Dark, discolored toenails that are yellowish-brown or even nearly black in appearance are a symptom of toenail fungus. This is accompanied by a thickening of the toenails which can become brittle, flaky and even start crumbling and breaking. Since fungus thrives in damp and dark places, people who frequent public pools, public showers and changing rooms in gymnasiums are more susceptible to getting toenail fungus. People who sweat heavily and wear closed, tight-fitting shoes for long periods are also prone to getting toenail fungus. In order to prevent toenail fungus, it is imperative to maintain strict hygiene vis-à-vis your feet. You should wash your feet carefully after having been to swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium and then dry them thoroughly before wearing your footwear. As far as possible, always pull on a fresh pair of cotton socks which allow your skin to breathe and absorb the perspiration. You can also consider wearing sandals when the weather permits it, so that your feet are exposed to the air and the skin can breathe freely.
If you have already been infected by toenail fungus there are some simple home remedies that can help you to treat the condition. You should soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes to soften the hardened nails and then gently file away the upper layer. You can follow this by soaking your feet in beer for ½ hour and then drying your feet carefully, taking care to wipe between your toes and applying a good toenail cream on your toes before pulling on a pair of cotton socks. Alternately you can soak your feet twice a day in a tub of warm water and vinegar in equal proportions. Alternately you can soak your feet in a tub filled with warm water and hydrogen peroxide in equal proportions. Soaking your feet in mouthwash is also effective in getting rid of the infection. Tea-tree oil has antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties and thus you can soak a cotton ball in tea-tree oil and rub this on your nails thrice a day till the infection has gone completely. Lavender oil, oregano oil and olive oil also have similar properties and you can rub your toenails with these oils separately or by mixing them. It is recommended to increase your consumption of probiotics found in yoghurt and kefir to allow your body to fight the infection from within. At the same time you should reduce your intake of sugar and dairy products since they are refined carbohydrates and encourage growth of fungus. Garlic should be used liberally in food preparations and you can even place a clove of garlic in your shoes to inhibit growth of fungus inside the shoes.
answered by M W