It’s not cute or glamorous, but nail fungus happens—especially to those who love to move and hit the gym. Nail fungal infections, aka onychomycosis (say that three times fast), are fairly common. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, they occur in 10 percent of the general population, 20 percent of people older than 60 years old, and 50 percent of those older than 70.
Toenail infections are fungal infections that spread from skin-to-skin contact or skin-to-surface contact. “Fungus live in warm, moist environments, such as sweaty feet, moist socks, public gyms, public showers, and hotel rooms, as well as in your own home,” says Sidney Weiser, D.P.M., founder and president of Quality Podiatry Group. Fortunately, many over-the-counter (OTC) options are available to help you battle these infections. After consulting with podiatrists and dermatologists (in addition to conducting our own thorough research), these are the best toenail fungus treatments.
Credit: Amazon
Type: Liquid | Size: 0.1 oz | Ingredients: Ethanol, propylene glycol, chlorhexidine acetate
Ariella Toenail Fungus Treatment does the trick on both fingernails and toenails. Shoppers repeatedly rave about how it’s outperformed many similar products they’ve tried and how easy it is to use. To that point, it has a super convenient and mess-free brush-on applicator, and the liquid formula dries very quickly. The brand promises results in two to four weeks and recommends applying the treatment two to three times per day to help eliminate discoloration and strengthen nails.
Credit: Amazon
Why We Like It
-
Treats nail fungus, nail psoriasis, and general damage or discoloration
-
Clear and odorless formula
Type: Polish | Size: 0.43 oz | Ingredients: Salicylic acid, urea, white petrolatum
Amazon’s top choice for “nail repair,” this one-stop-shop not only helps treat fungal infections, but it’s also ideal for addressing any type of nail damage or discoloration due to one too many gel manicures, aging nails, or just general brittleness. Much like Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal formula (which is targeted at those who just have fungal infections), it needs to be used twice a day for the first week and then once a day thereafter. Luckily, the formula is clear and odorless, so it’s easy to use discreetly.
This product’s weakness is in the applicator itself. Many folks noted that it didn’t work well or broke before they could start to use it. Buyers should be gentle as they open the packaging and start to use Kerasal.
Credit: Amazon
Type: Gel | Size: 1.6 oz | Ingredients: Tolnaftate
“[Fungi-Nail Anti-Fungal Ointment] is one of my favorite nail fungal treatments because it relieves symptoms such as burning and itching and also restores the skin under the nail and around the cuticle,” says Lucy Chen, M.D., a dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. “It’s also very easy to use and won’t break the bank.” It uses tolnaftate 1 percent, a clinically proven anti-fungal active ingredient, to cure and prevent infection, as well as five essential oils — tea tree oil, aloe vera, eucalyptol, olive oil, and lavender — to restore skin health. On a not-so-positive note, many reviewers found that this formula took a little longer to start working (up to a month) compared to other options.
Credit: Amazon
Type: Oil | Size: 0.5 oz | Ingredients: Tea tree oil
Applying cuticle oil daily is arguably one of the best (and easiest) ways to strengthen nails. Dr.’s Remedy Anti-Fungal Caress Cuticle Oil goes above and beyond the call of duty, thanks to the inclusion of undecylenic acid, an ingredient to help treat and even prevent fungal infections from starting. The other nice thing? The formula can even permeate polish, meaning users can apply the oil even if their nails are painted.
Credit: Amazon
Type: Oil | Size: 0.33 oz | Ingredients: Tea tree oil
For those on the search for a totally natural nail fungus treatment option (or just an easy at-home remedy), Dr. Chen suggests tea tree oil. Naturally anti-fungal, “it’s been studied to be just as effective as clotrimazole, the active ingredient found in many over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments,” she says. She recommends diluting Healing Solutions Tea Tree Essential Oil with a carrier oil (olive or jojoba are both good options) before dabbing it onto the nail and surrounding skin. Of course, it’s important to remember that this oil isn’t specifically designed to treat toenail fungus like many of the other items on this list are. Those who prefer more clinical options should look elsewhere.
Credit: Amazon
Type: Ointment | Size: 1.76 oz | Ingredients: Menthol, camphor
Vicks VapoRub is often mentioned as an effective nail fungus treatment because of both the active and inactive ingredients it contains, according to Dana Stern, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist and nail health expert. “Thymol, menthol, camphor, and oil of eucalyptus have shown efficacy against dermatophytes in a lab setting,” she explains. The caveat? Those using this (or any other type of alternative) regularly and not seeing any improvement after two to four months should see a dermatologist, she advises. That’s because similar to tea tree oil, Vicks VapoRub Ointment wasn’t specifically designed to help with toe fungus. Those who prefer more straightforward options should choose another product on the list.
Type: Polish | Size: 1.5 oz | Ingredients: Tea tree oil
While Weiser says it’s inadvisable to wear nail polish over a bad case of toenail fungus, life happens! Maybe there’s a wedding on the horizon or a trip to the beach that requires hot pink toenails. When an occasion for polish arrives, Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish offers beautiful colors and antifungal tea tree oil. Users did note, however, that this polish takes quite a while to dry. So throw on a TV show, apply a couple of coats, and relax.
Other Shape-Loved Toenail Fungus Treatments
While we haven’t had the chance to test these toenail fungus treatments ourselves, many users rave about their effectiveness and speedy results. It’s worth looking into these other options that have worked for so many others.
What to Know About Toenail Fungus
- Symptoms: Toenail fungus is one of those “if you know, you know” kinds of situations. “Fungal infections can cause itching between your toes, on the bottom of your foot, as well as thickening of the nails,” explains Weiser.
- Treatment: “Treatment options available for toenail fungus include topical antifungal creams, oral antifungal medications, and in some cases, surgical removal of the affected nail (either partial or total), laser therapy, or chemical or surgical removal of the nail,” says Weiser. Oral treatments may also be given depending on the health status of the individual, she adds.
- Ingredients: There are a lot of toenail fungus treatments out there, so it’s important to read the ingredients label before you purchase. “OTC products contain antifungal agents such as clotrimazole, terbinafine, or ciclopirox. These ingredients help combat the fungal infection,” says Weiser. She notes that the application of these products works better on thinner—or debrided, eek!—nails so that the topical agent can actually penetrate the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the most effective treatment for nail fungus?
The most effective treatments for nail fungus are antifungal medications, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Oral antifungals have a higher cure rate than topical antifungals but also come with more potential side effects. A dermatologist or podiatrist can determine whether a topical antifungal or oral antifungal may be a better treatment based on the severity of the infection. In some difficult cases, surgical nail removal may be recommended to clear it.
-
How do I get rid of nail fungus ASAP?
There is no quick fix for nail fungus, but consulting a dermatologist or podiatrist will help you get a targeted treatment and prescription medication if needed.
-
What is the best antifungal for nail fungus?
There is no one best antifungal and what may be needed can vary based on the severity of the infection. Topical antifungals for mild infections can include amorolfine. ciclopirox. efinaconazole, or tavaborole. Oral antifungals for more severe infections include fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, and terbinafine, according the the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
Why Trust Shape
Kells McPhillips is a health and wellness writer living in Los Angeles. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, Well+Good, Shape, Fortune, Runner’s World, Outside, Yoga Journal, and others.
Our Experts
We consulted a podiatrist and two dermatologists to inform our research and selection of toenail fungus treatments.
- Sidney Weiser, D.P.M., is a podiatrist and the founder and president of Quality Podiatry Group.
- Lucy Chen, M.D., is a dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami.
- Dana Stern, M.D., is a New York City-based dermatologist and nail health expert.
