Toenail fungus is a disease that many people suffer from. This disease is easy to pick up, but it is much harder to cure nail fungus. Many patients use folk remedies to get rid of the fungus. In many cases, treating nail fungus with them is cheaper and more effective than traditional medicine.
What are nail fungus
The cause of nail fungus (onychomycosis) is the infection of the nail plate with pathogenic fungi. Fungi are the smallest microorganisms that feed on proteins contained in nail tissues. Most fungi that live on human nails belong to the genus Trichophyton, although onychomycosis can also be caused by fungi from the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Candida.
Onychomycosis is a contagious disease. Fungi can get on nails by contact with objects that contain fungal spores. It can be the floor in saunas, bathrooms, swimming pools, locker rooms, manicure tools, shoes, socks. Active reproduction of the fungus, however, occurs only in severely weakened immunity or in problems with the health of the circulatory system, endocrine system. Provoke the disease and:
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- nail injuries;
- ignoring the rules of hygiene;
- taking drugs that reduce immunity - immunosuppressants, corticosteroids;
- excess weight;
- uncomfortable or old shoes.
The main symptoms of onychomycosis:
- itching, tingling;
- deformation, thickening or thinning of the nail;
- nail discoloration (brown, brown, yellow or dark);
- stratification, crumbling of the nail;
- stink.
Ignoring nail fungus can lead to nail plate loss, suppuration. Also, fungi can spread to the surface of the skin and even behind the feet. There is a risk of infecting other people, especially relatives of the patient.
How can you cure nail fungus?
Many methods have been developed to treat nail fungus. Most of them involve applying antifungals to the nail surface. If the nail is completely affected by the fungus, then the nail is removed surgically. However, not everyone is happy with traditional methods. The reasons for this can be many - the high cost of pharmacy drugs, their unavailability (for example, if a person lives in a rural area), low efficiency, distrust of traditional medicine, allergies to drugs.
Treatment of fungus folk remedies: the most effective ways
Therefore, often people looking for a cure for onychomycosis turn to folk remedies for help. These methods do not have strictly scientifically proven effectiveness. But in practice, the treatment of nail fungus folk remedies helps many, especially if the disease is in its early stages, ie one or two plates are affected, and the skin is not yet affected. At the same time, the treatment of nails with folk remedies does not exclude the parallel use of traditional pharmaceutical drugs. In this case, the effect of the latter can be significantly improved. It is usually not worth waiting for quick results of treatment, the treatment of fungus folk remedies often takes 2-3 months.
Antiseptics are the most commonly used home remedies. These are boric acid, iodine, brilliant green, potassium permanganate, soda, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, chlorhexidine, ammonia. These drugs, strictly speaking, can not be attributed to folk, because they are widely used in traditional medicine. However, doctors do not usually prescribe them to patients with onychomycosis as first-line drugs. But this does not mean that antiseptics do not affect the fungus on the feet. However, their effectiveness is most often manifested in the initial stages of the disease.
Herbal anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents (St. John's wort, celandine, herbal preparations) can be attributed to folk remedies. These treatments and prescriptions are most often recommended by doctors as auxiliary.
Also, treatment with folk remedies includes the use of:
- essential oils of plants;
- birch tar;
- kombucha;
- propolis;
- garlic, onion;
- vinegar;
- ground coffee;
- Household soap and tar soap;
- lemon juice.
Foot baths, lotions, compresses and ointments are most often used to treat onychomycosis with folk remedies. Sometimes the products can be smeared directly on the nail surface. The duration of some procedures is only a few minutes, while in other cases the therapeutic ingredients must be kept on the nails for hours. In this case, the procedure is best done at night.
Warm baths with medicinal solutions are usually taken 1-2 times a day. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes. The water should be warm, but not hot. If the water has cooled before the procedure is completed, it is necessary to add a little warm water to the container.
Before applying any medication on the nail surface, it is recommended to steam your feet. Therefore, in the treatment of onychomycosis, it is preferable to use baths, because the surface of the nail softens, and therapeutic compounds penetrate better into deep tissues. In addition, when using baths, medicinal substances can penetrate under the nail bed, and wraps and lotions affect only the upper surface of the plate. Meanwhile, parasitic fungi often live below.
