Onychomycosis cure with home remedy - There is a natural, effective treatment that can help
April 20 2018 by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Onychomycosis, a chronic fungal infection of the nail, is often treated using various modalities including creams and oral pills, however, none of the standard medical treatments for onychomycosis are fully effective, and many of the oral medications used for onychomycosis treatment can cause serious health issues including liver damage.

Natural onychomycosis cure or treatment 
I have come across an inexpensive onychomycosis treatment that works well in the majority of people and has no side effects. This treatment is effective -- it reduces the redness and infection of the skin around the nail -- but it is rarely a cure. Follow all of these suggestions if you wish to limit the growth of your fungal infection. For a page that updates this treatment more frequently and gives more specific details, see nail fungus.

Go the the grocery store and buy a large bag of Epsom salts, also known as magnesium sulfate. Also buy a nail filer.

File the thickened nail down as much as it is comfortable before soaking. Keep the nails as short as you can.  Every few days it is helpful to file the thickened nail down so that the Epsom salt has access to the deeper layers. By filing away the excess thickened nail, it could speed the recovery.

At least once a day or preferably twice a day, soak your affected toes in a container with water and a palmful of Epsom salt. I used very hot water for my treatment, and I am not sure if room temperature water is also effective. I boiled water and added it to a bowl and as soon as it was comfortable to soak my toes, I added a few tablespoons of the magnesium sulfate crystals and soaked by feet and toes for at least 15 minutes while watching TV. Occasionally i would take my toes out of the water, add the Epsom salt directly to the nails and let it out of the water for a minute or two before soaking them again (not sure if this is needed, but I wanted direct contact of the nails and surrounding skin with the magnesium sulfate.

I am not sure if soaking the feet more than twice a day will heal the onychomycosis sooner, but if you are motivated to do so, go ahead.

In order for this treatment to be effective, you have to keep your feet out of shoes and socks as much as possible. Wear sandals as much as possible. The more time your feet spend in socks or shoes, the more difficult it will be for you to get rid of this onychomycosis.

If you have to wear shoes, for instance at work, at least take them off during lunch, soak your feet in the Epsom salt, and wear new socks and a different pair of shoes the rest of the afternoon and take your shoes off when you get home.

Sleep at night with your feet outside of the blanket. If you feet get cold, wear socks with the tips cut off so that at least your toes are open to the air.

Basically, the idea is to kill the fungus in the nails. The fungi love heat and humidity. The cooler and drier you keep your toes and feet, the quicker they will heal. Magnesium sulfate acts as a powerful drying agent. Perhaps it also directly kills the fungi, but I don't know for sure. Fungi love humidity and moistness.

If you are a construction worker or have to wear shoes daily for prolonged periods, it may be difficult to cure your onychomycosis. If you are very motivated, consider taking a sabbatical for 2 months to take care of your nails.

If you have onychomycosis and surrounding athlete's foot, the magnesium sulfate soaks could help. You could apply an anti-fungal cream to the skin around the nail, massaging it deeply. Tea tree oil is an good option. Onychomycosis is very difficult to cure. By preventing the spread of athlete's foot, nail infection can be minimized or avoided.

Onychomycosis information
Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease and describes the invasion of the nail by fungi. Different clinical patterns of infection depend on the way and the extent by which fungi colonize the nail: distal subungual onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis, white superficial onychomycosis, endonyx onychomycosis and total dystropic onychomycosis. The type of nail invasion depends on both the fungus responsible and on host susceptibility. Treatment of onychomycosis depends on the clinical type of the onychomycosis, the number of affected nails and the severity of nail involvement. The goals for antifungal therapy are mycological cure and a normal looking nail.

Traditional Onychomycosis treatment
Onychomycosis is an infection of the nail plate that is prevalent among the aging population. Onychomycosis is difficult to treat with low initial cure rates, high rates of relapse, and reinfection. Present treatment options include oral and topical therapies, with oral therapies yielding better results. However, there has been a greater emphasis on the development of topical antifungal therapies as they have fewer side effects and drug interactions.

Surgical, chemical, topical, and oral methods are common. Severe onychomycosis infections may be treated with oral antifungal agents or combinations of oral agents and oral antifungals or oral and topical lacquer antifungals. The three systemic onychomycosis treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration include terbinafine, itraconazole, and griseofulvin. Typically, oral medications are used reluctantly by patients since the potential for liver or kidney side effects and medication interactions may be significant.
   Ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer is available, however its effectiveness is quite limited. As a last resort, infected toe nails can be surgically removed.

Efinaconazole topical solution effective against early onychomycosis. Patients with early onychomycosis can be effectively treated with once-daily efinaconazole topical solution, 10%.

