HEALTHY LIVING Fix Your. . . Nail Fungus


OVERVIEW: Nail fungus, called onychomycosis, is a common infection that causes discolored, thickened, and even crumbling toenails, and less commonly fingernails. It starts as a white or yellow discoloration, and without treatment, can last indefinitely and lead to painful inflammation.


WHY YOU HAVE NAIL FUNGUS Age. Although anyone can get


toenail fungus, it is more common in older people and affects approximately 50% of adults over the age of 70. Weakened immune system.


An autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, or multiple sclerosis, increases the risk. Injury. Injury to a nail


makes it easier for the fungus to penetrate it. Long-term use of nail polish makes nails more brittle and susceptible to fungus, and the gap caused by an artificial nail and the natural one is an ideal breeding ground for fungus. Athlete’s foot. Previous cases of


athlete’s foot increase your odds. Walking barefoot in public


areas. Using public showers and locker rooms and walking around swimming pools can expose you to the fungus.


WHAT TO DO Try tea tree oil. Studies have


found tea tree oil to be as effective as prescription topical antifungal medications. Experts recommend painting the affected nail with the oil, which has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties, a few times a day for several months. Use Vicks VapoRub. While this ointment is typically used to treat a cold, its ingredients, which include camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol, have antifungal properties. A study published in the


108 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | NOVEMBER 2025


Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that 83% of people who used the product daily reported improvement, and 28% were completely cured. Try OTC meds. Tinactin, Lotrimin,


and Lamisil are all over-the- counter treatments for toenail fungus. Ask your pharmacist for recommendations. Soak your feet in Listerine


and vinegar. Listerine contains antifungal ingredients, including thymol and menthol, and the acidity found in vinegar discourages fungi. Combine equal amounts of the two and soak your toes in the solution for up to an hour each day. Brush on oregano oil. Oregano


oil contains thymol, which is antifungal. A study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that thymol slashed fungus by almost 90%. Experts recommend applying the oil twice a day. Try ozonized sunflower oil.


A randomized phase III Brazilian trial found ozonized sunflower oil was effective and worked even better than the antifungal ketoconazole.


WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS If your nails do not improve despite your best efforts, your doctor can help. Your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose toenail fungus by simply looking at your toe, but may take a sample from under your nail for analysis. You may be prescribed an oral antifungal medication, such as Lamisil, Sporanox, or Diflucan. However, these meds must be taken for several weeks to be effective, often come with side effects, and are successful only about half of the time. Topical treatments, such as medicated nail polish, like Penlac, and prescription medicated nail creams, like Jublia and Kerydin, are more effective when combined with oral medications. Laser treatments, which use focused light to kill the fungus, are expensive, and cure rates are less than those for oral meds. SOURCES: American Academy of Dermatology, National Institutes of


Health, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Healthline, Prevention, scripps.org, NOVA, and WebMD


Shock Waves Kill Nail Fungus S


cientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences tested a portable device called a pulsed cold air plasma jet (PP-CAPJ) on nail models infected with Trichophyton rubrum, the fungus responsible for most nail infections. The device generates short bursts of energized gas that produce shockwaves, which press against the nail and safely break down the fungus’ cell membrane. In laboratory tests, the plasma treatment destroyed up to 90% of nail fungus cells, researchers reported in Applied Physics Letters.


FOOT/USTY/SHUTTERSTOCK / VINEGAR/TETIANA GUTNYK©ISTOCK / SHOCKWAVE/SUWAT TITA©ISTOCK


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