sugar, and when you eat a diet high in carbohydrates, you’re literally feeding the problem!

• Practice intermittent fasting (time-restricted eating). For a complete explanation, please read my article about intermittent fasting here.

Change the environment

• It is important to keep your feet clean and dry as much as possible. Clean your feet & toes each day with soap in the shower. Consider using a small brush (try a toothbrush) to clean around your nail beds.

• After showering, dry your feet very thoroughly before putting on socks (you can even blow dry them).

• Rotate shoes often, as they can hold onto excess sweat & moisture for days. And when home, go barefoot!

• Give your feet some sun. Expose your feet to direct sunlight for at least 5 minutes daily. This can help keep the fungus from growing.

• Keep your toenail neat and trimmed. Be sure to clip nails straight across leaving the corners exposed, and avoid cutting or trimming the cuticles, as doing so can create a pathway for pathogens to get deeper into the tissues.

Reduce your risk

• Keep in mind that this kind of infection can be transmitted from person to person either by direct contact, or in shared environments such as shoes or showers.

• Exposure to nail care equipment (such as in a salon) that has not been properly sterilized between customers can transmit fungus from one to another.

• Other risk factors for toenail fungus include diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use.

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What can you do to get rid of toenail fungus?

Soaks

• Apple cider vinegar - Soak in a mixture of warm water and apple cider vinegar or white vinegar once or twice daily for 15 minutes. Mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water.

• Epsom salts - 2 Tablespoons of epsom salt dissolved in 4 cups of warm water. Soak your feet 15 minutes each day.

Topical treatments

• Iodine - Consider using decolorized iodine to avoid staining. Apply 1-2 drops on the nail before bed each night. The great thing about this approach is there are no side effects.

• Essential oils - Teatree oil, oregono oil, clove oil, lavender oil are all potent anti-fungal and antimicrobials. Apply a few drops on the affected nails and cuticles once daily. Keep in mind that some may have a inflammatory or allergic reaction to one of these oils. Use only one at a time in order to be able to assess for such a reaction.

• Vicks VapoRub - Apply a small amount to the affected nail(s) once each day.

• Topical antifungal medications - These are available by prescription but are only effective in early/mild cases.

Medications

• Medications like Terbinafine (lamisil) and Itraconazole can be very effective for these types of infections. However, these often need to be taken daily for up to 12 weeks to clear such an infection. Furthermore, they are cleared from the body by the liver and in some cases can cause it to become inflamed. It is important to have a blood test to verify healthy liver function prior to beginning this treatment, and sometimes again during the course of treatment.

What next?

After the fungus has been cleared, it may still take approximately 6-18 months for a new healthy nail to completely grow out and to regain its normal, healthy appearance. Once it has been damaged, your nail itself cannot be repaired, but must regrow, and this takes time. Make sure you follow the preventative steps listed above to keep such an infection from returning.

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