J Cutan Med Surg. 2015. Management of Onychomycosis in Canada in 2014. Onychomycosis has several clinical presentations and is caused by various infectious organisms. Several options are available: terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer, efinaconazole 10% nail solution, and laser therapy. Further studies on lasers are needed before use can be recommended. Nondermatophyte molds or mixed infection can be managed with terbinafine or itraconazole with or without topicals. Itraconazole, fluconazole, and efinaconazole can be used for Candida infection. For dermatophytes, topicals can be considered for mild to moderate onychomycosis. For moderate to severe cases, any oral monotherapy can be used; however, we suggest terbinafine if there is a possibility of a drug interaction. These recommendations can be applied for all ages, immune function, or metabolic status, but proper monitoring and contraindications should be taken into consideration.

Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013. Current and emerging options in the treatment of onychomycosis. Currently approved options for the treatment of onychomycosis include systemic therapy (the antifungal agents fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine), topical agents (ciclopirox, which has been available since 1996, efinaconazole, currently pending approval), and laser systems. Phase III studies on another topical, tavaborole, have been completed and this medication also shows promise. Mechanical modalities are sometimes used but are seldom necessary. Recurrence of infection is common; the risk for recurrence may be reduced by adherence to preventive measures, especially avoiding (if possible) or promptly treating tinea pedis infections.

Mycoses. 2013. Efficacy of 4 weeks topical bifonazole treatment for onychomycosis after nail ablation with 40% urea: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter study. We observed higher early overall cure rate with 4 weeks topical bifonazole compared with placebo after removal of infected nail parts with urea. This two stage treatment was well tolerated and offers an additional option in topical onychomycosis therapy.

Pediatr Dermatol. 2013. Onychomycosis does not always require systemic treatment for cure: a trial using topical therapy. Standard teaching dictates that systemic therapy is required for treatment of onychomycosis. It is unknown whether topical antifungal therapy is effective for pediatric nail infections. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study was conducted in the Pediatric Dermatology Research Unit at Rady Children's Hospital to determine whether topical antifungal therapy is efficacious for pediatric onychomycosis. Forty patients ages 2 to 16 years with nonmatrix onychomycosis were randomized 1:3 to ciclopirox lacquer or vehicle lacquer. Ciclopirox lacquer or vehicle was applied daily for 32 weeks, with weekly removal of the lacquer and mechanical trimming. Those with poor response were crossed over to active drug at week 12. Thirty-seven patients completed the 32-week study, and follow-up data were collected 1 year after completion of the study from 24 patients. Mycologic cure, effective treatment, and complete cure were assessed, as well as adverse events and effect on quality of life. Mycologic cure was 70% in the treated group and 20% in the vehicle arm at week 12. At end of the study (week 32), 77% of treated patients achieved mycologic cure and 71% effective treatment, compared with 22% of the control group. Ninety-two percent of those who were cured and followed for 1 year remained clear. Topical antifungal lacquer (ciclopirox) can be an effective option for children with nonmatrix onychomycosis. Pediatric onychomycosis does not always require systemic therapy and responds better to topical therapy than does adult disease.

Testimonial received April 2018
I've had infected nails for years and I've been using Amorolfine nail lacquer for at least two years but it doesn't appear to work. I'm going to start with the Epsom Salts and also with Oregano oil.

Oral antifungal drugs, danger, caution
There are several oral antifungal onychomycosis treatment drugs: griseofulvin, itraconazole, terbinafine, ketoconazole, and fluconazole. Griseofulvin is fungistatic and inhibits nucleic acid synthesis, arresting cell division at metaphase, and impairing fungal wall synthesis. Due to its low cure rates and high relapse, it is rarely used for treatment of onychomycosis. Itraconazole is a broad spectrum drug and is effective against dermatophytes, candida, and some nondermatophytic molds. Itraconazole works by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis via cytochrome P-450 (CYP450)-dependent demethylation step.

The Food and Drug Administration is warning health care professionals not to prescribe oral ketoconazole for patients with fungal infections of the skin and nails, because of "the risks of serious liver damage, adrenal gland problems, and harmful interactions with other medicines that outweigh its benefit in treating these conditions." The advisory, issued on May 19, 2016 points out that oral ketoconazole (Nizoral) is no longer approved for treating nail or skin fungal infections. Topical forms of ketoconazole have not been associated with liver damage, adrenal problems, or drug interactions.

A multicentre, randomized, controlled study of the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of a combination therapy with amorolfine nail lacquer and oral terbinafine compared with oral terbinafine alone for the treatment of onychomycosis with matrix involvement.
Br J Dermatol. 2007. Nail Disease Centre, 42 rue des Serbes, Cannes, France.
Onychomycosis is common, accounting for up to 50% of all nail disorders. Toenail onychomycosis can cause nail deformity, embarrassment, pain and walking difficulties. Some populations, such as individuals with diabetes, are at higher risk for developing secondary complications such as infections. Treatment takes many months and therapeutic choices can increase clinical effectiveness, lower toxicity and minimize healthcare costs. The objective of the present study was to show, in a larger population, the enhanced efficacy of a combination of amorolfine nail lacquer and oral terbinafine in the treatment of onychomycosis with matrix involvement. Conclusions: Study results confirmed that, in the treatment of dermatophytic toenail onychomycosis with matrix involvement, amorolfine nail lacquer in combination with oral terbinafine enhances clinical efficacy and is more cost-effective than terbinafine alone.

