Toenail fungus, which is popularly called thickened toenail, is a common toenail infection that can be dangerous if not taken care of properly. If not properly cured, it could relapse and might be more difficult to get rid of, and that’s why it’s important to use the right treatment.
Diluted tea tree oil is one of the effective ways of treating toenail fungus without relapsing. Consistency is key when using dilute tea tree oil in curing toenail fungus.
Before tea tree oil can be used, it has to be diluted with essential oils like coconut oil in the right proportion to avoid irritation or redness of the skin.
In this blog post, I will take you through how to dilute tea tree oil and how to use it to get rid of toenail fungus effectively.
What Is Nail Fungus And What Are Its Symptoms?
Nail fungus is a typical infection of the nail. When someone gets infected with it, it begins to show as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of the toenail.
But as the fungal infection gets worse and if untreated, the nails become discolored, thicken, and crumble at the edge. If not properly treated could come back.
Symptoms and effects of nail fungus include:
- Thickened
- Discolored
- Brittle, crumbly, or ragged
- Deformed
- Detached from the nail bed
- Smelly
How Effective Is Tea Tree Oil In Curing Toenail Fungus?
Tea tree oil is known for its healing effects and has been in use for a long time because of its antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties.
The antifungal properties of the oil help to get rid of nail infections on the toenails or the fingernails.
Toenail fungus is difficult to get rid of, but consistent usage of tea tree oil has been found and proven effective.
Some scientific research has proven the effectiveness of the use of tea tree oil.
According to a 2013 study, tea tree oil was used to reduce the growth of the toenail fungus. Improvement was seen within 14 days.
Using tea tree oil is very effective, but it’s important to understand the dilution rate in other to have the desired result.
How To Dilute Tea Tree Oil For Toenail Fungus
1. Choose the dilution ratio
The dilution ratio must be known to aid the effectiveness of the oil.
It is important to find the right dilution ratio that suits your needs. For toenail fungus, a 1:10 dilution ratio is commonly recommended, meaning one part tea tree oil to ten parts carrier oil.
However, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to start with a weaker dilution ratio of 1:20 or even 1:30 to prevent irritation or redness of the skin.
2. Measure the oils
Using a dropper or a measuring spoon, carefully measure the desired amounts of tea tree oil and carrier oil. For example, if you have chosen a 1:10 dilution ratio, mix one teaspoon of tea tree oil with ten teaspoons of carrier oil.
3. Mix the oils
Pour the measured amounts of tea tree oil and carrier oil into the clean, empty bottle. Close the lid tightly and shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds to ensure proper mixing of the oils.
4. Label the bottle
To avoid confusing one bottle for another, labeling is essential.
Write the dilution ratio and the date of preparation on the bottle label. This will help you keep track of the mixture’s potency.
How To Apply Tea Tree Oil On Your Toenail
Before you use tea tree oil on your nails, it is important to prepare the nails so that the oil can effectively treat the nail fungus. If the nails are not prepared properly, the oil will not get absorbed into the nail bed to work effectively.
Things you will need
- Nail clipper
- Fine, medium, and coarse nail files
- Cotton swabs
1. Gently trim down your nail
Gently trim down all the edge area of the nail that is heavily affected by the fungus. It is important to remove as much of the infected nail as possible so that the infection does not spread to the healthy parts of the nail.
2. Cut down the infected part
Cutting down the infected area needs to be done gently and carefully as it’s not easy to cut areas of the nail infected by the fungus sometimes, therefore if there are any areas left, all you have to do is file them down.
3. Use a nail file
Use a nail file to file down this area gently. This is done to ensure proper removal of the infected nail to some extent before treating the entire nail with tea tree oil.
4. Wash out the infected debris
The next step after cutting and filing away most of the infected areas of the nail, it’s time to wash away any of the infection debris that may be left behind. Even if it is not visible to the naked eye, it is still important to not skip this step. To do this, wash the nails with water and a shower gel that is skin-friendly, and pH balanced to avoid skin irritation.
5. Dry out your toenails
One of the main reasons why nail fungus occurs is excess moisture in the nail bed. Therefore, by not drying your nails after washing them, you are creating a warm and damp environment for the fungus to thrive.
It’s important to ensure that you carefully dry your nails by patting and pressing them against a dry towel. Do not agitate or irritate them by rubbing them vigorously against the towel. Ensure to keep scrubbing action to a minimum.
Conclusion
Tea tree oil is an effective way of treating toenail fungus, but it can’t be used in a concentrated form because of its activeness hence the importance of inhibition.
Diluting tea tree oil is paramount when dealing with toenail fungus to ensure its safe and effective use.
In this blog post, a step-by-step guide has been mentioned on how to apply the oil; by following the steps outlined, you can create a diluted tea tree oil mixture that maximizes its antifungal properties while minimizing the risk of skin irritation. Additionally, keep your toenails dry always because the nail fungus thrives in a damp area.
