Googling answers to treating toenail fungus? You may come across people who talk about rubbing alcohol for nail fungus. Does it work?
Discolored and painful toenails are sure signs that a fungus is present. There are other conditions that can cause discoloring of the nails, but a fungus is almost always the culprit.
Fortunately, there are no serious health issues linked to untreated nail fungus. But, that doesn’t mean it’s something you want to live with. There are several nasty side effects that come from toenail fungus.
A fungus can cause toenails to produce a foul odor, flake and thicken. The fungus is caused by bacteria that make their way into the nail bed. There are several ways to contract toenail fungus and lots of wet environments that help the fungus grow.
Many people use rubbing alcohol for nail fungus. However, rubbing alcohol is not some magical cure. It will only work under certain circumstances.
People use rubbing alcohol because it has excellent sterilization properties. The problem is that rubbing alcohol will almost always fail at curing a deep fungus infection. But it can be effective when used during the earliest stages of nail fungus.
How to Use It
First, clean the infected nails with soapy, warm water. Use a nail brush to expose bacteria and remove dirt from the bottom of the nails. After cleaning the nails thoroughly, dry them with a towel.
It is important to check for skin breaks because these give the bacteria access to the nails. When applied to an open wound, rubbing alcohol may cause a stinging sensation. The best way to use the alcohol is to pour some into a bowl or bucket and allow the nails to soak for twenty minutes.
Repeat this process twice every day. It is crucial to give the nails enough time to soak because the alcohol needs time to reach and attack the fungus. Any cleaning utensils used on the infected nails should be cleaned thoroughly.
Since the fungus is contagious, it can infect other nails. Or even worse, it can spread to family members. This cleansing process should be practiced for at least two weeks. If the nail fungus goes unaddressed, it’s almost impossible to treat with topical treatments or rubbing alcohol.
Pros and Cons of Rubbing Alcohol Treatment
After choosing to treat toenail fungus with rubbing alcohol, it is important to understand the pros and cons. The benefit of using this treatment is the fact that it is quite cheap. The amount of this product that you need to treat a minor case of nail fungus won’t cost much money.
In fact, most people don’t need more than one or two bottles of the alcohol, which should last for two weeks. Unlike some other treatment options, rubbing alcohol is common, and most stores sell it. Most major retailers sell this product, so it’s very accessible.
Some toenail fungus treatments are only available with a prescription. One of the downsides of using this treatment is that it is really only effective for minor cases of toenail fungus. For example, it becomes ineffective after the beginning stages of the fungus development.
Another issue with using this treatment option is that it has the potential to make the problem worse.
A lot of people have had success with laser fungus treatment, which instantaneously kills the fungus. Although it might not be suitable for everyone, laser treatment is easily the best cure for toenail fungus.