Laser treatment
J Drugs Dermatol. 2014. Comparison of the efficacy of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser intervention for treatment of onychomycosis of toenails or fingernails. Current studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of laser intervention in the treatment of onychomycosis. The efficacy of long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser intervention against affected toenails is superior to that against fingernails. It is also effective for treatment of onychomycosis with different severity.

Onychomycosis in children
This infection is not common in children. Itraconazole and terbinafine seem to be effective in childhood onychomycosis and these antifungals seem to be potential alternatives to griseofulvin. However, long term risks are not clearly understood.

Cause, fungi
Most onychomycosis infections result from dermatophyte organisms and present as distal lateral subungual onychomycosis. Mild infections involve relatively small areas of the nail plate without infection of the nail matrix or lunula. Heat and moist environments in the shoe help the fungus grow.

Onychomycosis represents about 50% of ungueal pathology. Dermatophytes (especially Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale) are the main species involved in tinea pedis. Yeasts of the Candida (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis,…) genus are predominant on hands and very often associated with ungueal disease and perionyxis. Fungi other than the classic dermatophytes and yeasts can be rarely isolated from nail diseases. Among them, species belonging to Scopulariopsis, Aspergillus and Fusarium genus are mainly found,

Onychomycosis in diabetes
In older patients with long-standing diabetes, toenails that are thickened and discolored often suggest onychomycosis. Dr. Stephanie Wu, from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago,, evaluated 96 patients with decreased foot sensitivity, a common finding among diabetics, and thickened, discolored nails. The patients, who were seen for routine care at a diabetes clinic, were all male, an average of 71 years old, and had diabetes for an average 16 years. Dr. Stephanie Wu got nail clippings of the most affected nail and debris under the nail. Twenty-five of the patients had nail thickening but no evidence of infection. The other 71 patients had fungal nail infections.

Debridement for onychomycosis
Debridement is a technique that may be used in nearly any degree of infection to aid treatment efficacy by reducing the burden of fungal infection. Filing of the nail with a nail file is an option.

The medical community is unaware of a natural onychomycosis cure
Onychomycosis in the elderly : drug treatment options.
Drugs Aging. 2007. Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The prevalence of onychomycosis is nearly 20% in patients aged >60 years. In North America, 90% of toenail onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes (Trichophyton species). Distal-lateral subungual onychomycosis is the most common clinical presentation. The potassium hydroxide test is the most cost-effective diagnostic method. Elderly patients have specific risk factors for poor response to therapy for onychomycosis, including frequent nail dystrophy, slow growth of nails and increased prevalence of peripheral vascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Elderly people with diabetes should be treated for onychomycosis to prevent secondary bacterial infections and subsequent complications. Terbinafine is the drug of choice for dermatophyte onychomycosis, with greater mycological cure rates, less serious and fewer drug interactions, and a lower cost than continuous itraconazole therapy. Adjunct debridement may improve the clinical and complete cure rates compared with terbinafine alone. Common adverse effects of terbinafine in the elderly include nausea, sinusitis, arthralgia and hypercholesterolaemia. For onychomycosis caused by Candida or nondermatophyte moulds, there is no superior systemic therapy. In general, topical nail lacquers, amorolfine and ciclopirox are not practical for elderly patients because of the recommended frequency of application, periodic routine debridement of affected nails and long duration of therapy.

Natural onychomycosis treatment emails
I have been using Epsom salts for about 4 months and have nice clear nails coming in. I work from home so have been soaking my feet several hours a day and brushing the solution on also. I avoid any closed in shoes and always wear sandals when I can. I keep by dress shoes in the car and put them on for client visits and off when I'm done. You information made me whole again. I cant thank you enough.

I am a family physician in central Illinois and agree that liver toxic Lamisil and the other topical products to treat toenail fungus are worthless. Knowing that vinegar soaks work partially I invented and have now commercialized Dr Paul’s Piggy Paste which has acetic acid thymol in our best central Illinois hospice penetrating gel. By placing the gel daily at the cuticle /toenail junction and placing a bandaid the problem clears in many cases. It appears to be safe and nonsystemic.

I am an allopathic physician as well, and not too fond of the current recommendations for treatment of onychomycosis. Over a long winter using rubber boots a lot, I seem to have developed a case of fungus in one toenail. The good news is that it looks like I've cured it over the course of a month or so by daily application of coconut oil and cinnamon essential oil, both of which have antifungal properties. I also bought a lot of clean white cotton socks and change frequently. Just passing this information along, as it seems to dovetail with what you're recommending. (And it smells really good, too!) Thanks for passing along these natural cures.

I had two nails affected by onychomycosis for a period of 4 years, and no pharmaceutical prescription ointment or cream was effective. I did not take oral antifungal medications since I did not with to expose my body to liver harming drugs. Using epsom salts after filing the nails did help, but it is not a cure.