Nail fungus - onychomycosis - is a disease caused by parasitic fungi.This type of disease occurs in 20% of the adult population.Fungal infection occurs quite easily;To do this, simply touch the skin of your feet with a surface that contains these fungi.
Infection can occur, for example, in public baths or swimming pools;in some cases, infection with a fungal infection occurs when trying on shoes in a store or visiting a beauty salon, which uses poorly disinfected instruments for manicure and pedicure.Infection can occur when wearing shoes worn by a person infected with the fungus for several months;this situation leads to reinfection.
When the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, treatment should begin immediately.Due to the high prevalence of this pathology, almost everyone should know how to treat nail fungus at home.
Popular folk methods for treating nail fungus
Timely treatment of nail fungus at home using the fastest methods allows you to effectively deal with the disease in the early stages of the infection process.
When treating nail fungus with folk remedies, you can use quite simple and effective therapy methods.Folk remedies have simple recipes and procedures, which allows anyone to use them independently.
To treat the disease in the early stages of infection, you can use apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, celandine juice, iodine solution, hydrogen peroxide and kombucha-based compresses.
The most popular recipes are the following:
- Soak your feet once or twice a day in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water in a 1:1 ratio.Soaking time is 15 to 20 minutes.After this time, you must let your feet dry.The procedures must be carried out for two weeks.Gradually, the fungus begins to disappear and a healthy nail takes the place of the damaged nail.
- It is recommended to lubricate the skin and nails affected by a fungal infection with tea tree oil three times a day.For single use, you will need 4 to 10 drops of oil.The antifungal effect of using this medication is observed two weeks after starting therapy.In some cases, an extension of treatment is necessary.This remedy is prohibited for use in the treatment of diseases in children and pregnant women.
- Using Kombucha.For treatment, a compress must be prepared.To do this, you must wrap a plate of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, after these manipulations you must put on socks.The procedure must be carried out at night, before going to sleep.In the morning, you need to wash your lower limbs with warm water.And remove dead areas and lubricate the places where they were removed with iodine solution.One of the side effects of this treatment method is the appearance of quite severe pain, but the advantage of the method is the rapid achievement of a positive result from the therapy.
- The infection can be cured with propolis tampons.To do this, you can use propolis tinctures or its extract.This product can be used daily.Exposure to propolis accelerates the growth of the nail plate.Which leads to an acceleration of the healing process.
If, when using traditional methods, there is no improvement in the condition, you should seek help from a doctor to conduct an examination and prescribe complex therapy to treat the pathology.
The use of iodine in the treatment of nail fungus
One of the means to help fight nail fungus is iodine solution.Removing the infection with iodine is quite easy.In addition, this method of destruction is cheap and accessible to everyone.
Most experts in traditional methods of treatment recommend starting treatment of the infection with an iodine solution, which is probably due to the availability of this remedy and its widespread use.Medical iodine solution has pronounced disinfecting and antiseptic properties.
For treatment, it is necessary to use iodine daily, the solution is applied to damaged areas of the skin of the foot and nail.
To treat foot fungus at home with an iodine solution, you will need to apply a few drops to the affected areas twice a day.Treatment of affected areas is carried out with a cotton swab or cotton swab.It is best to drip the medicine solution directly onto the nail plate.
The use of iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can accelerate the healing of damaged areas, which allows the skin to be restored.To provide a more significant antifungal effect during procedures, it is recommended to treat not only the affected areas, but also the areas adjacent to the wound.
When treating the affected nail, simply apply one drop of the medical composition.
Another way to use iodine solution to kill fungi is to use baths with this medicine.
To prepare a bath, you need to add half a bottle of iodine solution to a bowl of warm water and steam your feet for 10 minutes.After the procedure, damaged tissue is removed from affected areas without causing harm to healthy skin.After removing the affected areas, the surface of the skin must be treated with hydrogen peroxide and a bandage with an antibacterial composition applied.
If necessary, you can mix iodine with apple cider vinegar.This mixture can be treated morning and night, and the treatment lasts for more than two weeks.
How to treat with vinegar?
You can get rid of a fungal infection with vinegar.To carry out the procedure, it is necessary to mix 70% acetic acid and glycerin in equal proportions and shake well before use;the resulting mixture is lubricated on the affected nail plates three times a day.The duration of treatment is approximately three weeks.
Traditional medicine has developed a simple antifungal remedy - baths with the addition of apple cider vinegar, which are carried out daily before bed.The normal course of this therapy is three weeks or more.
Using apple cider vinegar, you can prepare products with the addition of vegetable oil.The solution is prepared in a 1:1 ratio of components.When treating a fungal infection, moisten gauze or a bandage with the resulting solution and apply it to the damaged nail.It is recommended to wear this bandage 4 hours a day until the infection is completely cured.
In addition to these treatment methods, there are other recipes for folk remedies based on vinegar, the most common of which are the following:
- egg and vinegar ointment;
- using pure vinegar;
- using wine vinegar.
When preparing vinegar-based products, you can use vinegar essence, previously diluted with water to the desired concentration.
Fungus treatment with celandine
Using celandine at home can help cure the infection.It is recommended to lubricate the deformed nail plate infected with a fungal infection with celandine juice, using a cotton swab three times a day.To do this, juice is squeezed from a fresh, recently harvested plant.
Partially fresh juice can be used immediately after receiving it, and partially juice can be fermented in a dark place for a period of 2 to 3 weeks.Celandine therapy takes a long time;it is necessary to carry out procedures until a new nail grows.
Celandine can be used to treat pathologies in mixture with alcohol.To do this, a juice solution with 70% alcohol is prepared in a 1:1 ratio.The prepared solution is applied to the affected areas 4 times a day.
