The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Beki (Woodbridge, Uk) on 07/14/2010
Is there a natural cure for contact dermatitis from using neat tea tree oil to treat fungal toenails. Although I think it was working on the fungus, I now have weeping, red, broken skin around my toenails. I've never had a problem with tea tree oil before. Its very unsightly and stopping me from trying anything else until its healed. Please help.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Anstasija (Novi, Mi) on 06/09/2016
Essential oils (the real ones) should never be used undiluted.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Ann (California) on 09/11/2016
I don't know about petroleum jelly...seems like that would perpetuate the problem of moisture in the nail, but coconut oil has moisturizing and antifungal properties. I would try that in addition to the tea tree to prevent any rash that may be occurring.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Junia (Dallas, Tx) on 02/26/2010
★★★★★
I had a fungal infection on one of my large toenails and first tried a commercial product you paint on. After a month of use it did nothing and the fungus got worse. Then I read about tea tree oil and started applying that. It has taken many months - more than 4 or 5 and I didn't do it every single day - many times I forgot. But I can finally say that the teatree oil is working. Some of the affected nail flaked off and the rest of it is growing out with healthy nail bed in its place. You just have to be patient - it will take a long time - for me - because I forgot so much to apply it, it was close to a year.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Crystal (VA) on 07/17/2006
★★★★★
I have hard rough skin around fingernails causing them to become brittle; discomforting in daily tasks like typing and basic tasks involving fingers and hands. My nail fungus problem began on my right big toe. I thought it was an in-grown nail. A whole summer I sat out in the sunlight picking at it with a file and tweezers and finally saw a podiatrist. She told me it was fungus and that the only cure was Lamisil. I of course could not fathom the health risks and financial costs the drug involves. I have a strong faith and am Spiritual, therefore I knew there must be some natural remedy for this problem. I asked around and someone said tea tree oil. For the next few weeks I noticed the problem worsening in my other toes, and more recently has started to grow in my fingers.
In my retail job I waited on a customer who happens to own our local health food store. I asked her, and she also said tea tree oil. My next day off, I went straight to her store and purchased a bottle of Thursday Plantation brand of nail fungus therapy with tea tree oil. I started the treatment on my fingers only and noticed immediately that the discomfort had disappeared. The next day the dead skin was peeling off to reveal my fresh healthy skin underneath. I am on day 4 now and my fingers and nails are starting to look and feel like MINE again! When they are back to normal I'll start the real test on my big toe, on which the nail is almost gone! When speaking to the owner of the store at which I made my purchase, she said the remedy works as long as the treatment is administered diligently! So, if you purchase this product, please stick to your regime! To your healthy and happy fingertips, toes and nails! (: ~Crystal
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Deana (Independence Missouri) on 03/19/2017
I started applying oregano oil & tea tree oil to my toenails on 3/13/17 and my nails are also turning white. I can only assume it is drying up the fungus. But I'm not sure what it is either.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Sunshine (Wichita, Kansas ) on 08/09/2017
I was searching to find why there is a white powdery look to the area around my toenails after applying tea tree oil for a few days and this is all I have found. I don't know why it did that or what it means, but it doesn't hurt. Hope we find an answer.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Vera (Nyc) on 11/02/2017
I'm experiencing same thing with my toenail fungus. Using tea tre oil for about a month, and the nail has become white. I searched for answers, didn't find anything so far:(
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Diann (Pennsylvania) on 01/21/2018
Yes mine are like that since recently starting tea tree oil treatment. I plan to ask my Dr about this white residue
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Sly (Kenya) on 02/18/2018
I also started the tea tree direct application treatment, the affected area is starting to turn white but I assumed that it's part of the process. I doubt if it can be a cause of alarm
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Denise (Massachusetts) on 08/02/2016
I have experienced my 2nd toenail...one day just fall off. The nail below is short and nor the size of a regular nail, the other 2nd toenail was lifting in the middle and have had a black nail on my left foot for many years. I have been researching ways to correct and get rid of this problem for the past month. I thought maybe I had diabetes because it runs in my family...because both feet and my body was itching. The itch was I discovered...was caused by 2 products, body wash and corning detergent. I purchased a bar of soap with Coconut Oil, Papaya Enzymes, Shea Butter, Songyi Mushroom Extract and Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower, which got rid of the itching that was driving me crazy...now to get rid of my toenail problem...has anybody experienced what I shared...I went for a pedicure in February and may...toenail issue occurred around that time. Really upsetting because I love pedicures. Would love to hear from others...
