Ozone for Nail Fungus Treatment

Most of us have heard that ozone in the air protects us from harmful ultraviolet sun rays, and some of us know that it’s being used to kill organisms in drinking water, but how many people know that we can also use ozone for nail fungus treatment? Ozone is a powerful oxidant – that is, it contains oxygen molecules that will react with other molecules it comes in contact with, often damaging them in the process. This is oxidation, deadly to many organisms and thought to be involved in disease and aging processes in humans.

Scientists have been studying the antifungal potential of ozone, using it in gaseous form on stored foods, adding it to water, and producing ozonized ointment for onychomycosis and other fungal infections. It is very effective at killing fungi in grain stores, has been effectively used against fungal skin infections, and has shown potent antifungal activity against the fungi that cause onychomycosis in laboratory conditions. The key to using ozone for nail fungus treatment will ultimately likely depend on getting the ozone to the fungus.

Preliminary efforts have involved forcing ozone into a carrier such as olive oil. This approach makes sense because olive oil is also known to possess some antifungal properties, providing some extra punch, and the process causes the oil to solidify, creating ozonized ointment for onychomycosis. Theoretically, this product could be applied topically to both skin and nail infections. Properly designed, conclusive trials of ozone for nail fungus treatment, however, are still to come.

One stumbling block will be whether the ozonized ointment for onychomycosis is capable of penetrating the nail to reach and act upon the invading fungus. Nails are tough and impenetrable, and topical treatments tend to be unsuccessful – the medication does not contact the fungus until the infection is very advanced, if then. A further question about ozone for nail fungus treatment is whether the ozone will act in the same way in an actual infection as it does under laboratory conditions. The two situations are not the same.

Lack of conclusive evidence for ozone does not mean it doesn’t work: it means we’re not sure that it works, or how well it works. For those suffering from nail fungus and interested in an alternative medicine treatment, ozonized ointment for onychomycosis might be worth trying. Have the infection confirmed by a health professional before choosing any treatment.