For therapy, you can use dry celandine herbs.To do this, the herb must be ground in a coffee grinder until powdery and mixed with iodine, vinegar or tea tree oil.The result of mixing should be a porridge-like mass.
Using the resulting composition, apply a compress to the damaged nail plate.
The use of hydrogen peroxide in treatment
Hydrogen peroxide is not a composition capable of destroying a fungal infection.The use of a solution of this chemical substance makes it possible to stop and prevent the progression of the pathology.
Peroxide is characterized by the presence of pronounced deodorizing properties, therefore it is ideal for treating damaged areas.
When using peroxide, you must follow the instructions for use.
Hydrogen peroxide solution therapy can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A hot foot bath is made, to which copper sulfate is added.The feet are placed in the solution and steamed well.
- After steaming, use a clean towel to dry the skin, paying special attention to the skin between your fingers.
- After the skin has dried, cotton pads or cotton swabs soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution are applied to the affected areas.Tampons are fixed to the damaged areas with adhesive tape.After applying tampons, the leg in the area affected by the infection is wrapped in a towel.This type of compress should be kept for 4 to 50 minutes.The procedure must be carried out twice a day with an interval of twelve hours.
- After your toenails become clear, you should trim the soft areas of the nail plate and apply an antifungal cream to the surface.
The disease will disappear much faster if you use a special foot bath prepared from hydrogen peroxide solution.To do this, you will need to take two liters of water and dissolve 100 ml of peroxide in it.You need to steam your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin of the feet is wiped with a clean towel and the softened nail is carefully filed with a nail file.At the end of the damaged nail removal procedure, an antifungal cream is applied to the treated area.It is recommended to carry out this procedure once a day.
An additional benefit of using peroxide is that it can speed up processes that promote healing.Under its influence, pathogenic microorganisms stop multiplying and spreading to new areas.Furthermore, when using this chemical compound, the development of a relapse of the infectious process can be avoided.
Pregnant women suffering from infection should pay special attention to the chemical.Since its use does not cause negative consequences for both the mother's body and the fetus.
Treatment of advanced forms of the disease
An old, neglected fungus can threaten the patient with the loss of a nail;For this reason, therapeutic measures should begin as early as possible.It is advisable to begin recovery at the initial stages of the infectious process, when the first signs of injury appear.
If the nail plate thickens and takes on a loose, scaly appearance, therapeutic measures may be significantly delayed.
Before starting treatment for a fungal infection, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the factor that contributes to the development of microorganisms.There is a whole range of remedies that are very effective in combating old and advanced infections.
The following methods can be used at home:
- The skin around the affected area is lubricated with a nourishing cream and kombucha peroxide is applied to the sore spot.After which the damaged area is wrapped in polyethylene and fixed with a bandage, this bandage is applied overnight, and the procedure itself is carried out several times;
- You can get rid of old or neglected mycoses using a solution of potassium permanganate.
In the second method, the legs must be steamed in a potassium permanganate solution and a compress made from a pre-prepared pasty mixture of alcohol and propolis is applied to the damaged areas.The compress is fixed with a bandage.It is recommended to carry out the procedure every other day until the pathological process is completely eliminated.
In the process of treating an old form of fungus, it will be necessary to use topical antifungal creams and oral medications.
The use of compresses based on 5% sulfur ointment and iodine preparations has an excellent effect.Furthermore, it is recommended to nourish your nails daily with lavender and tea tree essential oils.
Use of medications during home treatment
When getting rid of an infectious process, tablets must be selected by the attending physician.The modern pharmaceutical market offers patients a wide choice of these medicines.
When using antifungal medications at home, remember that they all have a large number of contraindications that must be taken into account when taking them.
Furthermore, all of these medications can cause various side effects in the patient.For this reason, self-prescription of these medications is contraindicated;they should only be taken if prescribed by the attending physician.
Currently, pharmacies offer patients tablets for the treatment of fungal infections, as well as effective products in the form of creams and gels.
If no positive effects are observed when using the prescribed medications at home, you should immediately contact your doctor for advice and adjustment of the medication used.
If it is necessary to remove the nail plate, you can use special creams that are applied in the form of a compress.
After exposure to the compress, the softened part of the nail is cleaned with a nail file.This procedure must be carried out daily until the nail bed is completely clean.
Preventing the occurrence of diseases
The most effective method of combating fungal infection is to prevent the infection.
To prevent the occurrence of an infectious process, only individual pedicure products should be used.To carry out hygiene procedures, you must have your own towel.You shouldn't walk in someone else's shoes.
Getting rid of the infection is a complex, time-consuming and financially expensive task, so you need to make efforts to prevent the infection.To this end, it is recommended to regularly clean the toilet, bathroom and rooms in the house with disinfectants.
When visiting the pool, sauna and bathhouse, you must wear special shoes.Which must be individual.After taking a bath or shower, it is recommended to dry your skin, especially the skin between your fingers.
If you are prone to diabetes, you should regularly monitor the level of glucose in your body, as the presence of an increased level of this component in your body is a factor that contributes to the development of a viral infection on the skin of your legs.
Be sure to wash your feet daily with soap and dry your shoes if they get wet.It is also necessary to change socks.
When choosing shoe models, it is recommended to give preference to varieties that do not restrict movement and allow free passage of air.
When buying socks, tights, stockings and shoes, you should give preference to quality products.
Among other things, to prevent the occurrence of a fungal infection, it is recommended to control your diet.With a lack of certain vitamins and nutritional compounds in the diet, the body wears out and becomes easily susceptible to infections.To replenish the loss of vitamins and biologically active compounds, it is recommended to consume more vegetables and fruits, especially in spring, when the lack of vitamins in the body is especially acute.
It is essential to monitor the condition of your nails and the skin around them daily;it is necessary to cut them in a timely manner, using personal tools disinfected for this purpose.