Tea tree oil can be used for many skin conditions as an effective remedy thanks to its anti-bacterial properties, one of them being toenail fungus. Using tea tree oil for toenail fungus has been an age-old practice as it can not only alleviate the condition by a great measure but also heal the skin pretty quickly after the disease fades away. We’ve elaborated on just how you can use tea tree oil for toenail fungus here, go on and give it a read before you try it out at home.
What is toenail fungus?
Toenail fungus is a fungal skin disease that affects the skin around the toes and the toes as well. It is mostly caused by the strain of fungus called onchomycosis and is one of the most commonly caused diseases in India.
The nails become thick, ragged and brittle while the skin around the toes starts peeling off with itching and burning sensations in some cases. While medical treatment is a must, using some natural measures at home can help deal with the disease much quicker. Tea tree oil is especially effective in treating the disease and here’s why.
Why do we use tea tree oil for toenail fungus
Tea tree oil is anti microbial and anti inflammatory in nature because of some chemicals present in it:
- Terpinen-4-ol – Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effect.
- Alpha- Pinene – for the anti-inflammatory effect.
The anti-fungal nature of tea tree oil helps in healing toenail fungus and the anti-inflammatory nature soothes not only inflammation but also itching and pain that is seen around the inflicted area. It brings about quick results when used with other prescribed medication or on its own as well.
How to massage tea tree oil for toenail fungus
Now that we know how useful tea tree oil can be for toenail fungus, the next big step is to find out just how we can use it to render maximum of its benefits. Here’s is a step-by-step guide to how you should massage the oil around the toes for maximum efficacy.
Step 1 : Get yourself a less concentrated version of tea tree oil (say about 5% solution).
Step 2 : Use a cotton swab or a dip and apply the oil all over your feet, focusing on the area around the nails gently.
Step 3 :Now massage this oil in the said area for about 10 minutes until the oil seeps in and brings about a smoothening of the toenail area.
Step 4 : Leave it on for at least half an hour and then use warm water to wash it off after that. You can also use a tea tree oil wash or any other natural body wash to clean your feet off of the oil that was massaged.
5 Massaging Oil Recipes made With tea tree oil for toenail fungus
Making a mix of massaging oils can be more beneficial instead of using tea tree oil all by itself to massage on the toenail fungus inflicted area. Here is a list of the massaging oils with tea tree oil you can use for toenail fungus.
Tea tree oil + coconut oil rub
Coconut oil can be used along with tea tree oil to massage on the toes as it can be anti-microbial and nutritious in nature while also enhancing the natural healing abilities of tea tree oil as well.
- Mix a tea spoon of coconut oil and about two tea spoons of tea tree oil in a spray bottle.
- Spray the oil over the toes or use a cotton swab to dip and apply the oil.
- Massage the oil gently in the inflicted area and leave it on for about a half an hour before washing it off.
Tea tree oil + vapour rub for toenail fungus
Vapour rub has been a long-used hack for toenail fungus and it does work reasonably well providing a quick relief to the skin. Adding tea tree oil to the vapour rub can only enhance the duo’s healing properties.
- Take some vapour rub and add a teaspoon of tea tree oil to it.
- Mix the two of them thoroughly.
- Rub this mixture over the inflicted area gently for a while.
- Leave it on for about a 20 minutes and then wash it off with a body wash.
Tea tree oil + oregano oil mix for toenail fungus
Oregano oil is known for its anti-fungal properties and hence works really well against toenail fungus. Together, tea tree oil and oregano oil can work great for the condition.
- Mix a tea spoon of oregano oil and a teaspoon of tea tree oil.
- Using a cotton swab, apply the oil over the toenail fungus inflicted area.
- Massage it gently over the skin for about 10 minutes and then leave it on for half an hour.
Tea tree oil and olive oil mix
Olive oil which is rich in hydrocortisones can work as an anti-oxidant for the skin and help especially with healing toenail fungus. Here’s how you use tea tree oil and olive oil together.
- Make mixture of olive and tea tree oils with a tea spoon each of them.
- Apply this over the inflicted area with the help of a cotton swab.
- Massage it gently for a while and leave it on for a half an hour before you wipe or wash it off.
Tea tree oil + rubbing alcohol for toenail fungus
Alcohol is known for its ability to eliminate bacteria and microbes quickly. It also forms a good base for tea tree oil and hence a mixture of the two works well against toenail fungus.
- Take a spray bottle, add some rubbing alcohol and a teaspoon of tea tree oil to it.
- Shake the bottle well until the ingredients are mixed up well.
- Spray this mix over the inflicted and area and massage for about a ten minutes before you leave it on for about a half an hour or so.
How to Make Tea tree oil foot soak at Home ?
Yet another way in which we can use tea tree oil for healing toenail fungus is in the form of a foot soak that is made with tea tree oil alone or with tea tree oil mixed with other substances to be added in the foot soak. Here are five such foot soaks made with tea tree oil which are pretty simple to make at home.
A tea tree oil foot soak
A foot soak that is made just with tea tree oil and warm water can show all of the oils benefits for toenail fungus and it is simple to make too, in the following steps.
- Take warm water in a foot tub and add a few teaspoons of tea tree oil to it.
- Soak your feet in this for about a half an hour.
- Remove your feet and gently brush the area with toenail fungus.
- Apply a moisturizer or the medicinal ointment.
Tea tree oil + apple cider vinegar foot soak
Apple cider vinegar is popularly used as a foot soak for many infections, toenail fungus being one of them. Adding it to tea tree oil foot soak can be great for the condition.
- Take warm water into a foot tub.
- Add tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar not exceeding a few tea spoons to it and see that it dissolves in the water.
- Soak your feet in this water and remove them in about a half an hour.
Tea tree oil + oregano oil foot soak
Oregano oil is a popularly used anti-fungal oil and hence works really well against toenail fungus as well. Adding it to the tea tree oil foot soak can have great benefits on the condition.
- Take some warm water into a foot tub and add equal proportions of tea tree oil and oregano oil.
- Mix it up well and soak your feet in it for half an hour.
- Remove them from the tub and after wiping it dry, use a moisturizer.
Tea tree oil + lemon juice foot soak
Lemon juice, along with being anti-microbial is also anti oxidant in nature. It therefore helps in not only treating the fungal infection but also in healing the skin post the treatment.
- Make a warm water foot soak and add some lemon juice to it.
- After it dissolves, add some tea tree oil (about two to three teaspoons) and see to it that it is well blended into the soak.
- Dip your feet in it and soak them for about a half an hour.
- Remove it and moisturize the affected area.
Tea tree oil + Listerine
Listerine mouthwash is also known for its antifungal properties and is often used in foot soaks for relief from toenail fungus. Here’s how you make a tea tree oil and Listerine face wash.
- Make a warm water foot soak and add Listerine to it.
- After it dissolves, add tea tree oil of two teaspoons.
- Mix it well with water and soak your feet in this for a half an hour.
- Remove the feet and wipe them gently before you moisturize.
Before and After using tea tree oil for toenail fungus
There have been some testimonies of remarkable changes when tea tree oil was used for toenail fungus. Upon using tea tree oil regularly, the changes can be as evident as above. You should, however also use the prescribed medication if your dermatologist suggests you to.
It is better to use tea tree oil in a diluted form if you are apprehensive about the side effects it could cause especially if you have a dry skin. Also, a patch test is recommended just to make sure you’re not allergic to it. So go on and give these DIY remedies a try and share your experiences with us.