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Treatment for toenail fungus isn't always needed. And sometimes self-care and nonprescription products clear up the infection. Talk with your health care provider if your condition doesn't improve.
Wash your feet twice a day and gently towel-dry between the toes. Use an antifungal product. After washing and drying your feet, apply an antifungal product. The antifungal terbinafine (Lamisil AT) has been shown to be very effective. Another option is clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF).
The following habits can help prevent nail fungus or reinfections and athlete's foot, which can lead to nail fungus: Keep your nails clean and dry. Wash your hands and feet regularly. Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Dry well, apply an antifungal foot powder and moisturize your nails.
These tips can help you avoid athlete's foot or ease the symptoms if infection occurs: Treat your feet. Try over-the-counter antifungual creams or a drying powder two to three times a day until the rash disappears. Keep your feet dry, especially between your toes.
I generally encourage healthy adult patients with mild toenail fungus to not treat it or to treat it just using topical measures. For example, you can buff the nail down with a file to keep it thin, so the fungus has a less of a home to live in.
Getting ready to trim. Before you trim your toenails, soften them by soaking your feet in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then dry your feet and toenails with a towel. Nail nippers, shown below, work best for trimming thickened toenails. They're lightweight, easy to grip and easy to control.
For a mild case of tinea versicolor, you can apply an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream, ointment or shampoo. Most fungal infections respond well to these topical agents, which include: Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF) cream or lotion. Miconazole (Micaderm) cream. Selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue) 1 percent lotion.
You can treat most ingrown toenails at home. Here's how: Soak your feet in warm, soapy water. Do this for 10 to 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day until the toe improves. Place cotton or dental floss under your toenail. After each soaking, put fresh bits of cotton or waxed dental floss under the ingrown edge.
Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal skin infection that usually begins between the toes. It commonly occurs in people whose feet have become very sweaty while confined within tight-fitting shoes. Signs and symptoms of athlete's foot include an itchy, scaly rash.
Cracked heels, also known as fissures, can be a nuisance but can occasionally lead to more serious problems if left untreated. Treat them by giving your feet a little more attention, beginning with moisturizing them at least twice a day. Look for thick moisturizers (Eucerin, Cetaphil, others).