Fingernail Fungus Remedies

Fungal infections around the fingernails are caused by an overabundance of the normal bacteria found in the area. It is important to keep your hands clean and dry to prevent the spread of the the microorganisms. If you develop an infection, there are some fingernail fungus remedies that have been proven to help you.

Vinegar

Soaking your hands in a bowl of vinegar and water has been known to help reduce the amount of fungus found around the fingernails. Mix 1/2 cup white or apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water, and submerge your hands for 15 minutes. Doing this daily will keep the fungus from growing. If the vinegar begins to irritate your skin, reduce the soakings to two or three weekly, or add more water to the bowl.

Vicks VapoRub

Rubbing your hands with Vicks VapoRub daily can help stop the reproduction of nail fungus. Work this into the area around your nails two to three times a day. This is a fairly slow treatment and has not been proven to eliminate the fungus. However, it has been known to reduce the amount of bacteria around the nails, and you should begin notice improvement within a week of applying it.

Tea Tree Oil

Applying tea tree oil extract directly to your nails is another popular fingernail fungus remedy. Drip one to two drops onto and around each fingernail daily. If your skin starts to itch with this treatment, combine the same amount of tea tree oil with olive oil. This does not decrease the power of the tea tree oil, but it will make it less irritating to your hands.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has been known to kill many different bacteria, including fingernail fungus. This can be applied to your nails in any way you prefer--by soaking the nails, dripping hydrogen peroxide on with a dropper or rubbing it on with a clean cotton swab. Make sure to get the liquid into the nail bed and under the nails as much as possible. Some have seen much improvement when using this remedy in as little as a week.

Keeping Fingers Clean and Dry

To relieve your fingernails of unwanted fungi, it is important to keep your nails as clean and dry as possible. Clip your fingernails regularly, using different set of clippers for infected and uninfected nails. This will help prevent the spread of the fungus. Wash your hands often, and be sure to get the soap thoroughly around the nails while lathering. If you wear disposable gloves regularly, change them often to prevent moisture buildup. Wash other gloves regularly to keep them and your hands clean.