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Doreen (Nova Scotia) on 08/22/2016
Yes, I have it on my big toe. I too think I got it from having a pedicure. I was using diluted ACV, but then read about tea tree oil, so started it about a week ago. will use it 2 x day to see if it cures it. I usually took my own tools for a pedicure, but forgot a couple of times. I used theirs, plus even if they disinfect the tools, they use the same nail polish. It would infect the polish by using the same brush from someone infected. Just thought of this a few months ago!!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Hisjewel (America, New York) on 08/23/2016
Greetings Denise, the black toenail is sometimes caused by trauma to the nail. And if you are dealing will a fungus it makes matters worse.
I had a thicken toenail which I was trying to thin down. This ended in a blacken toe nail. I had tried to get rid of it for years just using nail fungus removal but that did not work.
Then I started "twenty minute foot soaks". one of them worked. I don't know which one. I was just surprised one day when I noticed that my toenail was no longer black.
I must also inform that I was also drinking the baking soda and molasses mix, and Olive leaf capsules around that time.
Here are some of the foot soaks I have done: Borax, sea salt, vinegar and once or twice I even did a bleach foot soak. All in water of cause. I did not measure a certain amount.
Greetings to you also Doreen,
I have found that if a person and sugar are not good friends, or if a person is prone to UTI's it is better not to use nail polish until you are all the way out of the woods.
If I do polish my toes I have to take it off before a day or to goes by, or I will see the white markings on my toenails when the nail polish is removed.
A person that is prone to nail fungus may be able to enjoy a pedicure, but after a day or two of showing it off, I would take the nail polish off.
I don't know what's in nail polish remover, but something good is in there for healing those toes nails. Nail polish remover has cleared my toenails quite a few times.
HisJewel
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by John (Downey, California) on 03/18/2017
Last night I was just about to jamb my big toe nail under the bathroom door to rip it off!!! Cause about a year ago I accidentally kicked a mattress and ripped off the other one and the nail grew back clean. I couldn't get myself to do it!! I just happened to find some tea tree oil in the cabinet and Googled the benefits. I'm going to try it and see if it works...
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Cindy (Washington) on 08/26/2016
I am excited about tea tree oil and the positive results I see here. After reading this post, I will try putting a petroleum jelly product around the edges of my big toes (the fungus issues are on my big toes only) before applying tea tree oil as often as I can remember to do so. Thanks to all for sharing!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Robert (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) on 03/07/2009
★★★★☆
I've been fighting a fungus between my little toe for years. I've spent a fortune on all the over the counter creams and also my doctor has prescribed a few things, to no avail. I read somewhere about 2 months ago to use Tea Tree oil. I've been applying the oil for 6 weeks now and have had no itching since the first application and the fungus has cleared up remarkedly. There is still remnants of scarring and discolorization in the area and I really think the fungus is still there but I'm going to continue this treatment. Any suggestions as to what else to do would be appreciated.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Laberta (Florida) on 02/27/2016
You might want to try using Organic unrefined coconut oil. I recently used it for a couple of bad scratches I got from the new kitten and was surprised how fast they healed. It even helped to heal a burn I had gotten on the same hand. Just rub a tiny amount on a couple of times a day. Hey, nothing to lose. I keep coconut oil on hand and even use it for cooking sometimes.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 01/01/2007
★★★★★
I am trying Vics Vapor Rub and 100% Tea Tree oil, I do believe the fungus is on its way out as the fungus under the nail is turning Black. What I do is apply the tea tree oil first rub it in and try and get it down the back of the nail, then I rub a good amount of vics vapor rub all over the nail bed. I also filled my infected toe nail in both directions Across and down, allowing the mixture to absorb in quicker I only file once a week so not to make my nail sore. I apply this twice per day once in the Morning and again before bed time. I cover my toe nail up with a cotton wool cosmetic pad and surgical tape to keep it in place while I am sleeping.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Kristy (Chicago, IL)
★★★★★
I managed to get rid of a fungal nail infection on one toe completely using Jason Tea Tree Oil from Australia ($9.95/bottle). I used it 3 times a day and now the nail is completely fixed. I had the fungal infection on this nail for about 5-6 years. I have two other nails that are infected but it is proving to be more difficult to get rid of. I would definitely give the tea tree oil a try. I am now going to try Vicks vapour rub on the other nails.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Alison (England) on 01/07/2016
Try wearing proper walking socks all the time. My partner suffered with athlete's foot between the toes for years. After taking up walking using a good brand of walking socks which wick moisture away he found that the fungal infections completely cleared up. So worth a try and the socks don't wear out either they just wear a bit thinner after time.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Russell (San Francisco, CA) on 06/11/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Nail Fungus - I tried Tea Tree oil religiously for about 4 or 5 months -- very disappointing -- no effect at all! Plus new studies show that even small amounts have feminizing effects on men.