The most effective toenail fungus treatment is prescription medication prescribed by a doctor. These medications include terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole.

Your health care provider may prescribe an antifungal cream, such as efinaconazole (Jublia) and tavaborole (Kerydin). You rub this product into your infected nails after soaking. These creams may work better if you first thin the nails.

One common medication in the “azole” family used to treat toenail fungus is Jublia (efinaconazole). Other medications often prescribed include the active ingredient terbinafine, which is usually prescribed as oral or topical Lamisil.

This medication is used to treat skin fungal infections such as athlete's foot and jock itch. Undecylenic acid is a fatty acid that works by preventing the growth of fungus.

For a severe infection, your doctor can give you an antifungal pill that you'll take for as long as 12 weeks. Studies show that drugs like itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil) work best to help a new, healthy nail grow in to replace the infected one.

These fungi thrive in warm, moist areas. You can also get a fungal nail infection by sharing an infected nail clipper or towel. But you don't have to catch it from someone. You can get it if your nails are frequently moist or you often wear sweaty socks and shoes.

Here are 10 of these at-home treatments.

1. Vicks VapoRub. Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment.
2. Snakeroot extract. Snakeroot (Ageratina pichinchensis) extract is an antifungal made from plants in the sunflower family.
3. Tea tree oil.
4. Oregano oil.
5. Ozonized oils.
6. Listerine mouthwash.
7. Garlic.
8. Apple cider vinegar.

Possible side effects of antifungal tablets can include:

• headache.
• itching.
• diarrhoea.
• loss of sense of taste.
• a rash.

Clean affected areas with soap and warm water and dry thoroughly. Apply a thin layer of Fungi-Nail ® Anti-Fungal Ointment over affected area twice daily (morning and night) or as directed by a doctor. Wear well-fitting, ventilated shoes, and change shoes and socks at least once daily.

What are the types of fungal infections?

• Ringworm (dermatophytosis). A group of fungi that live off of skin, hair and nail cells (dermatophytes) cause ringworm.
• Onychomycosis. Many types of fungi cause infections of your fingernails or toenails (onychomycosis).
• Candidiasis.
• Tinea versicolor/pityriasis versicolor.

Fungal Disease-Specific Research

• Candidiasis. Candida are yeast that can be found on the skin, mucous membranes, and in the intestinal tract.
• Cryptococcosis.
• Aspergillosis.
• Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)
• Histoplasmosis.
• Blastomycosis.
• Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Diets high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol feed the yeast naturally present in your body. While factors such as birth control pills or a high-stress lifestyle may disrupt the delicate balance of your gut flora, providing the ideal environment for yeast to flourish and manifest as a fungal infection.

You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn't look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract -- but studies show mixed results.

There are procedures that use lasers or light therapy to kill the fungus, but doctors need more research to find out how well they really work. So, at this point, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the nail. It's not a common surgery, but it's an option when all else fails.