What Are the Best Toenail Fungus Ointment Treatments?

Fungal nail infections are very common – but they can also be persistent, and hard to remove. The condition (known as onychomycosis) causes discoloration of the nails, and a range of other unpleasant side effects, from itching and swelling to possible loss of the toenail entirely.

The best course of action to get rid of fungal nail infections is to avoid getting one in the first place, but it’s too late for that nugget of advice. However, we recognize that sometimes, despite your best efforts, infections can happen. Perhaps you forgot to take your flip-flops to the gym, or maybe someone in your home used your towel by accident.

If you’re suffering from what you believe is a fungal nail infection, help is at hand. Though these infections can be stubborn, there is a range of great antifungal ointments, creams, and solutions out there designed to help the body get rid of the fungus causing the problem.

Top OTC Toenail Fungus Ointments & Creams

Many of the top treatments for toenail fungal infections are available over-the-counter – take a look at these popular options.

Omiera Labs Nail Fungus Treatment

This popular antifungal contains podiazole, which penetrates through the nail to reach the source of the fungus. It’s also packed with ingredients like tea tree oil – a natural substance which can help fight against fungal nail infections.

Less an ointment and more of a solution, this simple treatment comes with a glass dropper, so you’ll never use too much or too little. You also won’t need to rub in this treatment, which helps prevent the infection from spreading.

The manufacturers expect the solution to work within weeks, but in severe cases, it can take a few months to see results. For the fastest and most noticeable results, apply Omiera Podiazole Toenail Fungus Treatment twice every day and follow other good hygiene practices to keep feet and nails fresh and clean.

Dr. Blaine’s Tineacide Antifungal Cream

Dr. Blaine’s Tineacide Antifungal Cream has also been clinically proven to kill the fungus that causes fungal nail infections. Tineacide is one of the strongest antifungal ingredients available without a prescription.

The cream helps to soften the harder, more brittle areas of the foot and your nail, which then allows the active ingredients (miconazole nitrate, clotrimazole) to penetrate into the affected cells. This treatment can also be used to treat associated conditions like ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch, all of which can lead to fungal nail infections if left untreated.

ClearZal-Bac Nail Solution for Infected Nails

With its powerful antimicrobial ingredients, ClearZal-Bac Nail Solution kills the germs that cause fungal nail infections. Best of all, it can be used with nail polish and false nails, so you don’t have to sacrifice glamor to treat your infection.

This ClearZal solution is best used twice daily. As the toenail grows out, the new growth will be healthy and infection-free, while the infected part is gradually clipped away. The application is easy, and the kit comes with a handy glass nail file.

Unesia Bifonazole Fungus Treatment Cream

Unesia Bifonazole is another topical cream you can use to treat a fungal nail infection. IT’s easy-to-use, with a powerful formula and a strong active ingredient to help speed up the treatment.

Bifonazole is the active ingredient here, and it works by attacking the fungus cell membranes. As the cells weaken, they become less able to spread, and your symptoms will start to subside.

In just a few weeks after starting using Unesia Bifonazole Fungus Treatment Cream, you should notice your yellowed nails returning to their natural color. Any odors you might have observed will disappear, and your nails will become softer and less brittle.

Kerasal Complete Care 2-In-1 Nail Toe & Foot Anti-Fungal Treatment Cream

This handy product not only comes with a treatment for fungal nail infections. It also contains a cream to help kill athlete’s foot, ringworm and other fungal skin infections that can lead to onychomycosis.

The clinically-proven treatment promises that users will start to see improvements in just two weeks – but it may take months to completely remove any fungal infections from your toenails.

The application is simple: just rub in the Kerasal Cream once every day. Soon you’ll start to see less discoloration and a return to normal nail thickness. Use the cream as soon as you notice a fungal nail infection for the best results – the faster you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

Dr. Scholl’s Fungal Nail Treatment

Scholl is one of the most trusted names in the world of foot care. For many people, these recognizable products are the first port of call if there’s something wrong with their feet or toenails.

This particular fungal nail treatment claims to eliminate 99.9% of all nail fungus. The handy applicator makes Dr. Scholl’s Fungal Nail Treatment super simple, and the strong formula can also help to prevent reoccurrence of the infection.

This product is best used as soon as possible. The faster you catch and treat a fungal nail infection, the better results you’ll have in eliminating it for good.

Canespro Fungal Nail Treatment Set

This is a popular OTC product to treat fungal nail infections is the Canespro Fungal Nail Treatment Set. This unique treatment claims to get rid of infections in just 2-3 weeks.

