The Best Ways to Cut and Treat Toenails with Fungus

Co-authored by Hunter Rising | Medically reviewed by Mark Co, DPM

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References Approved

If you’ve noticed your toenails are discolored or thicker than normal, there’s a chance you’re dealing with toenail fungus. While mild cases of nail fungus aren’t a serious issue, it could spread or make your nails worse if you leave it untreated. The good news is that there are tons of treatment options you can try to restore the look of your nails. Keep reading for a complete guide on cutting and treating nails at home, consulting with your doctor, and preventing future infections.

Things You Should Know

Scrape off white fungus marks on your nails with a nail file. Trim down infected parts of your nails with nail nippers.
Use an over-the-counter antifungal on your toenails daily to kill the fungus. Menthol cream, tea tree oil, or snakeroot extract may work too.
Take prescription oral or topical medications from your doctor for the most effective treatment.
You'll know your toe nail fungus is dying when your infected nail becomes less thick and any discoloration begins to fade.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Cutting and Filing Toenail Fungus

1
Apply urea cream to your nails the night before you trim them. Urea cream soaks into your nails to make them softer, and it makes fungus easier to scrape off. Rub the cream into the infected toenails and put a bandage over them.^{[2]
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PubMed Central
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2
Soak your nails in warm water for 10 minutes to soften them. Fill a small bowl or tub with warm water from the tap and submerge your toes. Since your toenails with fungus are thicker, soaking them will help make them soft and easier to cut. After 10 minutes, pat your nails dry with a towel.^{[3]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- Alternatively, you can take a shower to soften your nails and trim them as soon as you’re finished.
- If your nails still feel hardened or tough after 10 minutes, try soaking them for up to 30 minutes.
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3
Scrape off any white fungal marks on your toenails with a file. The white marks on your toenails are signs of fungus, and scraping them off can help thin your nail. Move the file with small movements in the same direction to shave off as much of the infected nail as you can.^{[4]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- Filing the surface of your nail will remove some of the infection, but it won’t completely kill the fungus. However, thinning your nails can help make other topical antifungal treatments more effective.
- If you have extremely thick toenails, you can try sanding down nail fungus with an electric file. Gently press the file against your nail to shave it down. Just stop using it if you feel any pain.^{[5]
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4
Cut straight across your nails with a pair of nail nippers. Nail nippers look like a small pair of pliers and they make it a little easier to cut through thicker nails than standard clippers. Trim your nails starting from the outer corners and making small, straight horizontal cuts. Just cut through the white part of your nail so you don’t accidentally dig into your nail bed.^{[6]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Avoid rounding off the corners of your nails prevent ingrown toenails.
5
Smooth the edges of your nail with your file. Gently run your file along the sharp edges of your nail so it doesn’t snag or get caught on anything. This helps ensure your nails don’t get more damaged and susceptible to fungus.^{[7]
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- File in the same direction instead of moving it back and forth so you’re less likely to weaken your nail.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Treating Nail Fungus at Home

1
Apply an over-the-counter antifungal medication to your nails. Antifungal nail treatment usually comes in a solution similar to nail polish or in an ointment.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Mark Co, DPM
Podiatrist
Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.} Spread the antifungal medicine over the infected nails and between your toes after you wash and trim them. Use the medication twice a day for up to 2 weeks.^{[9]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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- Antifungal medications kill fungus on the nail surface and the nail bed, but they don’t usually penetrate through thick nails.
2
Rub menthol cream onto your nails. Scoop out a fingertip-sized amount of the menthol cream and apply a small amount to the affected nail twice a day. Try to do this right after a shower so that your toes are already nice and clean. Use the menthol cream every day for 1–2 months to completely clear up the fungus.^{[10]
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- Menthol cream works as an antiseptic that kills germs that cause the fungus to spread.
3
Soak your toenails in vinegar twice a day as a natural disinfectant. Fill a bowl with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts warm water and dip your toenails in the solution. Let your nails sit in the vinegar for about 15 minutes before rinsing them off with clean water. Keep using vinegar for a month or two until you see the fungus disappear.^{[11]
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- Add more water to the solution and use it every other day if your skin gets irritated from the solution.
4
Coat your nail with tea tree oil to use a natural antifungal. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of tea tree oil with ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of olive oil. Use a cotton ball to rub the oil solution directly onto your nail. Repeat the process every morning and night until you notice the fungus improving.^{[12]
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- Tea tree oil has astringent properties and antibacterial properties which can help clear up fungus.
5
Try using snakeroot extract to kill the fungus. Wet a cotton ball or swab with the extract and apply it to your nail every 3 days for the first month you use it. During the second month, use it twice a week. During the third month, reduce your usage to once a week as the fungus clears up.^{[13]
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American Academy of Family Physicians
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- Snakeroot is related to sunflowers and it has natural antifungal properties that have similar effectiveness to over-the-counter medications.
6
Apply garlic to the fungus to slow down its growth. Simply chop up a fresh clove of garlic and apply it directly to your affected nails. Put on clean socks and keep the garlic on your nails for 30 minutes. Then, just wash your nails off with soap and water. Use garlic once a day until you see the fungus starting to improve.^{[14]
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- Alternatively, you can sprinkle garlic powder on your nail.
- Garlic has some natural antimicrobial properties that can kill and prevent fungus from spreading between your nails.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Seeking Medical Attention

