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These OTC treatments will turn your nails from yellow and brittle to clear and strong. veterinary laser equine
It's not cute or glamorous, but nail fungus happens—especially to those who love to move and hit the gym. Nail fungal infections, aka onychomycosis (say that three times fast), are fairly common. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, they occur in 10 percent of the general population, 20 percent of people older than 60 years old, and 50 percent of those older than 70.
Toenail infections are fungal infections that spread from skin-to-skin contact or skin-to-surface contact. “Fungus live in warm, moist environments, such as sweaty feet, moist socks, public gyms, public showers, and hotel rooms, as well as in your own home,” says Sidney Weiser, DPM, founder and president of Quality Podiatry Group. Fortunately, many over-the-counter (OTC) options are available to help you battle these infections. After consulting with podiatrists and dermatologists (in addition to conducting our own thorough research), these are the best toenail fungus treatments.
Why We Like It: This easy-to-apply, effective formula tackles even the most long-lasting cases of toenail fungus.
It’s Worth Noting: Some people had difficulty with the packaging.
Type: Liquid | Size: .1 oz | Ingredients: ethanol, propylene glycol, chlorhexidine acetate
The Ariella Toenail Fungus Treatment does the trick on both fingernails and toenails. Shoppers repeatedly rave about how it's out-performed many similar products they've tried and how easy it is to use. To that point, it touts a super convenient and mess-free brush-on applicator, and the liquid formula dries very quickly. The brand promises results in two to four weeks and recommends applying the treatment two to three times per day to help eliminate discoloration and strengthen nails.
Why We Like It: This multiuse formula treats toenail fungus, nail psoriasis, and more—making it a great mainstay in the medicine cabinet.
It’s Worth Noting: Some people had application issues.
Type: Polish | Size: 13 milliliters | Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Urea, White Petrolatum
Amazon's top choice for "nail repair," this one-stop-shop not only helps treat fungal infections, but it's also ideal for addressing any type of nail damage or discoloration due to one too many gel manicures, aging nails, or just general brittleness. Much like the Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal formula (which is targeted at those who just have fungal infections), it needs to be used twice a day for the first week and then once a day thereafter. Luckily, the formula is clear and odorless, so it's easy to use discreetly.
Again, this product’s weakness is in the applicator itself. Many folks noted that it didn’t work well or broke before they could start to use it. Buyers should be gentle as they open the packaging and start to use Kerasal.
Why We Like It: Our dermatologist source loves this effective, affordable, and easy-to-use formula.
It’s Worth Noting: This product takes longer to take effect than some other options.
Type: Gel | Size: 1.6oz | Ingredients: Tolnaftate
"[Fungi Nail Anti-Fungal Ointment] is one of my favorite nail fungal treatments because it relieves symptoms such as burning and itching and also restores the skin under the nail and around the cuticle," says Lucy Chen, M.D., a dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. “It's also very easy to use and won't break the bank.” It touts Tolnaftate 1 percent, a clinically proven anti-fungal active ingredient, to cure and prevent infection, as well as five essential oils — tea tree oil, aloe vera, eucalyptol, olive oil, and lavender — to restore skin health. On a not-so-positive note, many reviewers found that this formula took a little longer to start working (up to a month) compared to other options.
Why We Like It: This easy-to-apply, everyday treatment works as preventative care for fungus-prone nails.
It’s Worth Noting: This formula is designed to work even if you’re wearing nail polish.
Type: Oil | Size: 15mL | Ingredients: Tea tree oil
Applying cuticle oil daily is arguably one of the best (and easiest) ways to strengthen nails. Dr.'s Remedy Anti-Fungal Caress Cuticle Oil goes above and beyond the call of duty, thanks to the inclusion of undecylenic acid, an ingredient to help treat and even prevent fungal infections from starting. The other nice thing? The formula can even permeate polish, meaning users can apply the oil even if their nails are painted.
Why We Like It: This effective product features one simple ingredient: tea tree oil.
It’s Worth Noting: This formula isn’t specifically designed to combat toenail fungus.
Type: Oil | Size: .33oz | Ingredients: Tea Tree Oil
For those on the search for a totally natural nail fungus treatment option (or just an easy at-home remedy), Dr. Chen suggests tea tree oil. Naturally anti-fungal, "it's been studied to be just as effective as clotrimazole, the active ingredient found in many over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments," she says. She recommends diluting Healing Solutions Tea Tree Essential Oil with a carrier oil (olive or jojoba are both good options) before dabbing it onto the nail and surrounding skin. Of course, it’s important to remember that this oil isn’t specifically designed to treat toenail fungus like many of the other items on this list. Those who prefer more clinical options should look elsewhere.
Why We Like It: This dark horse product is a great option for those who’ve tried everything to no avail.
It’s Worth Noting: This formula isn’t explicitly designed to combat toenail fungus.
Type: Ointment | Size: 1.76oz | Ingredients: Menthol, camphor
Vicks VapoRub is often mentioned as an effective nail fungus treatment because of both the active and inactive ingredients it contains, according to Dr. Stern. "Thymol, menthol, camphor, and oil of eucalyptus have shown efficacy against dermatophytes in a lab setting," she explains. The caveat? Those using this (or any other type of alternative) regularly and not seeing any improvement after two to four months should see a dermatologist, she advises. That's because similar to tea tree oil, Vicks Vaporub Ointment wasn’t specifically designed to help with toe fungus. Those who prefer more straightforward options should choose another product on the list.
Why We Like It: Runners swear by this formula because it only has to be applied once a week.
It’s Worth Noting: It’s a much steeper price than other options on the market.
Type: Gel | Size: 5mL | Ingredients: Amorolfine
Runners ask a lot of their feet, so when marathon training leads to a bad case of toenail fungus, it’s time to practice some foot care. Luckily, LOCERYL Antifungal Nail Treatment is effective with a once-weekly application, making it great for those of us who spend a lot of time in running shoes and may not have the patience to let our nail gel dry every single day.
Why We Like It: Sometimes we just want to cover up the problem, and Dr’s Remedy Nail Polish comes in 40 vibrant shades that do just that.
It’s Worth Noting: This polish takes its time drying.
Type: Polish | Size: 1.5oz | Ingredients: Tea tree oil
While Dr. Weiser says it’s inadvisable to wear nail polish over a bad case of toenail fungus, life happens! Maybe there’s a wedding on the horizon or a trip to the beach that requires hot pink toenails. When an occasion for polish arrives, Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish offers beautiful colors and antifungal tea tree oil. Users did note, however, that this polish takes quite a while to dry. So throw on a TV show, apply a couple of coats, and relax.
physiotherapy electric machine Kells McPhillips is a health and wellness writer living in Los Angeles. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, Well+Good, Shape, Fortune, Runner’s World, Outside, Yoga Journal, and others.