A change in the color and thickness of toenails can be safely considered the first sign of an infectious fungal disease - onychomycosis. At the initial stage, there is still a chance to do without expensive pharmaceuticals, it is only important to know which folk remedies for nail fungus are most effective. You can get rid of this disease at home if you strictly follow all the rules and recommendations.
The main factors causing the disease
Onychomycosis is classified as an infectious disease, therefore the only way it can occur is through infection. This usually goes unnoticed and the first stage is almost asymptomatic. The appearance of slight peeling and small cracks on the nail plate also rarely alarms a person. Typically, treatment begins when obvious signs of the disease are detected:
- change in nail color;
- plaque thickening;
- persistent itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).
It is easy to become infected with a fungus - just come into contact with a sick loved one during joint visits to saunas and baths, fitness clubs, using common household items, for example, a bath mat or bedding. The disease can often be transmitted in public places, such as swimming pools or water parks, if treatment is not up to 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, before visiting places with an increased risk of infection, you should pay attention to the condition of your body. It is not recommended to take risks if:
- The man recently caught a cold and his immune system has not yet fully recovered.
- There is damage to the nails or feet.
- There are doubts about the correct hygiene of the bat or shoes, for example, in a bowling center.
Fighting nail fungus is a long process. In its advanced form, it can lead not only to aesthetic discomfort, but also to more serious illnesses that may require surgical intervention.
Modern medicine offers a wide range of various antifungal drugs to get rid of this disease, but not everyone has the opportunity to purchase them due to their high cost. Traditional recipes for nail fungus are no less effective when used correctly and cost much less.
Iodine treatment
Of all the options for treating fungus with folk remedies, iodine is considered the most popular. The effectiveness of its use has been proven by dermatologists, and the medicine is recommended for the treatment of affected areas of nails and feet. The product compares favorably with:
- low price;
- good disinfectant properties;
- easy to use.
It has been proven that regular treatment of the affected areas of the nail with iodine for two weeks can completely remove the fungus. To do this, the affected plate must be soaked daily with the medicine until a healthy nail grows back completely. For prevention, healthy nails on other fingers can also be treated with iodine.
The drug is also often used as an additional ingredient in other homemade recipes to combat athlete's foot. For example, they mix iodine with apple cider vinegar, treat the skin around the nail or take a foot bath by adding the product to water. In combination with celandine, vegetable oil or an antimicrobial agent, the medicine is used to prepare mixtures for the treatment of not only nail fungus, but also foot fungus.
Before using iodine, remember that this medicine can cause an allergic reaction, so you need to do a test: apply a small amount of iodine to the skin and wait a few hours. Care should be taken when using iodine in people with thyroid disease.
Soda treatment
Sodium bicarbonate is a fairly common means of fighting various infections. It is also good to treat nail fungus with folk remedies. It is recommended to use in two doses.
The first is to steam your feet in the bathtub. To do this, prepare a solution: 1 tablespoon of baking soda per liter of hot water. Soak your feet in the solution for about 20 minutes. Then move on to the next part of the procedure.
For the second step, you will need to prepare a soda paste (soda and some water). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area of the 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, feet should be rinsed with water to avoid irritation.
If the disease begins, treatment must be carried out every day. For the initial phase, two to three times a week are sufficient. The effect will be noticeable faster if you combine sodium bicarbonate treatment with medications. 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 avoid relapses.
alcohol pills
A good way to defeat nail fungus is an alcohol swab. This is done before bed and left overnight. Due to heating, the affected areas of the nail plate expand, which makes it easier for the disinfectant to penetrate inside. The ammonia compress is considered the most effective, but a regular compress will do. To carry out the procedure correctly, you must:
- Steam your feet.
- Use a file to remove the dead top layer of the affected nail.
- Treat with hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply a cotton pad dipped in alcohol solution to the nail.
- Place on your fingertip or wrap in aluminum foil.
- In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with antifungal gel or cream.
- Repeat the procedure every other day until the ringworm disappears completely.
To enhance the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A weekly alcohol compress from celandine will help significantly speed up treatment, and the juice of a fresh plant can be used instead of an antifungal cream.
A compress with alcoholic propolis tincture will also help to quickly eliminate the fungus. The healing properties of this product have been known for a long time. It can cure not only nail fungus but also the entire foot. Propolis has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which eliminates the need for other medications after removing the compress.
Kombucha uses
A concentrated kombucha solution is very effective in treating foot fungus with folk remedies. The infusion has antibacterial properties and the stronger the concentration, the better. A mushroom infusion for three months is considered ideal.
Treatment with this popular method can be carried out in two ways. The first is to use a cotton pad soaked in kombucha concentrate, boiled well overnight. The second is to lubricate the affected area with the fungus itself, rubbed into a paste.
In both the first and second methods, after the procedure, the dead layer of the nail must be cut off. At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to disinfect both the nail itself and the instruments used.
Despite the fact that kombucha is a completely natural remedy, it has some contraindications for use. Cannot use:
- women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- alcoholics;
- people with diabetes and hepatitis;
- patients with HIV and AIDS.
In other cases, kombucha has established itself as one of the most effective methods of treating mycoses without the use of medication.
Use of birch tar
The oldest way to get rid of foot fungus is birch tar. 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 prepare an ointment by mixing it with cream.
Before applying the substance, you must pre-treat the legs and nails, steam them and remove the dead parts. Then you can treat it with tar. A distinctive feature of this method is that air access is required for the applied medicinal composition. The procedure takes about two hours, so you should take care of a comfortable body position in advance.
A more modern method is to use tar soap. But it is more suitable for daily prevention of disease relapse than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can cause allergic reactions and dry skin, so use it with caution. And even the unpleasant odor, which remains very persistent for several hours, does not add any benefit to the product.
Do not rely entirely on tar treatment. It is best used as a natural complementary remedy to medications.
Salt and vinegar
Vinegar and salt are commonly used as adjuvants against nail and foot fungus. Furthermore, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps soften your nails for further processing. Typically solutions are made from these ingredients. The solution recipe is very simple:
- 100 ml of vinegar (preferably apple cider);
- 2 liters of hot water;
- 0. 5 cup of salt.
Mix everything well and soak your feet in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes. Such baths not only help to steam your nails before procedures, but also disinfect the entire surface of your feet.
Whatever folk remedy you use to combat nail fungus, remember: if after two weeks the treatment does not give visible results, immediately consult a doctor.