This article was reviewed by Dr. Emilija Ashtalkoska on August 25th, 2018. Products listed therein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Introduction
We hardly pay any attention to our toenails. For most of us, they are buried in socks and shoes for most of our day.
However, one day, you look down and discover unsightly nail fungus has taken over one or more of your toes! Maybe they’re yellow and thick, maybe they’re emitting a foul odor.
Do you have nail fungus? If so, you might be wondering, “Can I wear nail polish if I have toenail fungus?”
The answer is yes! Below we will outline everything you need to know about nail polish and nail fungus.
Don’t have a lot of time? Click here to view our top recommendation antifungal nail polish, Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish on Amazon.com.
Traditional Nail Polish Just Makes The Problem Worse
Fungi love moisture and confined spaces, meaning that traditional nail polish products just make your fungal problems worse.
Conventional nail polish traps the fungus underneath a confined wet layer, allowing the fungus to thrive and spread throughout the nails.
This is particularly an issue with polish applied to toenails, which are then crammed into confined shoes without the ability to properly breathe.
Unfortunately, upon discovering nail fungus, many people simply mask the issue by applying nail polish and just hoping that the infection goes away.
This is a terrible idea, as it allows the fungus to grow and possibly spread to other parts of the body.
The most important thing is to treat your nail fungus right away so that the infection doesn’t get worse. Nail fungus is easier to treat in it’s earliest stages.
Fortunately, there are a number of quality antifungal nail polishes that both mask and treat the infection.
Antifungal Nail Polish Is The Solution
Medicated nail polishes are the solution if you want to treat your nail fungus while still wearing an aesthetically pleasing polish.
It allows you to hide the discoloration, yellowing, black spot, and other various ailments while still treating the underlying fungal infection.
Additionally, in many instances, you can utilize another fungal treatment without compromising the anti-fungal polish.
Antifungal nail polish works by infusing the polish with a variety of natural antifungal agents. These usually include tea tree oil, lavender oil, garlic, and more.
Thus, the antifungal polish both helps treat the fungi while also improving the aesthetics.
Which Antifungal Nail Polish Do You Recommend?
While there are a number of antifungal nail polishes on the market, three have emerged as being the best products to treat your fungal issues.
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Best Antifungal Nail Polish #1 – Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish
Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish is a powerful, doctor-formulated base coat and treatment top that helps treats nail fungus while providing a beautiful cover-up solution.
It is available in a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors, such as Brave Berry, Resilient Rose, Amity Amethyst, Playful Pink, Clarity Coral, and more.
This is the perfect combination – the solution brings together the powerful antifungal agent Tea Tree Oil with incredible aesthetics to successfully treat and mask your fungal infection.
If you catch your nail fungus early, you can start with a minimal number of coats to get the desired effect. If your fungal infection has reached a later stage of development, you may need two or three coats to get the desired results.
The polish can be worn on toenails for up to 3 weeks at a time, and up to a week on fingernails.
We strongly believe this is the best antifungal nail polish on the market today.
Click here to view Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish on Amazon.com
Best Antifungal Nail Polish #2 – Nu Wave Nail Polish
Nu Wave Nail Polish is one of the most popular medicated nail polishes on the market today. It is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral, making it a powerful solution to your fungal woes.
It is free of nasty chemicals such as formaldehyde, is gluten-free, and is completely free of any animal products, making it 100% vegan.
We are huge fans of this product and believe it is an excellent choice to help fight your infected toenails.
Nu Wave is available in a number of beautiful colors such as Lilac, Julia, Shiny Red, Shiny Hot Pink, Sheer Truth, and more.
It was designed by a group of female podiatrists, but men can wear it too! We highly recommend utilizing Nu Wave Nail Polish if you have nail fungus.
Click here to view Nu Wave Nail Polish on Amazon.com
Best Antifungal Nail Polish #3 – DaniPro AntiFungal Infused Nail Polish
DaniPro Antifungal Infused Nail Polish is another popular antifungal nail polish. It contains undecylenic acid, which is a popular antifungal agent that quickly penetrates infected nails to provide results.
It is available in a variety of beautiful colors such as First Kiss, Coral Breeze, Mocha, and more. The product is manufactured in the USA and is notable for being long-lasting.
DaniPro Antifungal Infused Nail Polish is another top-notch antifungal nail polish that can mask your infected nails while treating the infection.
Undecylenic acid is used in a variety of over-the-counter antifungal agents and has a proven track record to destroy fungi quickly. We highly recommend this nail polish.
Click here to view DaniPro Antifungal Infused Nail Polish on Amazon.com
How To Apply Antifungal Nail Polish
1. Prepare Your Nails
Before applying any antifungal polish, it is imperative that you prepare your nails to maximize the effect of the treatment.
If your nails have become thick due to the fungi, consider utilizing extra strength clippers.
Clip and file your nails, and make sure you are extra cautious when discarding the infected clippings.
Take a shower to wash away the infected skin debris, and then dry your nails completely.
2. Apply The Base Coat
Regardless of which antifungal polish you apply, it is important that you apply their antifungal base coat.
