The first few signs of nail fungus may not make the condition obvious, though it should have been alarming enough. It is very important to understand that discolored and painful nails are the first few signs of fungal infections of nails, also called onychomycosis. The nails become thick and flaky, smell bad, thereby causing discomfort to a person.
Fungal infections that affect nails start developing under the nails or nail bed, gaining an access by breaking skin. Dampness and moisture encourages bacterial proliferation, which causes the condition to spread rapidly. It is a contagious infection that can be passed on to others by the use of same socks, shoes, towels etc.
While there are many home remedies recommend for treating nail fungus, rubbing alcohol is very well known to sterilize the fungus and treat the condition at its early stages. Therefore, it is much touted as a safe natural remedy that gives unbeatable results.
Here’s how to use rubbing alcohol for nail fungus:
Clean Your Nails
You have to clean your affected nails with soapy, warm water, scrub the underneath of nails using a nail brush to ensure all dirt and debris is removed. This will expose bacteria and fungus.
Dry Your Nails
After cleaning, you must dry your nails thoroughly using a clean and fresh towel. Check for breaks appearing in your skin that may allow bacterial access to the nails or may sting as your rub alcohol.
Pour Some Rubbing Alcohol
You have to pour some rubbing alcohol into a container in which you can soak your infected nails for some time. Ensure that the container is big enough to let your toes or finger immerse completely.
You have to do this exercise twice daily, for 20 minutes so that the alcohol gets adequate time to reach the bacteria present in your nails.
Clean Everything
You must clean all the objects that have been used for treating nail fungus. Because it is a contagious disease, there is a high chance of recurring infections.
Repeat
You must repeat this exercise regularly until your nail fungus is eliminated completely. You must observe the pattern of growth of the infection. If it is not treated with this natural remedy, you must see a doctor. In case if the pain or swelling increases, do not waste any more time. See a doctor immediately to get the necessary treatment. You may need some oral medications or topical antibiotics for quick healing.
In addition, you should also keep your nail clippers clean and disinfected. Soak your nail clippers in warm water and clean time from time to time. Ensure you dry it completely.