1
Contact your doctor if your toenails cause pain or have persistent fungus. Nail fungus usually isn’t a cause for concern, but it’s a problem if you notice it affecting your daily life. Set up an appointment and let your doctor know what you’re dealing with so they can figure out the best plan of action for you.^{[15]
X
Expert Source

Mark Co, DPM
Podiatrist
Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
- Your doctor may advise you to see a podiatrist or dermatologist for severe cases of toenail fungus.
- Even if nail fungus isn’t causing pain, you can still talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about the appearance of your nails.
- See a doctor right away if you have diabetes and develop nail fungus. Foot injuries or infections could lead to diabetic complications if you leave fungus untreated.
- Your doctor might take some nail clippings or scrape nail bed tissue to figure out the best solution or rule out conditions like psoriasis or infection.^{[16]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  Go to source}
2
Discuss prescription medications with your doctor. Your doctor will likely prescribe you an antifungal medication that’s more powerful than OTC options. Usually, you’ll either take medication orally or apply it topically directly to your nail.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Mark Co, DPM
Podiatrist
Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.} Follow your doctor’s dosage or application instructions precisely to ensure the fungus clears up.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Family Physicians
Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities
Go to source}
- Terbinafine and itraconazole are the most common and effective oral medications. Typically, you’ll take a daily pill for 12 weeks to clear up toenail fungus.^{[19]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mark Co, DPM
  Podiatrist
  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
- Ciclopirox (Penlac) is a topical nail polish that’s less effective than oral medication, but it may work for a mild to moderate infection. You’ll typically paint layers of the polish onto your nail for 7 days. After that, you’ll file off the polish and apply new layers for as long as your doctor recommends.
3
Get the nail surgically removed if your doctor recommends it. If the fungus is causing a lot of pain or if it’s really severe, your doctor may recommend a full or partial nail removal. Your doctor will numb your toe and surgically remove your toenail so they can treat the nail bed for fungus.^{[20]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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- Your nail may or may not grow back. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your nail, ask if there are any other alternatives you could try.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Toenail Fungus

1
Wash and moisturize your feet daily. Make sure to wash your feet with soap and warm water at least once a day. If you’re pretty active and sweat a lot, wash your feet whenever they get damp to get rid of bacteria. When you’re finished, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a moisturizer to keep them smooth and soft.^{[21]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Wash your feet more frequently if you sweat a lot or if your feet are damp for other reasons, such as walking in the rain.
- Cleaning your feet helps get rid of germs and fungal microbes that could affect your nail.
2
Put on dry shoes and socks every day. Since fungus thrives in damp environments, wear shoes and socks that are clean and dry. Choose moisture-wicking socks that draw the moisture away from your toes and nails. Try to choose shoes made from breathable materials, such as nylon.^{[22]
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PubMed Central
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- Alternate which shoes you wear every day so they have time to dry out between uses.
- You can also sprinkle antifungal powder into your shoes when you aren’t wearing them to stop fungus from growing inside of them.
3
Disinfect nail clippers with rubbing alcohol when you use them. Before and after you use the clippers, wipe them down with a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol to kill any bacteria left on the surface.^{[23]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- Avoid sharing clippers with anyone else.
- Use a separate pair of small clippers for your fingernails. That way, you’re less likely to spread the fungus.
4
Wear flip flops in public showers and locker rooms. The damp environments in locker rooms, pools, or public showers are breeding grounds for fungus. Invest in some plastic or rubber sandals to keep your feet safe and off the floor. Keep your flip flops on until you leave the area or put on socks and shoes.^{[24]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Wash your flip flops with soap and water once a week so that they don't carry any fungus organisms.
5
Get treatment for underlying health conditions. Conditions like diabetes and poor circulation can increase your risk of nail fungus. Talk to your doctor about ways you can get control over your diabetes or improve your circulation so you’re less likely to develop nail fungus in the future.^{[25]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- It is more difficult to get rid of fungus if you don't have other medical issues under control. Closely follow your doctor's instructions about diet and taking medications for other conditions if necessary.

Warnings

Wait until the fungus clears up to apply nail polish since it could trap moisture and encourage more growth.^{[26]
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