Nonmedicated base coats lack antifungal agents, trapping the fungus in your nail and allowing it to spread. Let the base coat dry – it should take up to half an hour.
Do not apply an antifungal polish on top of a non-medicated base coat.
If you do apply antifungal polish on top of a non-medicated base coat, you are essentially wasting the polish!
The base coat essential works as a sealant, and thus you are trapping the infected fungi within the nail bed.
3. Apply The Antifungal Polish
Once the base coat has dried, you can now apply the antifungal top coat to your nails.
Directions differ slightly between brands, but it is important to let the top coat dry completely before continuing on with your day.
If you don’t, the polish can streak and be ineffective. In most cases, you will remove the antifungal nail polish every seven days and then reapply a fresh coat.
If you are looking for a recommendation, we favor Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish because it comes in a set with the base coat and a variety of beautiful colors.
Add An Additional Treatment To Maximize Results
If you have a particularly nasty case of nail fungus, you may need to add in additional antifungal treatments in order to treat your infection.
We have a number of top-rated topical treatments, such as Zane Hellas Fungus Stop.
If your fungal infection is more severe, consider the Purely Northwest Toenail Fungus System, which is a 3-in-1 system that includes a shower soap, topical treatment, and foot soak.
Our top recommended treatment is EmuaidMAX, which is a potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial ointment available over the counter.
It is important to note that some topical treatments may interfere with antifungal nail polish.
Generally speaking, you may have to apply the antifungal base and top coat more frequently.
Cleartouch At Home Phototherapy is a great way to avoid this hassle – it is an at-home laser treatment that bypasses the nail polish without interfering with it.
Watch Out For Athletes Foot
If you are suffering from nail fungus, it is highly likely that you also have contracted athletes foot.
Contrary to what the name would imply, you do not have to be an athlete to get athletes foot!
It is actually just a fungal infection of the foot, generally within the webbing of the toes and the underside of the foot.
Many people contract nail fungus due to athletes foot, and vice versa. This is because it is caused by the same fungi that can be difficult to treat.
If you have any of the signs of athletes foot – redness, scaliness, itchy feet, start treating it immediately in order to prevent spreading or reinfection.
Stay Hygienic To Improve Results
It is important to keep in mind that it is crucial to stay hygienic while applying antifungal nail polish, or any other nail fungus treatment.
We recommend constantly showering with antifungal soap, doing laundry at least twice a week, never directly touching your fungal infection.
Keep in mind that fungal spores remain whenever you come into direct contact with something – for example, if your feet touch your sheets, you now have residual fungal spores in your bed.
This is why it is so important to stay hygienic – the worst thing you can do is treat your fungal infection with antifungal nail polish, which simultaneously reinfecting yourself due to bad hygiene.
What Should I Look For In Antifungal Nail Polish?
The most important thing to look for when searching for a proper antifungal nail polish is that it features a powerful antifungal agent.
Oftentimes this is Tea Tree Oil or undecylenic acid, both of which are powerful antifungal agents.
The second thing we look for is the actual aesthetics of the polish – does it actually look nice? Are there a variety of colors available?
The best antifungal nail polishes on the market combine both of these factors to create an aesthetically pleasing nail polish that destroys the underlying fungi.
Does Antifungal Nail Polish Really Work?
Yes! Antifungal nail polish has the power to both mask the yellowing or discoloration of your nails, while also treating the underlying fungal infection.
This is because antifungal nail polish utilizes essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, biotin, and more to treat the fungal infection.
Normal nail polish just traps the fungal infection, allowing it to grow and spread throughout the body.
Is Nail Fungus Contagious?
Yes, nail fungus is highly contagious.
If you do not start treating your nail fungus in a timely manner, it can spread throughout the body.
The groin, head, skin, face, and fingernails are all common areas of fungal infections. Worst of all, the fungal infection can spread to your partner or even family members.
Where Should I Buy Antifungal Nail Polish?
Many of our readers wonder exactly where they should purchase anti-fungal nail polish.
They inquire about CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, eBay, or their local doctor’s office. We recommend purchasing anti-fungal nail polish on Amazon.com.
Click here to purchase Dr’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish on Amazon.com.
Conclusion
If you have contracted nail fungus but still want to showcase your beautiful nails, antifungal nail polish is the perfect solution for you.
Please keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to fungal treatment and that no treatment is going to completely cure the fungus overnight.
However, with patience, the right antifungal polish can help treat your nail fungus when properly applied.
We recommend adding in additional fungus treatment to maximize the results and return your nails to their healthy former selves.
This website does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before introducing your body to any new treatments.
References
Sources for more information:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4595230/ – antifungal properties of eucalyptus, an ingredient present in Vicks Vaporub
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110214201842.htm – Antifungal effect of lavender oil
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26247152 – a study which supports that lavender oil can have anti-inflammatory effects.
I am the founder of DestroyNailFungus, and I do my best to provide comprehensive guides on health and wellness.
When I’m not running the site, I enjoy spending time outdoors and drinking coffee.