There is the childhood song, “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes,” that gets the little ones moving around while they point to body parts, but this post is not that.
Today, we’re looking at fingernails and, mostly, toenails.
I thought my research – based on a hot tip from a loved one who is having success with a home remedy – would be straightforward.
Whew! Two hours later, and I’m just now crawling out of the rabbit hole!
The Latin word part, onych, refers to toenails and fingernails.
Throw on a variety of letters afterwards and you get: slitting nails with ridges (onychorrhexis), nail lifting with fungus (onychomycosis), nail lifting without a fungal infection (onycholysis) … you get the picture.
After a year of using over-the-counter and prescription treatments for my unhappy big toenails, improvements seem to have plateaued.
Upon learning that a home remedy seemed to be yielding better results for someone, I thought there was nothing to lose in trying it.
Enter Tea Tree oil – also known as Melaleuca oil – derived from an Australian tree.
Did applying this oil to my nails after filing and buffing their surface really make a difference?
Well, yes.
There’s enough improvement that I will continue the twice daily application of Tea Tree oil to see if I can finally turn the corner toward healthy toenails.
My dive into all things “onycho” has revealed detailed advice about step-by-step nail care, how many people think Tea Tree oil should be diluted by another oil to enhance absorption and to ward off irritation, and that additional ingredients (including 10% undecylenic acid) creates the perfect balance.
The dilution of 10% undecylenic acid seems to be only available through that one company selling it HERE. Everyone else uses 25%. Hmmm.
I will be upping my toe hygiene game, however, just in case there is a fungal infection present with my nail lifting problems.
Sanitation of all nail trimming, filing, and buffing implements is key. Don’t forget foot soaking areas, care surfaces, and towels, and wear gloves!
When keeping the nail as short as possible without discomfort, and gently filing and buffing the nail surface to thin and smooth the surface, care must be taken to thoroughly clean equipment each time – even between one toe and the next. Nail trimming, filing, and buffing are not done daily, but the application of the Tea Tree oil is done morning and night.
Here are some other hints for happy, healing toes:
After careful daily cleaning, make sure the toes are thoroughly dry – using a hair dryer is recommended.
After the application of the Tea Tree oil (or the expensive 10% mixture), allow nails to dry completely before putting on socks and shoes or going to bed.
Make sure to wear open-toed shoes or roomy, well-fitting shoes along with moisture-wicking socks to prevent moisture build up. Use clean socks daily and rotate shoes to allow for proper drying.
Nail lifting can be the result of foot injury – how well I remember walking too far in the wrong shoes!
There’s no guarantee this is going to result in total improvement for me or you. I just wanted to share some anecdotal evidence that it might be helpful.
So far, there have been no bad reactions to the full-strength Tea Tree oil, and things are looking better. As an experiment, I’m trying this approach with the splitting fingernails as well!
Just wanted to share – which you can do as well, using the options under the MORE button below.
In health –
Deidre