Choosing An Over The Counter Fungus Treatment
If you are dealing with what you believe to be nail fungus, you may want to run out and grab an over the counter fungus treatment. However, this may not be the best course of action. One reason for this is because many conditions look like fungus but are not. One example is an infestation of the Pseudomonas bacteria, which turns the nail green but is not fungus and therefore cannot be cured with anti fungal agents. For this particular condition, keep the nail trimmed short, keep it dry and simply wait for the discolored area to grow out.
Finger and toe nail fungus is usually brown or yellowish in color. This is the first way to spot the problem, and the sooner you begin treatment the better. In later stages fungus causes the nail to thicken and crumble away, and finally can cause pain in the area of infection. You will find a variety of OTC medicines for fungus, but they are usually for athlete's foot which is also a fungal condition. Oral medication is commonly used for nail fungus as some experts believe topical treatments cannot reach the fungus through the nail.
Some over the counter remedies are rather unconventional and not advertised as fungal cures. For example, tea tree oil is a powerful astringent and antifungal oil from Australia that is used to treat acne, scrapes and mild burns, and also fungus of the nail. It may be tricky to get the oil under the nail to reach the fungus, just use a cotton swab and try to rub the oil as far under the nail as you can. Tea tree oil can be found anywhere essential oils are sold, even in some supermarkets.
Another surprising over the counter nail fungus treatment is Vicks Vapo-Rub. That's right, the same stuff that is used in vaporizers and smeared on chests to aid congestion. Some say if you slather your finger or toe with this product then cover it to prevent rub-off it can help nail fungus because of an ingredient it contains called thymol. If you want to be sure about using the right over the counter nail fungus treatment, speak to your doctor or a podiatrist and see what they recommend. They may recommend a prescription drug, a home remedy or an over the counter product.
