How to Get Rid of Fingernail Fungus Fast?

04/23/2025

Home remedies to tackle nail fungus at home:

Going through a fungal infection of the fingernail or toenail can be worrisome.  No matter whether it is mild or severe, it can affect your day-to-day life and may be a roadblock to your active lifestyle. Therefore, it is required to treat it as soon as possible. There are several alternatives to medications that can help you get rid of it at home.  The following are the common home remedies that can be opted for to manage mild to moderate nail fungus alongside medical treatment:

Tea tree oil:

Tea tree oil is a promising method to combat fungal infections of the fingernail or toenail. Tea tree oil is known to have multiple benefits in a wide range of conditions, including nail fungus. It comes with antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which can be used as a natural nail fungus treatment. It is required to be applied topically to the affected region, be it the toenail or fingernail.

Tea tree oil is considered a good treatment for tackling nail fungus, yet more clinical research is needed to back up this method. The usage of tea tree oil can also bring about irritation to the nearby skin.

Vicks VapoRub:

Vicks VapoRub has become one of the essentials of our daily life and is used every now and then to manage a mild cold and joint pain. It is actually a cough suppressant and topical analgesic that is applied topically. Some key ingredients are camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus, which can also be advantageous for other topical uses, such as nail fungus.

One study was conducted to monitor the benefits of Vicks Vaporub, and the data were made public in 2011. Remarkably, most participants had fruitful outcomes using Vicks Vaporub after 48 weeks for nail fungus. However, the study profoundly focused on toenail fungus. So, if you plan to use it for fingernails, ensure to apply it to the affected region topically. Fingernail and toenail fungus treatment heavily relies on the severity of the infection.

Nail scraping:

Nail scraping is not deemed 100% effective in tackling the fungal infection of the fingernail or toenail. This method involves religiously eradicating the parts of the affected nail for about 2 to 3 weeks.

This process typically involves using an OTC kit with urea paste that helps to soften the nail alongside the scraping device.  To begin with, you need to first wash the affected area and pat dry it. After this, you are supposed to apply urea paste and cover the infected area with a bandage for about 24 hours before nail scraping.

While nail scraping is thought to work by eliminating the active infection, it may be ineffective in eradicating all the fungus. In order to clear up the infection entirely, you may still need to use antifungal medication such as ciclopirox nail lacquer. However, you should buy Ciclopirox nail lacquer online after a doctor’s consultation. 

When to seek medical attention? 

Upon witnessing the symptoms laid down, kindly get in touch with your healthcare provider. 

The signs of a serious fungal nail infection include: 

• Alterations in the color of the fingernail or discoloration

• White visible spots on your nail

• Nail brittleness and thickening

• Changes in the texture of your nails

• Pain in the affected finger

If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms or living with any condition that elevates your risk of developing this condition, such as diabetes, autoimmune disease, or psoriasis, seeing a certified doctor is important.

In addition to the above, if you have already begun any treatment for this condition but are not seeing any improvement in symptoms, it is worth consulting a doctor. This could indicate that treatment is not working or is not the right one for your specific condition.

What are potential medical treatments?

Home remedies may not be sufficient to clear up the infection entirely, which, as a result, even maximizes the chances of the infection coming back. Medical treatment comes as the last and proven method to clear the infection entirely. 

There is a plethora of treatments available; hence, seeking medical assistance is important. The doctor might check the severity of the infection and the root cause before prescribing any treatment. The following are some common medical treatments available for nail fungus: 

Antifungal medications:

At present, the market is full of antifungal medications in the form of oral medicines or topical paints. These are considered to clear up the infection by up to 80%. One of the best nail fungus treatments (topical) is ciclopirox nail lacquer. You can buy ciclopirox online from an online pharmacy like DayNightDrugs to maximize your savings. In addition to this, before you get any nail fungus medicine for personal use, please check with your healthcare provider first to know its efficacy for you.

Combination therapies:

In certain cases, combination therapies might be suggested to manage the infection effectively. In this method, you are prescribed both topical and oral antifungal medication to get rid of nail fungus. However, you should opt for it after consulting a healthcare provider.

Laser therapy:

If oral or topical medications seem ineffective in clearing up the infection entirely, you may be advised to opt for laser therapy. It helps to devastate fungi by using high-dose light energy.

Surgery:

It comes as a last resort and is recommended when all other treatments have failed to treat the infection. In surgery, a certified surgeon removes the infected nail.

Tips for mitigating the risk of developing nail fungus again: 

There are certain changes that can be incorporated into your lifestyle that will subside the risk of re-developing the infection and spreading to other nails: 

• Keeping your hands neat and dry

• Washing off towels and hands regularly

• Avoiding sharing towels with other people

• Don’t share nail clippers with other people

• Using sterilized scissors or clippers to keep nails short

Final words: 

Undoubtedly, nail fungus can be challenging to treat as it takes an extensive period. While nail fungus is common and rampant, you can mitigate your risk of encountering it by bringing certain changes to your lifestyle. Upon encountering the symptoms of nail fungus, you may be eager to treat it with home remedies. However, no study claims that home remedies are effective in entirely clearing up the infection. The infection may take weeks to months to be eliminated completely. Therefore, stick to the recommended regimen strictly. If you leave the treatment in between, it may cause the infection to come back. Medical treatments such as ciclopirox nail lacquer are highly effective in clearing the infection. You can buy Ciclopirox nail lacquer online to get through it seamlessly.

FAQs:

1. What kills nail fungus the fastest?

In order to treat nail fungus faster, you can opt for prescription oral antifungal medications such as terbinafine and itraconazole. However, you should consult your doctor first to know whether these medications are safe. Antifungal medications operate by killing the fungus from within the body, leading to faster results than topical treatments.

2. Why does Vicks VapoRub work on nail fungus?

Vicks VapoRub contains three major ingredients, namely camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil. Certain studies have shown that it can treat nail fungus effectively but not completely. It interferes with the growth of fungi, thereby reducing infection. Using Vicks Vaporub for nail fungus leads to very minimal to no side effects.

3. What is the quickest way to get rid of fungal nail infection?

Treating nail fungus can be irksome as it takes a long period. However, certain treatments can help you get through it safely. Which treatment is right for you depends on a multitude of factors such as infection severity, medical history, age, other ongoing treatments, etc. The common treatments for nail fungus are oral antifungals, topical treatments, and home remedies. However, of all treatments, oral antifungals are considered the best.

4. What is the fastest way to cure finger fungus?

There is a variety of treatments available to treat this condition. However, finding the right treatment can be tough. The following treatments can be accessed to deal with nail fungus: oral antifungals, topical treatments, laser treatments, and nail removal. Which treatment will work faster will depend on the severity of the infection