How Long Does It Take For Vinegar To Kill Toenail Fungus?

Toenail fungus is a fungal infection of your toenail or fingernail. Though it is rarely seen in fingers, it is quite commonly seen in toes. It is also known as onychomycosis. It makes your toenail discoloured, distorted, thickened and brittle. If left untreated, it may lead to pain upon pressure. Toenail fungus is difficult to cure. Repeat episodes are quite common.

Depending upon the severity of the condition and also the type of fungus that is responsible for causing toenail fungus, it may take several days to weeks for toenail fungus to get cured.⁽¹⁾ Same applies to using vinegar as well. Also, even after it is cured completely, there are chances that there may be a repeat infection at the same place or a different toe.

All in all, it depends on the severity of the condition and the type of fungus involved that how much time would be required for vinegar to kill fungus. On an average, it may require anywhere around three to four weeks.

How To Use Vinegar For Treating Toenail Fungus?

Vinegar is acetic acid in a diluted form
It is very versatile and almost completely harmless
It can be used for a variety of purposes like cooking, cleaning and soaking our feet!
Vinegar is a powerful antifungal. It has been found that it slows down the growth of some kinds of foot fungus.

Using Vinegar To Soak Feet

Though vinegar is harmless, it is a good idea to dilute it before using for foot soak. A ratio of 1:2 for vinegar and water is a good standard ratio that can be used by almost everyone for soaking their feet. A stronger solution can be used if you tolerate this dilution⁽²⁾.

The vinegar soak may feel like it stinks, but the smell will vanish once the vinegar dries off from the feet. Essential oils can be added to change the scent of the soak. Tea tree oil and lavender oil are good options, as they will provide you with their additional benefits of being antiseptic and antifungal, along with their wonderful smell.

Soak your feet in this solution for at least half an hour

Scrub the infected toenail very gently with a very soft toothbrush. Repeat twice a day for a few days to see the difference

According to some studies, vinegar may not be as effective in removing toenail fungus. And in severe cases, you may need to remove the toenail entirely to get rid of the problem. Vinegar is also acidic in nature. Hence, soaking your feet every day in vinegar may cause skin irritation in some. If this happens, it is the best to soak feet thrice a week instead of everyday. Also, people affected with diabetes and autoimmune disorders, or those suffering from circulation problems should consult their doctor first before staring on any foot treatment or remedy. Toenail fungus if left untreated, or in absence of proper treatment can turn into a serious affair more quickly than you can expect.

Hence, in case you feel it is not getting better with self-care measures and home remedies, it is recommended to seek medical advice immediately, to avoid spread of infection and any further complications.

Conclusion

The time required to get rid of toenail fungus largely depends upon how severe the nail infection is and what kind of fungus is responsible for causing it. Home remedies and self- care measures like using a vinegar soak may or may not help in getting rid of moderate to severe cases of toenail fungus. For mild cases, it may require several weeks before you start seeing any significant positive changes. On an average, three to four weeks may be required to see a change in the condition.

References:

Also Read:

How Long Does It Take For Vinegar To Kill Toenail Fungus?