Mycoses can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's nails and feet are the favorite place for their localization. The virus is transmitted and spreads very easily, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications that are used to get rid of yeast infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a fungus?
In nature, there are many types of pathogenic fungi 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 various ways: in public places, through shared shoes, through direct contact.
The most common localization site is the legs, that is, the feet and the 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, microcracks, scratches, calluses;
- stress;
- intoxication due to alcoholism and smoking;
- Permanent hypothermia of the legs.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the early stages are almost asymptomatic. Then unpleasant symptoms begin to actively appear:
- unpleasant pungent odor from the feet;
- the nail surface turns white and lamination may appear;
- itching, and sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- wounds form on the skin around the nails, erosion appears.
Treatment depends on the stage of the nail fungus, the earlier the problem is noticed, the easier it will be to fix. But it should be understood that the fight against such a 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 pick up again.
Why choose home remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last for several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them give a 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;
- they practically do not have contraindications and side effects;
- when used correctly, it fully confirms its effectiveness.
Experts can recommend the most popular methods of getting rid of the fungus. 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 products not tested for children. Patients under the age of 16 are seen at the appointment with a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a time-tested remedy
To date, iodine remains 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 very beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to damage the surface of the nail and the skin during treatment, you must follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at a pharmacy and check its expiration date.
- Wash your feet well and dry them. It is very important that the patient uses only his own towel, this reduces the risk of infection transmission.
- On each affected nail and the one that is placed next to it, pour a drop of iodine and rub it well.
- Let the iodine dry a little, and for a while after that do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. It has such a method and a number of side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which causes cosmetic discomfort. Also, dryness and hypersensitivity can 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 mycosis
Acetic compresses are another popular recipe for getting rid of mycosis 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 at an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing 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 steaming. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be performed every other day, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, therefore it is used to combat bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy pure propolis at a pharmacy, but you must use it diluted in a water bath. Likewise, some experts recommend using an infusion of propolis over alcohol, but its use for mycoses is still undesirable.
To combat this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- moisten a cotton ball in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night, a piece of the slightly melted substance is placed on the affected nails, but such a compress can be kept for no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective nail fungus remedy, but use it very carefully.
tea mushroom
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim that it can lead to the activation of the process, while others claim that it can completely eliminate mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this the fungus is soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, then it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is the antibacterial and antifungal effects.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess liquid, then gently rubbed on the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, made before bedtime. Feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Dip one part in warm water, send the other back to the syrup. Take a mushroom out of the water and stick it to your nails, put cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. The compress may cause tingling, slight pain, a slight burning sensation; these 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 recommended to use it to quickly eliminate nail fungus at home. It is birch tar, a product of birch skin processing, which is actively used. It can be purchased at a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis for ointments, but in the case of mycoses, 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 due to their effect.
First you need to steam your legs. It is best to do this in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead parts of the nail, smear fresh places with tar and rub well. Then you should not dress for several hours, the 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 time you can make a cold bath for your feet. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made from natural fabrics and treat the 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 a little soda. Carry out the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean the thickened tissues and let the feet dry.
herbal decoctions
It's no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in traditional medicine. For the treatment of mycosis, decoctions of such plants are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- sagebrush;
- calendula;
- Grass of San Juan;
- chamomile.
For the preparation of decoctions, the dried flowers of these plants are used. It is very important to respect the proportions and keep a sufficient amount of 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 only as an aid, they can improve the process, but do not cope with advanced stages. Also, some of the plants presented can cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with home remedies, but you have to be patient. To get the full effect, it is sometimes necessary 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.