A change in the color and thickness of the toenails can be safely considered the first sign of an infectious fungal disease - onychomycosis. In the initial stage there is still the possibility of doing without expensive pharmaceutical products, it is only important to know which home 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 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 rarely alarms a person. Typically, treatment begins when obvious signs of the disease are detected:
- change in nail color;
- plate thickening;
- Persistent itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).
It is easy to get infected with a fungus - just contact a sick loved one during joint trips to saunas and baths, gyms, 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 does not follow 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 state of your body. Taking risks is not recommended 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 footwear, for example, in a bowling alley.
Fighting nail fungus is a long process. In its advanced form, this can cause not only cosmetic discomfort, but also 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 due to their high cost. Traditional recipes for toenail fungus are no less effective when used correctly and will cost much less.
Iodine treatment
Of all the options for treating fungus with folk remedies, iodine is rightly considered the most popular. The effectiveness of its use has been tested by dermatologists and the drug is recommended for the treatment of affected areas of the 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 allows the fungus to be completely eliminated. To do this, the affected plate must be soaked daily with the medicine until a healthy nail grows completely. For prevention, healthy nails on other fingers can also be treated with iodine.
The medicine 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 make foot baths by adding the product to 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 medicine can cause an allergic reaction, so it is necessary to do a test: apply a small amount of iodine to the skin and wait a few hours. Caution should be used when using iodine in people with thyroid disease.
Soft drink treatment
Baking soda is a fairly common means of combating various infections. It is also good for treating toenail fungus with home remedies. It is recommended to use it in two doses.
The first is to steam your feet in the bathroom. 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 continue with the next part of the procedure.
For the second step, you will need to prepare a soda mixture (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, it is advisable to rinse your feet with water to avoid irritation.
If the disease begins, treatment must be carried out every day. For the initial phase, two or three times a week are sufficient. The effect will be noticed more quickly if you combine baking soda treatment with medication. It usually takes about two months to completely eliminate 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 compress. This is done before going to 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. Ammonia compress is considered the most effective, but a regular one will do. To carry out the procedure correctly it is necessary:
- 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 it on your fingertip or wrap it in aluminum foil.
- In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with antifungal gel or cream.
- Repeat the procedure every two days until the mycosis completely disappears.
To enhance the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A weekly celandine compress filled with alcohol will help to significantly speed up the treatment, and juice from a fresh plant can be used instead of an antifungal cream.
A compress with alcohol tincture of propolis 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 excludes the use of other drugs after removing the compress.
Uses of kombucha
A concentrated kombucha solution is very effective in treating foot fungus using home 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 done in two ways. The first is to use a cotton ball 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. At the end of the treatment it is necessary to disinfect both the nail itself and the instruments used.
Although kombucha is a completely natural remedy, it has some contraindications for use. Can not be used:
- women during pregnancy and lactation;
- 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 to treat 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 an ointment can be prepared by mixing it with cream.
Before applying the substance, it is advisable to 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 lasts about two hours, so it is worth taking 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 relapses than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can cause allergic reactions and dry skin, so use with caution. And even the unpleasant smell, very persistent for several hours, does not bring any benefit to the product.
Do not rely exclusively on tar treatment. It is best used as a complementary natural remedy to medications.
Salt and vinegar
Vinegar and salt are commonly used as adjuvants against nail and foot fungus. Additionally, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps soften nails for further processing. Solutions are usually made from these ingredients. The solution recipe is very simple:
- 100 ml of vinegar (preferably apple);
- 2 liters of hot water;
- 0. 5 cups of salt.
Mix everything well and soak your feet in the solution for 20-30 minutes. These baths will not only help steam the nails before the procedures, but also disinfect the entire surface of the feet.
Whatever folk remedy is used to combat toenail fungus, it should be remembered: if after two weeks the treatment has not given a visible result, you should immediately consult a doctor.