From the Guidelines
Natural treatments for onychomycosis, such as tea tree oil, vinegar soaks, and garlic, may be effective for mild cases, but severe infections often require prescription medications like terbinafine or itraconazole, as evidenced by studies 1. When considering natural remedies, it's essential to note that they may not be as effective as prescription treatments, but can still provide some benefits.
Natural Remedies
- Tea tree oil can be applied directly to affected nails twice daily using a cotton swab, as it has antifungal properties that can penetrate the nail.
- Vinegar soaks, made by mixing equal parts white vinegar and warm water, can be used to soak feet for 15-20 minutes daily, creating an acidic environment that makes it difficult for fungus to thrive.
- Crushed garlic can be applied to nails for 30 minutes daily, due to its compound allicin, which has antifungal properties.
- Coconut oil, containing caprylic acid that combats fungus, can be massaged into affected nails twice daily. These natural treatments require consistent application for several months, as nail fungus is stubborn and nails grow slowly.
Prevention and Hygiene
To prevent recurrence, it's crucial to keep feet clean and dry, wear breathable shoes, and change socks daily. While natural remedies may help with mild cases, severe infections might require prescription medications, so it's essential to consult a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or don't improve after several weeks of treatment, as supported by guidelines 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The comprehensive management program includes removal of the unattached, infected nails as frequently as monthly, by a health care professional who has special competence in the diagnosis and treatment of nail disorders, including minor nail procedures.
The natural treatments for onychomycosis (nail fungus) mentioned in the drug label are:
- Removal of the unattached, infected nails as part of a comprehensive management program. No other natural treatments are directly mentioned in the provided drug labels 2.
From the Research
Natural Treatments for Onychomycosis
There are several natural treatments for onychomycosis, including:
- Topical antifungal agents such as amorolfine and ciclopirox, which have been shown to be effective in treating mild to moderate onychomycosis 3, 4, 5
- Mechanical treatments such as nail avulsion and abrasion, which can be used as adjuncts to topical therapy 3
- Chemical avulsion, a painless method of debridement that uses a keratinolysis formula, which can be effective in limited and early disease 3
- Systemic therapies such as terbinafine and itraconazole, which can be used in combination with topical therapy for severe onychomycosis 3, 4
Effectiveness of Topical Antifungal Agents
Topical antifungal agents such as efinaconazole 10% solution and tavaborole 5% solution have been shown to be effective in treating onychomycosis, with mycologic cure rates superior to those achieved with ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer 6
- Amorolfine and ciclopirox have been shown to have a broad antifungal activity and can be used in combination with oral antifungal agents to improve efficacy 5
- The sporicidal effect of amorolfine and other antimycotics used in the therapy of fungal nail infections has been studied, with results showing that amorolfine and ciclopirox have a high sporicidal efficacy against microconidia, chlamydospores, and blastospores 7
Treatment Strategies
Treatment strategies for onychomycosis may include:
- The use of a topical antifungal agent with debridement for mild to moderate onychomycosis 3
- The use of a systemic antifungal agent such as terbinafine in combination with a topical antifungal agent for severe onychomycosis 3, 4
- The use of a combination of topical and oral antifungal agents to improve efficacy and reduce the risk of recurrence 4, 5