The use of bleach on the skin must be avoided at all costs. Irritation, rashes, and blisters are all possible side effects. Many OTC antifungal medications are effective. Soaking the feet with weak vinegar, baking soda, amber Listerine, or Epsom salt solutions are some more options.
Why Not Use Bleach For Skin
Bleach is a typical cleaning product used in most homes. It’s frequently used to cleanse filthy surfaces, remove the color from textiles, and eradicate mold or mildew. However, when applied to the skin, it might create major complications. Using bleach on skin diseases might potentially induce infection and discomfort, according to research. If you have delicate skin, discomfort, such as redness or a burning feeling, is very frequent. The following are some more common complications:
- Burns: Chemical burns can occur when bleach is administered to the skin. The epidermis may be inflamed and unpleasant, and the burnt may show as red welts.
- Allergic reactions: Using bleach on the body might cause an allergic response, which is similar to inflammation.
Bleach Baths
Bleach baths are just a treatment options physicians may suggest for skin disorders including atopic dermatitis and recurring Staphylococcus infections. These entail dissolving a little quantity of bleach in a warm bath — about 1⁄2 cup of bleach per the whole tub of water. While bleach baths can kill bacteria, fungus, and viruses for a short period of time, the benefits aren’t lengthy, and they’re unlikely to treat an underlying toenail skin disease.
You should only go for a bleach bath if your doctor advises it. This is due to the fact that bleach baths may irritate and dehydrate the skin. Furthermore, bleach might aggravate asthmatic problems. Drinking bleach by accident can cause tongue and throat burns, and also severe stomach distress and bleeding.
Potential Uses For Bleach
The notion that bleach will cure fungal infection may have less to do with topical treatments and more to do with cleaning other devices that could contaminate the toes, such as files.
Bleach can be used to clean shoes and socks that have been infected with nail fungus. For your load size, read the bleach product’s instructions. Bleach-based treatments can also be used to clean places in your house where fungus could form, such as shower floors, mats, or the floor.
Bleach And Toenail Fungus
Nail fungus appears as a whitish-yellow patch under the base of your toenail, and it is a frequent ailment. Nail fungus can cause your toenail to darken, thicken, and disintegrate at the edges as the illness progresses. It might impact a number of nails at once. You will not need therapy if your problem is minor and does not bother you. Self-care and drugs may help if your toenail fungus is uncomfortable and has hardened your nails. However, even if therapy is effective, nail fungus frequently returns.
Fungus in the foot may change a healthy nail into one that is discolored, thicker, and peeling. While toenail infections are extremely common, that doesn’t imply that you can treat them with simple household chemicals like bleach.
Various fungal species cause fungal nail infections. Dermatophyte, a form of fungus, is by far the most frequent source. Infections of the nails can also be caused by yeast and molds. People of any age can acquire a fungus toenail infection, but it is more prevalent in adults. The nail might become fragile and dry as it gets older. Fungi can infiltrate through the breaks in the nails as a result of this. Other variables, such as poor circulation of blood in the legs and a weaker immune system, could also be involved.
A serious case of toenail fungus can indeed be unpleasant and ruin your nails permanently. If the immune system is suppressed due to medicine, diabetes, or other illnesses, it might lead to other deadly infections that extend beyond your feet.
If you have had diabetes, your feet ‘ blood flow and neuron supply may be compromised. You’re also more likely to get cellulitis. As a result, even slight damage to your foot, such as an infection in your nails, might develop into a more critical subject. If you have been diabetic and suspect you’re getting nail fungus, contact your doctor.
Other Ways To Treat Toenail Fungus
- Antifungal Medications
You’ll almost always need to go to a doctor to get a prescription for medicine like terbinafine or itraconazole. Taking medication to help destroy the fungus is a common part of these treatments. You may need to use these tablets for a long time before you see any changes in your nail. Oral antifungal drugs, on the other hand, might have serious negative effects.
- Laser Therapy
Laser treatment is an alternative to antifungal drugs if you don’t want to use them or if your surgeon is worried about their effectiveness. A photosensitizing chemical is applied to the toenail before it is exposed to laser light for therapy. This has the ability to either kill or prevent fungus from growing.
- Mixture Of Tea Tree Oil And Orange Oil
To treat toenail fungus, apply a combination of 1 tsp tea tree oil, 1⁄2 a tsp orange oil, then 1⁄2 a tsp olive oil to the toes with a cotton pad. Because your podiatrist will not perform this procedure, you will just have to conduct it yourself as part of the daily regimen. Tea tree oil’s strong antibacterial qualities make it a viable toenail fungal treatment.
- Olive Tree Extract
When used as a supplementation, olive leaves extract is quite effective at clearing up nail fungus. You can get a prescription from your podiatrist or buy these pills over the counter. Because of its antiviral properties, this extract is quite effective. This product also works wonders for decreasing cholesterol and offering a slew of other medical benefits.
- Oregano Oil
To get rid of toenail fungus, combine a few droplets of oregano oil with a carrier oil. Because of its anti-fungal characteristics, dabbing some on diseased toenails every day will clear up your toenails.
The Takeaway
To sum it all up, bleach does kill bacteria and fungus. But it is not something that can be applied to the skin for the treatment of fungal skin diseases. It can cause severe irritation, blisters, and burns on the skin. Neither is bleach good for both toenail fungus and athlete’s foot. So, it is better to use other home remedies to treat these skin diseases instead of soaking your feet in bleach and risking your skin’s health.
