Look closely at a toenail with fungus and you are watching a slow-motion event. Underneath the surface, a microscopic organism has found a meal, and the nail keeps growing right over the top of it. Once you know what goes on in that hidden space, a lot starts to make sense: the colour change, the thickening, and the long road back to a healthy nail.
Who is living in your nail?
Most nail fungus is caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that feed on keratin, the tough protein your nails are made of. In toenails, the usual suspects are Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, sometimes joined by yeasts and molds.
Around 4% of the general population deals with it, and that figure climbs with factors such as advancing age, diabetes, obesity, vascular disease and athlete’s foot.
Finding a way in
A healthy nail is a tight barrier. Fungus needs an entry point, and that is usually a small injury to the nail or the skin around it, often so minor you never notice it. Once inside, the fungus settles in the nail plate and nail bed and starts breaking down keratin.
What you see on the surface
The visible signs build up gradually: white or yellow discolouration, a thicker nail plate, and a nail that turns brittle. The emotional side can weigh as well. The introduction of our clinical evaluation study describes an association between nail fungus and lower self-esteem, anxiety and low mood.
Why it takes so long
A toenail works like a very slow conveyor belt. Nail fungus does not clear up by itself, and because toenails grow slowly, replacing a damaged nail with a healthy one can take 12 to 18 months. Clinical guidelines suggest topical treatment for around 48 weeks, and continued care after improvement can help keep the fungus from returning.
The treatment puzzle
Oral medication can interact with other drugs and may strain the liver, so its use is limited. Topical options are gentler but have lower reported success rates, and some are hard to apply for people who struggle to reach their feet. Long treatment times also make adherence difficult. That is why there is real demand for something safe, easy to use and suitable for the long haul.
Where Manuka oil comes in
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a New Zealand shrub with a long history of traditional use by the Māori. Its essential oil has been widely studied for antimicrobial properties, and oil rich in β-triketones, sourced from the East Cape region of New Zealand, is of particular interest. Laboratory research has shown antifungal activity. The exact mechanism is still being explored, and one suggestion is that β-triketones may disrupt the fungal cell wall. You can read more on our Manuka oil page.
FunghiClear® contains a proprietary blend with high-triketone Manuka oil as the key active ingredient, supported by basil, lavender and peppermint oils. Inspired by nature and driven by science, it is designed for the long-term care that nail fungus asks for.
What our clinical study showed
We put FunghiClear® to the test in a 12-week clinical evaluation study. In total, 192 adults with confirmed nail fungus completed the protocol, across the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Taiwan and Scandinavia. Participants sprayed FunghiClear® twice a day, and a footcare professional assessed their nails at the start, at week 6 and at week 12.
On safety, no serious adverse events were reported during the study.
On effectiveness, 67% of participants showed an improved Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI) score after 12 weeks. Put simply, that is a 2 in 3 chance of seeing improvement within the first 12 weeks.
Twelve weeks is a short window for a nail that needs many months to regrow, so continued use matters.
Making it part of your routine
FunghiClear® is easy to apply twice daily. Spray it on the affected toenail(s) and the surrounding skin after washing and drying your feet, and keep going until a healthy nail has grown back. Steady, daily care is what gives the nail time to renew itself.
Ready to start? Shop FunghiClear® now.