Nail fungus is not something you’d like to admit to having, but the sooner you do, the easier it becomes to get rid of it. Here’s a comprehensive guide to getting your toes or fingers back to their normal selves. Remember, the longer you wait, the harder it gets!
This Definitive Guide to Removing Nail Fungus works for of nail fungal infections. It works best when you follow it in detail and with dedication!
Getting Started: Here’s What It Takes
Understand the Personal Requirements
- Patience and dedication: Getting rid of nail fungus doesn’t happen in a flash, and you need to make a dedicated effort over a considerable period of time.
- It’s not pretty: This is not a beautiful process, so be prepared for some unsightly moments. Tell yourself that it’s worth it.
Guidelines
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Don’t skip days: Five minutes, twice a day, is all the commitment you need to get rid of nail fungus.2
Pay attention to details: This guide to treating toenail fungus works best when you follow it to the letter. Do your best!3
What you’ll need: A clean area for treatment application, nail clippers, a nail file, and a 10% Undecylenic Acid topical solution, with nail-penetrating essential oils. The Treatment Comparison page and the Selecting a Treatment page contained in this guide will help you choose the right product.
Gather your tools. Calm your mind. Breathe. Clean your treatment space and make sure you wash your tools between each nail.
Part 1.1: Remove Excess Nail
- Cut nails: Cut the infected nails as low as possible without causing any pain.
- File nails: Using a nail file, lightly file the top, sides, and front of your nails.
- How this helps: Nail fungus lives and grows within the nail bed, directly under your nail. Your nails are actually protecting the fungus, so it’s important to remove as much of this barrier as possible before treatment.
Part 2.1: Soak your nails twice daily
- Morning and evening soak: Place those infected toes or fingers in a bathtub, sink, or clean bucket filled with warm water and soak for one minute or more.
- How this helps: Warm water softens the skin around the nails, making them easier to clean, and allows the treatment solution to penetrate more thoroughly. It also feels really good!
Part 2.2: Soap and scrub
- Wash with soap: After soaking the infected areas, apply any soap and lather. Wash all surrounding areas. Make sure that you remove all dirt, grime, and sweat.
- Scrub clean: Scrub your infected toes and/or fingers vigorously, focussing on and around the infected nails. Apply pressure to loosen the skin as much as possible. Be careful with sensitive areas.
- How this helps: Thorough washing and scrubbing creates the ideal environment for treatment penetration.
Part 3.1: Eliminate Moisture
- Dry Infected Area: Use a clean towel or blow drier to remove all moisture from the infected area you just washed.
Part 3.2: Apply topical medication
- Treatment solution and applicator brush: As mentioned earlier, choose a treatment solution with exactly 10% Undecylinic Acid (explained in detail on the Selecting a Treatment page of this guide). All the products we’ve recommended will come with an applicator brush – normally attached to the container’s cap.
- Apply to nail tops: Using the applicator brush, apply a liberal amount of the treatment solution to the tops of infected nails. Make short, even brushstrokes towards your body. Distribute the treatment solution as evenly as possible across the entire nail.
- Apply to nail sides and surrounding skin: Continue with the brush, applying treatment solution around the nails. These areas are great entry points for the solution to penetrate the nail and reach the source of the fungus.
- Brush treatment solution onto nail front: The front of the nail, especially when thick and separated, can be a key re-entry point for fungal infections. Brush this area thoroughly with treatment solution.
Part 3.3: Allow treatment solution to get absorbed and dry
- Wait: Allow the treatment solution to dry completely before putting on socks or other footwear - this could take up to ten minutes.
Part 4.1: Choose the right footwear
- Nails need to breathe: Excess moisture or sweat creates the ideal breeding conditions for fungus. Wear sandals without socks whenever possible. We also suggest using moisture-wicking socks, mesh sneakers or open-toed shoes.
Part 4.2: Rotate your footwear
- Change your socks and Shoes regularly: Rotate your footwear and always wear clean socks. This reduces the opportunity for fungal spores to proliferate and helps to avoid future nail infections.