It is necessary to regularly cut the relaxed and deformed part of the nail affected by the fungus. To treat healthy and diseased nail plates, it is best to use different manicure tools to avoid transmitting the infection. During the treatment period, it is necessary to change socks regularly, because increased sweating contributes to the development of fungi. Situations that encourage re-infection should be avoided - visits to swimming pools, gyms, bathrooms, etc.
All herbal ingredients must first be tested for allergenicity.
Potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate solution is a powerful universal antiseptic that is often used at home. It is also active against pathogenic fungi. You can also use baths and lotions. To prepare the bath, it is necessary to take 500 ml of vinegar and 10 g of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
Vinegar treatment
Pathogenic fungi do not tolerate acidic environments - the treatment of mycosis with vinegar is based on this property. It is best to use 9% vinegar. Vinegar can be added to foot baths. You can also make lotions with vinegar, rubbing. To prepare a bath with vinegar, it is necessary to pour enough water into the basin to reach the ankles, and then add 200 ml of vinegar. The water temperature should be +50 ° C. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, it must be performed every other day.
Another recipe requires the addition of chicken eggs to vinegar. 200 ml of vinegar is dissolved in 5 liters of water, and then 2 raw eggs are added. The mixture was stirred. It is necessary to hold it in this foot bath for 20 minutes. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
For lotions, take cotton pads, previously soaked in vinegar, and also apply on the nails for 15 minutes.
Vinegar treatment requires caution, because it is an aggressive substance. Vinegar therapy should not be performed on damaged skin.
Celandine treatment
Celandine is a plant that has long been used to treat problematic skin. It can also help with onychomycosis. However, celandine contains toxic substances, so it should be used with caution.
It is best to use fresh juice of celandine, which is obtained from a plant that is ground and squeezed. This juice is applied to the nail twice a day. The course of treatment is three months.
You can also prepare a decoction of celandine. For this, 5 tbsp. l. herbs, pour 1, 5 liters of boiling water. The mixture was heated on fire for 10 minutes and then filtered. The decoction can be used for foot baths. They must be taken within 15 minutes. The procedure is performed 2 times a day.
To prepare a tincture of celandine, you need to take alcohol and celandine juice in equal proportions. Fluid is infused throughout the day. Lubricate the affected nails with celandine tincture.
You can also prepare ointment from celandine. For this, 2 tbsp. butter is mixed with chopped celandine herb. The ointment is rubbed into the nails 2-3 times a day for 10-14 days.
garlic treatment
Garlic contains natural substances that kill harmful microorganisms. Therefore, garlic is also used in the treatment of onychomycosis.
You can use garlic juice or crushed garlic for treatment. For example, it is recommended to dilute garlic juice in alcohol and water (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1). With this solution you can lubricate your nails every day.
Essential oils
Lavender, ylang-ylang, lemon, fir and rosemary oils are used in the treatment of onychomycosis. The most popular is tea tree oil. Essential oils can be used in therapeutic baths. For a 3 liter bath (temperature + 45 ° C) you only need 10 drops of oil. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes. After its completion, the feet are wrapped in a dry towel. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Another version of tea tree oil bath also involves the use of salt. For 1 liter of water take 1, 5 tbsp. salt and 1 tsp. oils. The procedure should be reported within 15 minutes.
You can also do wraps with essential oils. To do this, in 2 tsp. water dissolves a few drops of heated oil. Cotton wool soaked in the solution is applied to the nail. You have to keep it for about an hour.
The easiest way to treat onychomycosis with essential oils is to regularly wipe the surface of the nail plates with cotton swabs dipped in oil. This procedure must continue for 2-3 weeks.
Propolis
Propolis is a by-product of beekeeping that has long been used in folk medicine. There are also recipes for onychomycosis with propolis. For example, tampons soaked in an alcoholic tincture of propolis can be applied to nails with the fungus. To prepare the tincture, it is necessary to pour 30 g of propolis in 500 ml of vodka for 2 weeks. This tampon should be kept throughout the day.
You can also make baths with propolis. Only 15 drops of tincture per 3 liters of water are enough. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes. You can apply on nails and pure propolis. This procedure should also not take longer than 15 minutes.
