Internet can be a breeding ground for natural and alternative remedies, and nail fungus in particular is a favorite. Can you trust these remedies or are they a waste of time and money?
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is seeing a big surge, especially on the Internet. People are rightly skeptical of the influence and motivations of large corporations and natural treatments, or DIY solutions are often attractive sounding alternatives. Some common treatments include Vicks Vapor Rub, White vinegar soak, tea tree oil, cornmeal solution, and many others. The major attraction is that many of these ingredients are easy to acquire, relatively cheap, and don’t require you to see a doctor. There are also many anecdotal mentions about the solution working (as well as not), but the lure is that they are available and cheap to try, so what’s the harm?
It might not be nail fungus. The overall appearance and severity of nail fungus vary from person to person. Conditions like nail psoriasis, or even blunt trauma can make the nail appear similar to a fungal infection. Nail fungus is a medical condition and should be diagnosed by a physician.
The ingredients can’t reach the fungus. The challenge in treating nail fungus isn’t that it’s so difficult to kill fungi. There are many proven anti-fungal ingredients, and many of these natural remedies may have anti-fungal properties. The challenge is that the fungi that reside in your nails are extremely hard to reach.
There’s no need to be embarrassed. The appearance of nail fungus can be disconcerting, and it’s understandable that you’d rather just treat it yourself. Physicians are used to seeing conditions like nail fungus and have in all likelihood seen far more severe cases than yours. Nail fungus is prevalent and is not a reflection of poor hygiene. The first step to proper treatment is a proper diagnosis and proper treatment that has rigorous tests backing it.
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