Many people use tea tree oil for toenail fungus with results varying from satisfactory to great. Whether you should try using it yourself is what you can find out in this post.
Tea Tree Oil: A brief information
Tea tree oil is the concentrated oil extracted from Tea tree or Melaleuca alternifolia plant, native to southeast Queensland and the northeast of Australia.
It’s not the same as your regular green and black tea leaves.
Tea tree oil is loaded with terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene as about 70% to 90% of whole oil, and these compounds are responsible for the renowned antiseptic and antimicrobial activity of the oil.
How do you use tea tree oil for toenail fungus?
According to a study in 1994, tea tree oil was found to be as effective as clotrimazole, a popular ingredient in more than 80% of antifungal creams, in treating toenail fungus.
Using tea tree oil on your toenails to get rid of fungus is as easy as applying body oil/lotion after having a bath. To use tea tree oil on your feet;
- Wash your feet and towel dry with a clean towel
- Using a nail file, shave off bits of the affected toenail
- Apply 4 – 6 drops of tea tree oil on your toenails and massage in for a few minutes.
- Leave your feet aired i.e do not wear any coverings (socks, shoes, etc) until after the oil has fully soaked into your feet.
- You should then repeat the application up to two times every day.
- If you develop some skin irritation early on, you can dilute your tea tree oil with carrier oils like coconut, olive, or sunflower oil.
How often do you put tea tree oil on toenail fungus?
You should generally start seeing some improvement within a few weeks of using tea tree oil for toenail fungus. It is important to continue your treatment for at least 2 – 3 months in order to completely remove fungi that would otherwise be difficult to get rid of.
If you have used tea tree oil for a long time without any results, it is advisable to consult your doctor for more options and alternatives.
What are other uses of tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil has been shown to be potentially effective in the management of;
- Athletes foot
- As a natural deodorant
- As an insect repellant
- Dandruff
- Eczema
- Smelly feet
- As a wound disinfectant
See also: How to use tea tree oil for smelly feet
Bottomline
Tea tree oil is scientifically proven to be as effective as antifungal creams for treating toenail fungus or onychomycosis when used correctly. It is easy to get, very affordable, and can serve you for other purposes in your foot care journey.
If you decide to try tea tree oil for toenail fungus, be sure to share your treatment journey with kickschoice to encourage our readers.
