A change in the color and thickness of toenails can safely be 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 toenail 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, so the only way it occurs is infection. This usually occurs 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;
- thickening of the plate;
- persistent itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).
It is easy to become infected with a fungus - just contact with a sick loved one during joint trips to saunas and baths, fitness centers, using ordinary household items, for example, a bath mat or bed linen. Often the disease can be transmitted in public places such as swimming pools or water parks if treatment is not according 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 club or shoes, for example, in a bowling center.
Fighting nail fungus is a long process. In its advanced form, this can lead not only to cosmetic discomfort, but also to more serious diseases that may require surgical intervention.
Modern medicine offers a large selection of various antifungal drugs to get rid of this disease, but not everyone has the opportunity to purchase them because of their high cost. Traditional recipes for toenail fungus are no less effective when used correctly and will cost much less.
Treatment with iodine
Of all the options for treating 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 for treating affected areas of 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 nail with iodine for two weeks can completely remove the fungus. To do this, the affected plaque must be soaked daily with the drug until a healthy nail grows 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 home recipes to combat athlete's foot. For example, they mix iodine with apple cider vinegar, treat the skin around the nail, or take foot baths by adding the product to the water. In combination with celandine, vegetable oil or an antimicrobial agent, the drug is used to prepare mixtures for the treatment of not only nail fungus, but also feet.
Before using iodine, remember that this drug 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. Caution should be exercised when using iodine for people with thyroid disease.
Soda treatment
Baking soda is a fairly common means of fighting various infections. It is also good for treating 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 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 slurry (soda and a little water). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area of the steamed nail plate and the wrapping method is used (you can use a regular transparent film). The duration of the procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. Therefore, your 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 is enough. The effect will be noticeable faster if you combine baking soda 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 relapse.
Alcohol tablets
A good way to defeat nail fungus is an alcohol compress. This is done before bed and left overnight. Due to heating, 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 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 soaked in an alcohol solution to the nail.
- Place on fingertip or wrap in foil.
- In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with antifungal gel or cream.
- Repeat the procedure every other day until the mycosis completely disappears.
To enhance the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A weekly compress of celandine filled with alcohol will help significantly speed up treatment, and the juice of a fresh plant can be used instead of an antifungal cream.
A compress with an alcohol tincture of propolis will also help to quickly get rid of the fungus. The healing properties of this product have been known for a long time. It can cure not only fungus on the nails, but also on the entire foot. Propolis has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which eliminates the use of other drugs after removing the compress.
Kombucha uses
A concentrated solution of kombucha is very effective for treating foot fungus using folk remedies. The infusion has antibacterial properties and the stronger the concentration, the better. An infusion of the mushroom for three months is considered optimal.
Treatment with this popular method can be carried out in two ways. The first is to use a cotton pad soaked in kombucha concentrate, well boiled overnight. The second is to lubricate the affected area with the fungus itself, rubbed to a paste.
In both the first and second methods, after the procedure, the dead layer of the nail should be cut off. At the end of 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. Can not 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 drugs.
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 from it by mixing it with cream.
Before applying the substance, you should pre-treat the legs and nails, steam them and remove 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 relapse of the disease than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can lead to allergic reactions and dry skin, so use it with caution. And even the unpleasant odor, which is 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 complementary natural remedy for medications.
Salt and vinegar
Vinegar and salt are commonly used as adjuvants against nail and foot fungus. In addition, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps soften the nails for further processing. Usually solutions are made from these ingredients. The solution recipe is very simple:
- 100 ml vinegar (preferably apple cider);
- 2 liters of hot water;
- 0. 5 cups salt.
Mix everything thoroughly and immerse your feet in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Such baths will not only help to steam your nails before procedures, but will also disinfect the entire surface of your feet.
Whatever folk remedy is used to combat toenail fungus, you should remember: if after two weeks the treatment has not given a visible result, you should immediately consult a doctor.