Using the kit is quite simple. A gentle urea ointment treats moderate fungal nail infections by softening the parts of the nail that are affected. Plasters should be applied after the ointment to help the treatment sink in and prevent it from being wiped or rubbed away accidentally. The scraper included in the kit is then used to remove the softened, infected areas.

The treatment ends when you’ve managed to soften and remove all of the infected areas. Depending on the thickness of the nail and the extent of the infection, this should take up to 3 weeks.

Curanail 5% Nail Lacquer Amorolfine Treatment

If you don’t necessarily have the time to apply a fungal nail treatment twice every day, the Curanail 5% Nail Lacquer Amorolfine Treatment could be a great choice for you. This lacquer needs to be applied just once per week to be effective in fighting mild fungal nail infections.

File and clean the toenail before applying the treatment with the brush included. The active ingredient is amorolfine, which has been proven to cure up to 76% of toenail infections within six months.

Top Prescription Toenail Fungus Creams

If you notice your fungal nail infection is particularly severe, you may need to see a doctor for a more powerful solution. These prescription toenail fungus creams are the best of the best.

Ketoconazole Topical Toenail Fungus Cream

Ketoconazole has powerful antifungal properties and is also used to treat conditions like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Your doctor may prescribe a ketoconazole cream to treat your fungal nail infection.

This cream fights against toenail fungus on two fronts. Firstly, it creates holes in cell membranes, which causes the fungus to leak. The integrity of the fungus’ structure is compromised, meaning it begins to weaken.

Weak fungus not only means it’s less likely to spread, but it also means your symptoms will decrease in severity. Your toenails will become less brittle, itching might stop, and any odor will fade away quickly.

Terbinafine Antifungal Cream (Lamisil)

Terbinafine is primarily an oral treatment for toenail fungus but is also sold as a prescription antifungal cream named Lamisil. This powerful ointment interferes with the cell membranes of fungi, much like ketoconazole does.

The cream should be applied to the affected area after it’s been cleaned and dried thoroughly. Your doctor will advise on how frequently you should use the treatment, but it’s usually once or twice each day.

When using a product that contains terbinafine, you should notice a slight improvement in less than a week, but it’s important to finish the entire course prescribed by your doctor. This reduces the risk of the infection returning.

Best Alternative Toenail Fungus Treatments

Many antifungal treatments (both topical and oral) come with extensive lists of side effects. If you’d rather avoid these and pursue a more natural route, there are a range of options.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar To Treat Fungal Nail Infections

Apple cider vinegar has long been used to treat fungal infections, both topically and orally.

To use it topically, mix one part apple cider vinegar with six parts hot water. Soak the feet in this mixture (once the water has cooled) for around thirty minutes. You can add some Epsom salts too, to help draw out the infection.

Tea Tree Oil As An Antifungal Treatment

Tea tree oil has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and fungicidal remedy. It’s a powerful treatment for fungal nail infections.

To apply, first dilute the tea tree oil with another carrier oil – almond oil, coconut oil, and olive oil are very effective. Applying undiluted tea tree oil directly to the skin can be drying and irritating.

With your diluted solution, grab a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush and apply the mixture to the nail and the surrounding area. Repeat daily until the old nail grows out completely, with a new, healthy nail taking its place. It’s also recommended to continue treatment for a few weeks after this, to prevent any regrowth.

Baking Soda and Borax

Fungus needs an acidic environment to thrive and spread – so logically, creating an alkaline environment on your feet is a great way to rid yourself of fungal nail infections.

Using baking soda and borax (sodium borate) in tandem has been hailed as an effective topical treatment for fungal nail infections. Simply combine the two together (equal parts) with a few drops of water. This should create a paste you can then apply to the toes.

Apply the paste directly onto the infected nails twice daily for at least two weeks. This should have the fungus to clear up, as well as preventing it from reoccurring.

Which Fungal Nail Treatment Cream Is Right for Me?

If you’re suffering from a fungal nail infection and wondering which treatment to choose, we’d recommend paying close attention to the customer reviews that come across as being the most genuine. If your infection is fairly mild, you could try some alternative herbal treatments, to see if they can tackle the problem, but they generally don’t work as well. Our top-rated option is Omiera Labs Nail Fungus Treatment.

For established infections that are hard to shift, an OTC treatment will likely be the best option. These treatments are tried-and-tested, and many of them have an active ingredient designed to get to the heart of the problem, fast.

If your fungal nail treatment is serious and you’ve already tried some OTC and alternative remedies, it may be time to consult your doctor. They will give you a prescription for a much stronger treatment – but use these carefully, as they often come with some side effects to bear in mind.