Soaking fungal toenails to soften them is one of the most effective ways to soften them. This treatment can be necessary when the nails have become excessively hard or thick because of the nail fungus infection. Usually, the problems caused by a nail fungus infection are largely aesthetic and don’t pose much other concern. However, when the nail becomes very thick or hard, it can be difficult to trim the nails and maintain proper hygiene. In this situation, softening the nails is beneficial because it will help to allow the nails to be maintained properly.

Soaking fungal toenails is a great way to soften them because it allows the nails to soak up water, which hydrates them and makes them less hard. Another great thing about soaking your nails to soften them is that it is very accessible. To do this method, the only thing you need to have at home is access to warm water!

How to Soften Toenails

The first step is to find the container you would like to soak your feet in. Some easy things you can use for this purpose include a bathtub or a bucket that is big enough to hold your feet in. If you would like to get a tool dedicated to this purpose, you can even find foot spa machines online.

These can even include massage tools and lights that can enhance the foot soak experience, making it more pleasant and enjoyable. Once you have acquired the basin you are using for your foot soak, simply fill it up with enough warm water to cover your feet.

After this, soaking fungal toenails is pretty self-explanatory. Simply soak your feet in the water for between 20-40 minutes, allowing the water to soak into your nails. If you would like to enhance the experience even further, you can even add Epsom salts to the warm water you are soaking your feet in.

What to do After Soaking

After soaking for this length of time, remove your feet and dry off your nails. Immediately after soaking the nails, try cutting them again. If they are able to be cut, this is great! Soaking your toenails has had the desired effect, and grooming your toenails should be easier while you wait to get the treatment done for the fungus itself.

However, if soaking your toenails didn’t soften them enough the first time, there is still hope. First of all, you can try soaking fungal toenails for consecutive days to improve the results you see. By soaking the nails repeatedly, they can hydrate better and absorb more moisture.

Try soaking your nails every day and attempting to trim them after each attempt. If you still can’t trim your nails after consecutive attempts, you can also try applying a nail softening cream. Apply this cream each time you soak your toenails and allow it to soak into the nail. 

Why should I soak my toenails?

Soaking fungal toenails to soften them enough to trim them isn’t always possible. Sometimes, nail fungus has made the nails so hard or thickened that another treatment is essential to grooming them. For example, if the nails have gotten so thick that they don’t even fit between the blades of your nail clippers, receiving treatment for the fungus itself is essential to be able to trim them in the future. The benefit of receiving treatment for the fungal infection itself is that it should improve the condition of your nails in the future as well.

Once the fungal infection is gone from the nail, a new healthy nail should start growing behind the old damaged nail. This new healthy nail should be clear, thin, and soft enough to trim normally. Additionally, you shouldn’t need to soak the healthy nail every time you try and trim it. 

Will this clear up my nails?

Clearing the fungal infection from under the nail will also help treat aesthetic concerns that the fungus causes. For example, common symptoms of toenail fungus include discoloration of the nail. This can show up as white, yellow, brown, or black spots of discoloration. While these spots normally start as small dots or stripes, they can grow to cover the entire nail.

Also, treating the fungal infection will help treat any cracking or debris buildup that the fungus has caused in the nail. Once you have eliminated the fungus, you simply need to take hygiene precautions and use preventative antifungal care products to avoid reinfection with the fungus.

Laser Treatment for Fungal Nails

The most effective way to eliminate a fungal infection is with the PinPointe Laser treatment. This treatment is sufficient to kill all of the fungi under the nail with just one session and is one of the safest treatments available. This laser is also FDA-approved, so it is proven to actually be effective at killing the fungus. Learn more about the PinPointe Laser at our website, or schedule a free consultation with a licensed podiatrist at 1-(800) 672-0625 or here.