nailed it?
nail fungus There is a hopeless common disease – About 10% of people are expected Get it at some point in your life – and it can be difficult to address because the medications have to penetrate deep into the nail to reach the infection within the nail bed.
And because nails – especially toenails – grow slowly, treatment is expensive and time-consuming.
Now, a Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist is sharing an inexpensive trick for dealing with unsightly nail fungus at home.
“If you have sticky, crumbly toenail fungus, use Listerine. The same brown Listerine you use as mouthwash has antifungal properties and can help you deal with stubborn fungus on your fingers or toes. Dr. Neera Nathan recently said on TikTok,
“Brown” Listerine Officially known as Listerine Original Antiseptic Mouthwash, it contains the antifungal compounds menthol, eucalyptol, and thymol.
The amber-colored oral rinse has been praised for everything kill lice And treatment of insect bites To dandruff scrub,
For fungus, Nathan suggests coating a cotton ball with Listerine, applying it over and under the affected nails, and letting it dry.
You can soak your nails in this solution for 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week. Finger nails should be treated for six months and toe nails for a year.
“It’s an affordable alternative to prescription topical antifungals, which are very expensive and don’t work very well,” Nathan said. “To get rid of severe fungus, see a dermatologist for prescription oral treatments.”
prescription medications such as Lamisil and Sporanox It generally has a higher success rate than antifungal creams and gels, but side effects can include diarrhea, stomach pain, mood changes, and, rarely, liver damage.
Nathan also recommends Soak fungus-prone toenails in diluted apple cider vinegar, which has antibacterial and antifungal benefits, for 15 minutes two or three times a week.
Dr. Scott WalterA board-certified dermatologist near Denver, like the three tier approach,
He suggests soaking fungal nails in a mixture of equal amounts of Listerine, white vinegar and water for 15 minutes twice a week and using Vicks Vaporub daily.
Like Nathan, Walter is also fond of the original Listerine. They say it’s less likely to stain your tub than the green and blue varieties.
