Ringworm can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's fingernails and feet are the preferred place for their location. The virus is very easily transmitted and spreads, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications that are used to eliminate yeast infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against nail fungus remains high.
What is a fungus?
In nature, there are many types of fungal pathogens that can affect the human body. The fungus is always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in several ways: in public places, through shared shoes, by direct contact.
The most common location is the legs, namely the feet and nails. This placement is due to several reasons:
- increased sweating of the legs caused by individual characteristics;
- tight and uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent leg injuries, micro-cracks, scratches, corns;
- stress;
- intoxication by alcoholism and smoking;
- hypothermia of the legs of a permanent nature.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then unpleasant symptoms begin to actively appear:
- unpleasant pungent smell from the feet;
- the nail plate turns white and lamination may appear;
- itching and sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- sores form on the skin around the nails, erosion appears.
Treatment depends on the stage of nail fungus, the sooner the problem is noticed, the easier it will be to fix. But it should be understood that the fight against this disease is quite difficult, it can last several months and even years. The disappearance of the signs does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This can only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will resume again.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last several months. There are many pharmaceuticals that mycologists recommend to prevent new mold spores from forming. But none of them give 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise using various methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Benefits of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- practically no contraindications and side effects;
- when used correctly, they fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods of getting rid of fungus can be advised by experts. The main thing is to use new tools very carefully. Also, do not forget about the age of the patient, it is not recommended to use untested products for children. Patients under the age of 16 are seen in consultation with a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a time-tested remedy
To date, iodine is still an effective remedy for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive use of iodine can cause burns, so the dosage must be strictly observed when applying it.
This method is very effective if used from the beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to harm the nail plate and skin during treatment, you must follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at a pharmacy and check its expiration date.
- Wash your feet well and dry. It is very important that the patient only uses their own towel, this reduces the risk of transmission of infection.
- On each affected nail and the one next to it, put a drop of iodine and rub it in well.
- Let the iodine dry a little, and for some time afterwards, do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. It has this method and several side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which creates aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity may be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning during rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against ringworm
Acetic compresses are another popular recipe for getting rid of ringworm at home. To do this, use the usual 9% table vinegar, and baths are prepared from it.
The recipe is simple: you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix well. If the disease is in an advanced stage, we can talk about increasing the concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for the bath is 2: 1.
The water must be cold, otherwise the vinegar will lose its properties. In addition, you need to prepare a bath with hot water, the legs are lowered for cooking. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be done every other day, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it is used to fight bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in its pure form at a pharmacy, but you need to use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend using an infusion of propolis in alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use it for ringworm.
To combat this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- moisten a cotton ball in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- in the evening, a slightly melted piece of the substance is placed on the affected nails, but such a compress can be kept for no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use it very carefully.
tea mushroom
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim it can lead to activation of the process, while others claim it can completely get rid of ringworm and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this the mushroom is steeped in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, so it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effects.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess liquid, then gently rubbed onto the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, done before bed. Feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Soak one part in warm water, send the other back to the syrup. Take a mushroom out of the water and attach it to your nails, attach cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. The compress can cause tingling, mild pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are considered quite justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless substance is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, so it is advisable to use it to quickly remove nail fungus at home. It is birch tar, a birch bark processing product, which is actively used. It can be purchased at a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis of ointments, but in the case of ringworm, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Various types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular because of their effect.
First you need to cook your legs. It is best to do this in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead parts of the nail and spread the cool places with tar and rub well. So you should not get dressed for several hours, tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day; after this period, you can take a cold foot bath. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made from natural fabrics and treat your shoes with a light tar solution.
Foot baths with tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half a bar of soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add some soda. Carry out the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean the coarse fabrics and let the feet dry.
herbal decoctions
It is no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in traditional medicine. For the treatment of ringworm, decoctions of such plants are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- mugwort;
- calendula;
- Saint John's herb;
- chamomile.
For the preparation of decoctions, the dried flowers of these plants are used. It is very important to respect the proportions and keep enough time for a couple. For the treatment of the fungus, only decoctions in water are used, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Decoction experts recommend using it only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not deal with advanced stages. Also, some of the plants shown can cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you need to be patient. For the full effect, you sometimes need to use multiple recipes. The full course of treatment can take years. It is best to consult a specialist before choosing a treatment method. And in no case do not start the process, severe stages are extremely difficult to treat.