How To Use Bleach For Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common disease of the toenail and can affect anybody. There are almost 35 million Americans who are infected with these toenail fungus. The fungus infects the nail by staying on the nail bed. The nail plate is the one that protects the nail bed. It serves to prevent the fungus from growing and spreading out. The nail bed also makes it hard to reach the fungus during the treatment.
Bleach is proven to be effective in treating fungus. Only, it requires several minutes in applying the bleach for a period of several days. There are two ways on how to apply the bleach – as a soak and in a paste form. Just follow the proper steps so as to be successful in treating the toenail fungus with the use of bleach.
Bleach is a chemical solution which is usually used to whiten or remove colour through the process of oxidation. Bleach is used as a whitener for clothes or as a cleansing agent at home. For some time, bleach has been found to have another usage and it is for treating toenail fungus.
To treat toenail fungus, it is necessary to trim the nail short first then file the nail plate. Having the nail trim short, it will be easier for the bleach solution to go underneath the nail plate and penetrate the nail bed. Filing the nails can make them more porous making the bleach solution to penetrate the nail bed so as to reach the fungi.
Make a bleach solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of bleach in a gallon of warm water. Increasing the dosage of the bleach can lead to skin irritation so try to keep the measurement.
Soak the infected area in a bleach solution for about 30 minutes daily for several weeks until you can see visible results. The chlorinated and oxidized water would make its way to the nail bed to kill the fungus that lives there. For a better result, you can soak your feet two times a day to the bleach solution.
According to Dr. Olsen’s treatment, he recommends applying a petroleum jelly to the nail adding 1-2 drops of undiluted bleach to the petroleum jelly. Allow the bleach to stay up for 15 minutes before rinsing off in the shower. After rinsing off, Dr. Olen suggests sanding and filing the nail as close to the bed as possible.
Although the treatment of toenail fungus with the use of bleach is proven to be effective and economical as well, the treatment is only effective when the method is done properly. Failure to do the method properly can cause the fungal infection to come back. Once the infection is treated and the fungus is eradicated, it is necessary to take precautions so as to prevent re-infection. Remember to keep your feet dry always.