Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to antifungals.
Crystal Flush is a two-part system used to treat toe fungus, that includes a topical treatment and a dietary supplement. The brand claims that “In as little as 21 days, Crystal Flush helps restore the healthy and strong toenails of your youth.”
But can an oral supplement really treat toenail fungus? Does the topical Crystal Flush treatment contain research-backed ingredients? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Crystal Flush?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Crystal Flush to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for treating toe fungus, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also discuss the risk of side effects, and feature real Crystal Flush customer reviews.
Topical Serum Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredient in Crystal Flush’s topical serum is shown above.
Tolnaftate is an FDA-approved antifungal agent that’s been clinically shown to be effective.
A clinical trial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that 82.7% of patients using tolnaftate at the same concentration as in Crystal Flush experienced “clearing or great improvement” of their fungal lesions.
The inactive ingredients in this serum are shown below:
Lavender oil was shown in a 2005 clinical trial to “reduce fungal progression.”
Tea tree oil is highly effective against fungus when applied topically, as we documented in our Fungus Clear reviews article.
Neem was shown to be effective against four types of fungus in a clinical trial published in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology.
Overall, we consider this product likely to be effective for reducing fungus levels.
There are no ingredients in this topical serum that we consider to be unhealthy, although we'd prefer if the essential oils were listed with a concentration, because high concentrations of essential oil can irritate the skin.
Dietary Supplement Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Crystal Flush’s dietary supplement, called Balance, are shown above.
There are some ingredients in this formulation with antifungal effects.
Oregano has been shown to reduce levels of a fungus called Candida albicans in a clinical trial published in the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry journal.
However, oregano essential oil was used in the trial, which is more concentrated than oregano leaf powder (the format used in this supplement).
Caprylic acid was shown to be an effective antifungal when combined with botanical ingredients in a 2019 clinical trial.
This was an in vitro (test tube) study, which is a weaker standard of evidence than trials with human participants.
Probiotics can support gut health, as we documented in our Synogut reviews article, and a more resilient gut microbiome may prevent future fungal infections.
However, we can’t find any clinical evidence that the probiotic in this supplement directly reduces skin fungus.
Anise has proven antifungal effects, although a 2012 medical review reports that “anise essential oil exhibited stronger antifungal activities rather than its extract,” and the essential oil format is not used in Balance.
We want to be clear: we do not recommend ingesting any essential oils without the approval of a doctor, as there can be significant health risks; we’re just reporting on the comparative results from this medical review.
Overall, we consider Balance to be potentially effective as an oral antifungal agent.
There are no ingredients in this formulation that we consider to be unhealthy.
Can You Treat Toenail Fungus at Home?
A YouTube video from popular health influencer Dr. Mandell claims that you can cure toenail fungus at home for pennies a day:
Customers Rate Crystal Flush
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
At the time of updating this article, Crystal Flush has been reviewed over 250 times on Amazon, and has an average review rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Tina Tracy” who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
“This stuff works amazing! I haven't had an ingrown toenail since using this! Mynails are going back to pink and they flattening out like they should be! Amazing product!”
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Concerned consumer” who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
“The product is sold for toe nail fungus, but in tiny print on bottle, that requires a magnifying glass to read it states not effective on scalp and nails. I want my money back and to prevent others falling for the mid advertised scam.”
Where to Get the Best Price
Crystal Flush is sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here’s a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of updating this article:
Topical Serum
Amazon: $39.95 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
Balance Supplement
Amazon: $44.95 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
Combined Treatment
Brand's website: $59 (free shipping, link)
The brand's website only currently offers the combined treatment, so consumers wanting to use one of the two products in isolation will save money at Amazon.
Consumers who want to purchase both products will save money at the brand's website, where the combined price is significantly lower.
Does Crystal Flush Cause Side Effects?
Crystal Flush doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it challenging to say for certain whether or not it will cause side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on the ingredients used.
Tolnaftate (the active ingredient in the topical formulation of Crystal Flush) appears to be a very safe antifungal.
We can’t locate any clinical evidence that it causes side effects when used at a 1% concentration.
Because there are no questionable additives in this product and its active ingredient appears safe, we consider Crystal Flush unlikely to cause side effects in healthy adults.
Our only concern in regard to side effects is that the essential oil concentration is not published, and high concentrations of essential oils can cause irritation when used topically, according to a 2021 medical review.
This suggests that consumers with very sensitive skin may wish to avoid this product.
We hope that in the future, Crystal Flush publishes the concentration for all essential oil ingredients.
Our Clean Antifungal Picks
Performance Lab MCT Oil is our top oral antifungal pick.
Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil was shown in a clinical trial published in the Nutrients journal to be a "therapeutic intervention for reducing fungal colonization."
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top vitamin anti-fungal pick.
A medical review published in the Current Medical Mycology journal found that vitamin D3 had antifungal activity against Candida species (a pervasive fungal pathogen) and also inhibited biofilm formation.
Dr. Bronner's Organic Coconut Oil is our topical anti-fungal pick.
A medical review concluded that "coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections in view of emerging drug-resistant Candida species."
We're not suggesting that either of these products should be used to treat any disease or health condition.
Both of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
Crystal Flush Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Crystal Flush in our opinion:
Pros:
- Research-backed active ingredients
- Non-toxic inactive ingredients
- Topical product contains FDA-approved active ingredient
- Should reduce toe fungus
- Better-than-average anti-fungal brand
- Free shipping from brand's website
Cons:
- Oral supplement has questionable efficacy
- Essential oil concentrations not published
- Mediocre Amazon reviews
- Can’t purchase individual products on brand website
