Choosing the right foot soak for toenail fungus is crucial if you are suffering from this condition, because it is very difficult to get rid of and might take months or years if the treatment solution is not strong enough. In this post, I ranked and reviewed the 7 best foot soaks for toenail fungus, which you can buy over the counter or prepare yourself.
If you are prone to toenail infections you might have already heard that certain foot soak recipes can help you to get rid of this disease.
Onychomycosis is another word for toenail fungus. You can accidentally get dermatophytes (pathogens) in the most unexpected place, for example, in a pool or a beauty salon. Treatment of onychomycosis on toenails is long and painstaking.
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As it usually takes some time to get rid of toenail fungus, you can face certain difficulties in your life, such as: you might be not able to wear your favorite shoes, work out, or even go barefoot around your house. Clearing it up quickly is key, and the best foot soaks for toenail fungus actually make the process enjoyable.
To relieve symptoms and speed up the healing of the affected areas, it is recommended to use foot baths (foot soaks) with soda and other components. The composition is selected individually, taking into account the condition of the tissues and possible allergic reactions.
What Is the Best Foot Soak for Toenail Fungus?
How to choose the foot soak that is capable of eliminating persistent toenail fungus? First of all, check the ingredients label. You should be looking for components that are antifungal and antibacterial. and if we are talking about natural ingredients, the best option would be certain essential oils that have natural ability to fight fungus. For example, tea tree oil, peppermint, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oils. Read more about using essential oils for toenail fungus.
You can also use certain ingredients that you already have in your kitchen and create a homemade foot soak recipe to combat toenail fungus.
Here is my picks for the 7 best foot soaks for toenail fungus:
1. Tea Tree Oil Foot and Nail Soak with Epsom Salt – Purely Northwest
Made with epsom salt, dead sea salt, tea tree oil and 6 additional essential oils this foot soak is perfect for people with severe cases of toenail fungus. The package also includes nail blend which can be used to treat not only the affected nails, but also all the skin around nails.
Consumer Reviews
- Helped to cure not only fungus infection but also yeast infection, which usually can only be treated after taking off the affected nail.
- The nail blend was helpful in removing a very persistent old nail fungus, but you need to file your nails every time before doing the soak in order for it to penetrate deep into the nails.
- Some customers use it to soak in also hands and elbows in order to soften them.
- The nails that were almost black because of toenail fungus got mich lighter and cleared.
Try Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak to get rid of black and yellow nail parts.
2. Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak with Mint – Truremedy
This foot soak helps to relieve stubborn skin issues, foot odor, toenail odor, cracked heels, athletes foot & soften hard calluses.
It has no synthetic fragrances, artificial colors and dyes that can otherwise irritate your skin. Working ingredients include: Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt, Msm, Tea Tree Oil, Pepperming essential oil, Eucaliptus essential oil.
Consumer Reviews
- Helped to make toe nails are whiter and get rid of the foot odor after approx 2 weeks of usage.
- It is a relaxing and soothing procedure which softens tired feet at the end of the day.
- After using it feet feel softer, less sore, less tired, smoother.
- “Within 15 min dead skin started coming off”
Try Mint Foot Soak to get less sore feet.
3. Tea Tree Epsom Salt by Earthborn Elements
This foot soak is made from a blend of potent tea tree oil and epsom salt, which is highly effective at eliminating odors, banishing fungus, and softening your skin. Tea tree oil helps to combat nail fungus quickly.
Consumer Reviews
1) Helped with toenail fungus and with skin irritation
2) It made bruises on the legs to dissapear in only two days.
3) Helped to remove athlete’s foot.
4) The feet feel relaxed and the skin is soft, which gives an amazing feeling after a hard day.
4. Lavender Foot Soak by Daily Remedy
This foot soak is more on the home- SPA side. Gentle smell of lavender and its moisturizing prperties have to relieve sore muscles and tired mind.
However, other ingredients such as Geranium Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt work well to soften stubborn calluses, relieves aches, eliminate bad feet smell.
Consumer Reviews
1) Feet feel pumpered and soft
2) Helped to cure cracked heels
3) Helped to remove athlete’s foot.
4) Helps to soften dead skin
5. Foot soak with baking soda
Soda foot bath is among the most popular DIY methods of treating toenail fungus. It gives good results, but only if applied systematically over a long period of time. Soda baths can be used to treat foot and nail fungus.
Preparing a soda bath for feet against fungus is simple. To do this, pour warm water into a basin and stir in it baking soda at the rate of 1 tbsp. per liter of water. It is necessary to soar your feet in such a solution for 20 minutes. After the procedure, you should wipe your feet well and lubricate them with an antifungal medication.
6. Foot soak with apple cider vinegar
Vinegar is also effective in fighting fungal infections. Thanks to it, an acidic environment forms on the skin and on the surface of the nails, in which pathogenic microorganisms immediately begin to die.
A foot bath with vinegar is easy to prepare. To do this, pour 2 liters of water into the basin and add a glass of 9% vinegar to it. If there is only 70% vinegar at home, then it should be added in the amount of 1 tablespoon, not more. Otherwise, there is a risk of burns. You can also use apple cider vinegar instead of regular table vinegar.
At the end of the procedure, you need to wipe your feet well, and put on socks dipped in pure vinegar over them. Leave the socks on throughout the night.
7. Essential Oil Foot Soak Recipe for Nail Fungus
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 5 drops eucalyptus oil
- 5 drops oregano oil (optional, as it’s very strong)
- Warm water (enough to cover your feet in a basin)
Instructions:
-
- Fill a basin or tub with enough warm water to cover your feet. The water should be comfortably warm but not too hot.
- Dissolve the Epsom salt and baking soda in the warm water. Stir to make sure they are fully dissolved.
- Add the tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and oregano oil (if using) to the water. Stir the water gently to disperse the oils.
- Place your feet in the basin and soak for about 20-30 minutes. Relax and enjoy the soothing effects of the warm water and essential oils.
- After soaking, dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. Consider applying a few drops of diluted tea tree oil directly to the affected nails for added antifungal action. (Dilute with a carrier oil like coconut oil if you have sensitive skin.)
How to use foot soak properly to cure toenail fungus?
Nail fungus treatment is a long process that requires self-discipline and constant monitoring. Podiatrists – doctors who specialize in curing nails and feet – prescribe antifungal agents in the form of ointments, application fluids, etc. Traditional medicine will help speed up the healing process, and foot soaks can be seen as a helping remedy against fungus. They do not replace the main treatment; they are aimed at destroying the fungus and quickly recovering nails.
Foot soaks should be used every day. It is best to carry out procedures before bedtime.
Use boiled water which is not too hot, but it shouldn’t be too cold. The water temperature should be comfortable, approximately 40C-45C.
The duration of the foot bath should be at least 15 minutes. Before carrying out medical procedures, you must thoroughly wash your feet.
If you have toenail fungus, first cut off the free edge of the nail, remove the top layer from its surface with a file and remove the white plaque under the nail as much as possible. After this procedure, the nail scissors and nail file you used should be disinfected.
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice; the content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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