How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor
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Toenails that are thick and yellowed can be caused by inadequate nutrition, poor health, fungal infections, or genetics. If home remedies don't work, seek the services of a podiatrist. In the meantime, here are a few steps to help you treat your nails.
Wash your instruments in soap and water, and rinse them with alcohol or antiseptic.
Cut the affected nail straight across with a nail clipper.
With a clean nail file and a wisp of cotton, clean out the debris under and around the sides of the nail.
Take a nail brush or old toothbrush and brush off as much flaky nail debris as possible when you remove the plaster.
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Comments
Anonymous said
on 4/13/2007 I had a fungal toenail for years and nothing got rid of it. I started taking prescribed medication, which after a year finally started to leave. It has come back and I have been told that garlic tablets twice daily will rid the fungal infection. So far it has kept it at bay.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 My toenails, primarily the large toe and the second toe, had become so thick they were not only ugly, but difficult to cut. I began taking omega 3 fatty acids for general health and mood having no idea that my toenails would be affected. After being on them for a good while I noticed a dramatic change in the thickness of my nails. They are now normal and healthy looking. I think the reason for the thickness was both age and genetics, as I remember my Father having extremely thick toenails. The difference has truly been dramatic.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 I've had the fungus on 9 toes for two years. Moderate success with Thymol in chloroform (which my source ran out of), and moderate success with vinegar. I tried tea tree oil for a month, and what a waste, set me back quite a bit. So now its back to vinegar, although I'm thinking of trying Vick's.
Anonymous said
on 2/6/2006 Appearex is a supplement (vitamin) for helping grow healthy nails. It is advertised for fingernails but works for toenails, too! Toenails take a long time to grow out (six months), so you need to keep taking it. Look in the nail care aisles of your drug store. I tried it and it worked!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I am a podiatric medical student and part of my education is traveling around to see different podiatrists' methods of treating podiatric issues. One of the more troublesome issues is fungal nails. A treatment (other than oral and/or topical anti fungals) that I have seen work is the combination of Listerine and white vinegar. Mix equal parts (1:1) of Listerine and white vinegar into a container. At this point you can mix enough of it to soak just the affected toenails in or apply it to the toenails using a q-tip. If soaking, soak the affected nails for 10-15 minutes, preferably twice a day. If applying using a cotton swab, apply twice a day. The best thing to do with any topical treatment would be to file the top of the nail and then apply the mixture or topical anti fungal.
Be patient, a toenail only grows about 1mm per month, so gradually you will start to see new clear nail grow. Within a year if the treatment is working for you then you'll have a normal looking toenail.
As an aside, I have also heard of using Vick's VapoRub, however I have not seen firsthand whether this treatment works or not! And of course, if all else fails, go to your local podiatrist as he/she should have many tricks up his/her sleeves to knockout fungal nails!