A change in the color and thickness of the toenails can be considered the first sign of an infectious fungal disease - onychomycosis. At the initial stage, there is still a chance to do without expensive drugs, it is only important to know which folk remedies for toenail fungus are the most effective. If you strictly follow all the rules and recommendations, you can get rid of this disease at home.
The main factors that cause the disease
Onychomycosis is classified as an infectious disease, so the only way it can occur is through infection. It usually happens unnoticed and the first stage is almost asymptomatic. The appearance of light peeling and small cracks on the nail plate is also rarely alarming. Typically, treatment begins when obvious symptoms of the disease are detected:
- nail color change;
- plate thickening;
- persistent itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).
It is easy to get infected with a fungus - contact a sick loved one during joint trips to saunas and baths, fitness centers, using ordinary household items, for example, a bath mat or bedding. Often the disease can be transmitted in public places such as swimming pools or water parks if treatment is not in accordance with accepted standards.
There are also some individual risk factors for getting a yeast infection, such as a weakened immune system. In order not to provoke the onset of the disease, you should pay attention to the condition of your body before visiting places with a high risk of infection. It is not recommended to take the risk if:
- The man recently had a cold and his immune system is not yet fully recovered.
- There is damage to the nails or feet.
- There are doubts about the proper hygiene of the club or shoes, for example, in a bowling center.
Fighting nail fungus is a long process. In its advanced form, it can cause not only cosmetic discomfort, but also more serious diseases that may require surgical intervention.
Modern medicine offers a large selection of different antifungal drugs to get rid of this disease, but not everyone can afford them because of the high price. Traditional recipes for nail fungus, when used correctly, are no less effective and will cost less.
Treatment with iodine
Of all the options for the treatment of fungus with folk remedies, iodine is rightfully considered the most popular. The effectiveness of its use has been proven by dermatologists, and the drug is recommended to treat the affected areas of the nails and feet. The product compares favorably with:
- low price;
- good disinfectant properties;
- ease of use.
It has been proven that regular treatment of the affected areas of the nails with iodine for two weeks can completely eliminate the fungus. To do this, the affected plate should be moistened with medicine daily until a healthy nail grows completely. For prevention, healthy nails on other fingers can also be treated with iodine.
The drug is often used as an additional ingredient in other home recipes to combat athlete's foot. For example, they mix iodine with apple cider vinegar, treat the skin around the nails or take foot baths by adding the product to water. Together with celandine, vegetable oil or an antimicrobial agent, the drug is used to prepare mixtures to treat not only nail fungus, but also feet.
Before using iodine, remember that this drug can cause an allergic reaction, so you should do a test: apply a small amount of iodine to the skin and wait a few hours. People with thyroid disease should be careful when using iodine.
Soda treatment
Baking soda is a fairly common remedy for fighting various infections. It is also good to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies. It is recommended to use it in two doses.
The first is to steam your feet in the bath. To do this, prepare a solution: 1 tablespoon of soda per liter of boiling water. Keep your feet in the solution for about 20 minutes. Then proceed to the next part of the procedure.
For the second step, you need to prepare a soda solution (soda and a little water). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe steamed nail plate and the wrapping method is used (you can use an ordinary transparent film). The duration of the procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. Therefore, your feet should be washed with water to avoid irritation.
If the disease starts, the treatment should be done every day. Two to three times a week is enough for the initial stage. If you combine baking soda treatment with medication, the effect will be noticeable faster. It usually takes about two months to completely get rid of the fungus, but even after complete recovery, it is recommended to take soda baths once a week to prevent relapse.
Alcohol tablets
A good way to defeat nail fungus is an alcohol compress. This is done before going to bed and left overnight. Due to the heat, the affected areas of the nail plate expand, which facilitates the penetration of the disinfectant inside. Ammonia compress is considered the most effective, but a regular one will do. To perform the procedure correctly, you need:
- Steam your feet.
- Use a file to remove the dead top layer of the affected nail.
- Treat with hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply a cotton pad soaked in alcohol solution to the nail.
- Place on fingertips or wrap in foil.
- In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with an antifungal gel or cream.
- Repeat the procedure every day until the mycosis completely disappears.
To increase the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A week-long celandine compress filled with alcohol will help to significantly speed up the treatment, and the juice of a fresh plant can be used instead of an antifungal cream.
A compress with alcohol tincture of propolis will also help to get rid of the fungus quickly. The healing properties of this product have been known for a long time. It can treat fungus not only on the nails, but on the whole foot. Propolis has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which eliminates the use of other drugs after removing the compress.
It uses kombucha
Kombucha concentrated solution is very effective for treating foot fungus with folk remedies. The infusion has antibacterial properties, and the stronger the concentration, the better. Infusion of the mushroom for three months is considered optimal.
Treatment with this popular method can be done in two ways. The first is to use a cotton pad soaked in kombucha concentrate that has been boiled overnight. The second is to lubricate the affected area with the cork itself, rub it into a paste.
In both the first and the second method, the dead layer of the nail must be cut after the procedure. At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to disinfect both the nail itself and the tools used.
Although kombucha is a completely natural remedy, there are some contraindications for its use. Cannot be used:
- women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- alcoholics;
- patients with diabetes and hepatitis;
- HIV and AIDS patients.
In other cases, kombucha has shown itself to be one of the most effective methods of treating mycoses without the use of drugs.
The use of birch resin
Birch resin is the oldest way to get rid of athlete's foot. Its use has been known for a long time, but it has not lost its effectiveness. Tar can be used in its pure form or you can mix it with cream to make an ointment.
Before applying the substance, you need to pre-treat the feet and nails, steam and remove the dead parts. Then you can treat it with tar. A distinctive feature of this method is that air intake is required for the applied medicinal composition. The procedure takes about two hours, so you should pay attention to a comfortable body position in advance.
A more modern method is to use tar soap. However, it is more suitable for daily prevention of relapse of the disease than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can cause allergic reactions and dry skin, so use with caution. And the unpleasant smell, which is very persistent even for a few hours, does not benefit the product.
Do not completely rely on field treatment. It is best used as a complementary natural remedy to medications.
Salt and vinegar
Vinegar and salt are commonly used as an adjunct to nail and toenail fungus. In addition, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps to soften the nails for further processing. Usually solutions are prepared from these substances. The solution recipe is very simple:
- 100 ml of vinegar (preferably apple juice);
- 2 liters of boiling water;
- 0. 5 cups of salt.
Mix everything thoroughly and soak your feet in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Such baths will help to steam your nails before procedures and will disinfect the entire surface of your feet.
Whatever folk remedies are used to fight nail fungus, you should remember: if the treatment has not given a visible result after two weeks, you should immediately consult a doctor.