Salt and soda
Seafood and soda, as well as soda, are included in many recipes for onychomycosis. They are often added to foot baths. Salt baths can be made as follows - a tablespoon of salt is dissolved in 2-3 liters of water. It is necessary to add a spoonful of baking soda. The procedure is performed within 15 minutes. It is recommended to combine it with the use of antifungal ointments.
You can use another recipe for baths - take 100 g of salt and 4 tablespoons per 4 liters of water. vinegar. To improve the effect after salt baths, it is recommended to treat nails with iodine.
Iodine
Alcoholic iodine solution is suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis. Iodine compounds aggressively affect protein compounds in fungal cells and in the nail itself. As a result, fungi lose their source of nutrition. Iodine is cheap and very easy to use. It is necessary to treat nail plates affected by iodine fungus on a daily basis. One drop is enough for each nail. You can also regularly lubricate your nails with a cotton swab soaked in iodine solution. Iodine baths are also used. To prepare the bath, you only need to instill 10 drops of iodine solution in a bowl of water. The procedure should take 10-15 minutes.
Iodine can also be used to prevent fungus on healthy nails. However, regular iodine treatment has a number of contraindications - intolerance to this substance and thyroid disease.
Alcohol
It is used as part of the complex treatment of onychomycosis and medical alcohol. Alcohol wraps are usually made on the affected nail. Before the procedure, the nails need to be well evaporated in warm water. Alcohol dressing is best done at night, and in the morning treat the nail with antifungal.
Tea mushroom
Kombucha is a traditional medicine used for various diseases, including mycosis. The substances contained in kombucha are active against most pathogenic fungi, with the exception of fungi of the genus Candida. Kombucha is often grown at home. For therapeutic purposes, it is best to take the infusion at the age of three months.
Swabs soaked in boiled kombucha concentrate are usually used to treat onychomycosis. This procedure should be done at night. You can also lubricate your nails with mushroom puree.
Contraindications to the use of kombucha:
- pregnancy,
- diabetes,
- lactation,
- alcoholism,
- hepatitis,
- AIDS.
Hydrogen peroxide
This substance also has a negative effect on the fungus. The most commonly used baths with hydrogen peroxide. The procedure will require 150 ml of 3% peroxide solution per 4 liters of water. The duration of the procedure is 25-30 minutes.
You can also do coatings with hydrogen peroxide. To do this, cotton swabs must be moistened with peroxide and applied to sore nails. The duration of the procedure is 1 hour. You can also mix peroxide with vinegar in equal proportions. Soak a cotton swab in this mixture. Then the mixture with it is applied to the nails.
Tar and tar soap
Birch tar is one of the oldest antiseptics and anti-inflammatory drugs known in folk medicine. Tar can be used both in pure form and in the form of ointments, as an addition to traditional medicines. Soap with the addition of tar is also used - tar. Before applying the tar on the nails, they need to be steamed. Tar is applied to dry nails. The procedure is continued for 2 hours, and then the tar is washed with warm water.
Due to the lack of tar, you can take tar soap - a tool that can be found in every home. It can also be used against fungi - for treatment and prevention.
First of all, you can make foot baths with soap. It is necessary to dissolve the maximum amount of soap in the tub. To make the soap melt better, you can grate it. The water temperature is warm but not scorching. Perform the procedure for 20 minutes. Another recipe is used - soap in the amount of 15 g is mixed with 30 g of baking soda. This mixture must be rubbed into sore nails every day.
After using tar soap, the skin may become excessively dry. In that case, you can use a moisturizer. Tar and tar soap are contraindicated for people with too dry and sensitive skin.
Boric acid
This popular antiseptic will also help against fungi. With a 2% solution of boric acid, it is necessary to regularly wipe the diseased nail, previously steamed in water. However, the acid should not be used if there are wounds, scratches or bruises on the skin.
Urea
The fungicidal effect of urea is related to the ability of this substance to absorb water. Because fungi need water to live, they die quickly as a result of urea exposure. It is best to use urea along with birch tar. Both substances are taken in equal proportions and mixed. The composition is applied to the nails and kept for a day.
Then, after removing the affected part of the nail plate, iodine is applied to the nails for five days. If necessary, the procedure is repeated 1-2 more times.