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 has this type of fungus.
Infection can occur, for example, in a public bathroom or swimming pool;In some cases, fungal infection occurs when trying on shoes in a store or visiting a beauty salon, which uses poorly disinfected manicure and pedicure instruments.Infection can occur when wearing shoes worn by a person infected with the fungus several months ago;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 toenail 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 cope 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 methods of therapy.Home remedies have simple recipes and procedures, allowing anyone to use them independently.
To treat the disease in the initial 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 should let your feet dry.The procedures must be carried out for two weeks.Little by little, the fungus begins to disappear and a healthy nail replaces 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 a single use, you will need 4 to 10 drops of oil.The antifungal effect of the use of this drug is observed two weeks after the start of therapy.In some cases, an extension of the treatment course is necessary.The use of this remedy in the treatment of diseases in children and pregnant women is prohibited.
- Using Kombucha.For treatment, you must prepare a compress.To do this, you need to wrap a dish of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, after these manipulations you need to put on socks.The procedure should be done at night, before going to bed.In the morning, you should wash your lower extremities with warm water.And remove the dead areas and lubricate the places from where they were removed with an iodine solution.One of the side effects of this method of treatment is the appearance of quite intense pain, but the advantage of the method is the quick achievement of a positive result of therapy.
- The infection can be cured by using tampons with propolis.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, the condition does not improve, then you should seek the help of a doctor to conduct an examination and prescribe complex therapy to treat the pathology.
The use of iodine in the treatment of toenail fungus.
One of the means to help fight toenail fungus is an iodine solution.Eliminating the infection with iodine is quite easy.Furthermore, this method of destruction is inexpensive and accessible to everyone.
Most experts in traditional treatment methods recommend starting treatment of the infection with an iodine solution, which is probably due to the availability of this remedy and its widespread use.Medicinal iodine solution has pronounced disinfectant and antiseptic properties.
For treatment, you need to use iodine daily, the solution is applied to damaged areas of the skin of the foot and nails.
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 drug solution directly onto the nail plate.
The use of iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can accelerate the healing of damaged areas, allowing 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, it is enough to apply a drop of the medical composition.
Another way to use an iodine solution to kill fungus is to use baths with this medicine.
To prepare a bath, 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 the affected areas without damaging healthy skin.After removing the affected areas, it will be necessary to treat the skin surface with hydrogen peroxide and apply a bandage with an antibacterial composition.
If necessary, you can mix iodine with apple cider vinegar.This mixture can be treated in the morning and evening, and the course of treatment lasts 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 apple cider vinegar, which are taken daily before bedtime.The usual course of such 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 ratio of components of 1:1.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 for 4 hours a day until the infection is completely cured.
In addition to these treatment methods, there are other recipes for home remedies based on vinegar, the most common 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.
Treatment of fungus with celandine.
Using celandine at home can help cure the infection.It is recommended to lubricate the deformed and infected nail plate with a fungal infection with celandine juice using a cotton swab three times a day.To do this, the juice is squeezed from a freshly picked plant.
The partially fresh juice can be used immediately after receiving it, and the partially fresh juice can be fermented in a dark place for a period of 2 to 3 weeks.Celandine therapy takes quite a long time;It is necessary to carry out procedures until a new nail grows.
Celandine can be used to treat pathologies in a mixture with alcohol.To do this, a juice solution is prepared with 70% alcohol in a 1:1 ratio.The prepared solution is applied to the affected areas 4 times a day.
For therapy, you can use dried celandine herbs.To do this, the herb must be ground in a coffee grinder to a powder state and mixed with iodine, vinegar or tea tree oil.The result of the mixture 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 deodorant properties, making it ideal for treating damaged areas.
When using peroxide, you must follow the instructions for its use.
Therapy with hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A hot foot bath is performed, 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 drying the skin, cotton pads or swabs soaked in a hydrogen peroxide solution are applied to the affected areas.Tampons are secured to damaged areas using 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 on for 4 to 50 minutes.The procedure should be performed twice a day with a twelve-hour break.
- After your toenails lighten, you should trim the soft areas of the nail plate and apply an antifungal cream to the surface.
The disease will go away much faster if you use a special foot bath prepared with a hydrogen peroxide solution.To do this, you will need to take two liters of water and dissolve 100 ml of peroxide in it.You should steam your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin of the feet is dried 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 perform 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, by using this chemical compound, the development of a relapse of the infectious process can be avoided.
Pregnant women suffering from an 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 be started as soon as possible.It is advisable to start recovery in the initial stages of the infectious process, when the first signs of damage appear.
If the nail plate has become thick and acquired a loose, scaly appearance, therapeutic measures can be significantly delayed.
Before starting therapy for 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 quite effective in fighting 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 mycosis using a solution of potassium permanganate.
When using the second method, the legs should be steamed in a solution of potassium permanganate and a compress made from a previously prepared soft mixture of alcohol and propolis should be applied to the damaged areas.The compress is fixed with a bandage.It is recommended to carry out the procedure every two days until the complete elimination of the pathological process.
In the process of treating an old form of fungus, the use of topical antifungal creams and oral medications will be necessary.
The use of compresses based on 5% sulfur ointment and preparations with iodine has an excellent effect.Additionally, it is recommended to nourish the nail daily with lavender and tea tree essential oils.
Use of medications during home treatment.
When getting rid of an infectious process, tablets should be selected by the attending physician.The modern pharmaceutical market offers patients a wide variety of drugs of this type.
When using antifungal medications at home, it must be remembered that all of them have a large number of contraindications that must be taken into account when taking them.
In addition, all these drugs can cause a series of side effects in the patient.For this reason, self-prescription of these drugs is contraindicated;They should only be taken if prescribed by the treating doctor.
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 effect is observed when using prescribed medications at home, you should immediately contact your doctor for advice and adjust the medication used.
If it is necessary to remove the nail plate, you can use special creams that are applied in the form of compresses.
After exposure to the compress, the softened part of the nail is cleaned with a nail file.This procedure should be done daily until the nail bed is completely clean.
Prevention of the appearance of diseases.
The most effective method to combat fungal infection is to prevent the infection.
To prevent the onset of an infectious process, only individual pedicure products should be used.To carry out hygiene procedures it is necessary to have your own towel.You shouldn't put on someone else's shoes.
Getting rid of the infection is a complex, time-consuming and financially costly task, so efforts need to be made to prevent it.To do this, it is recommended to periodically clean the bathroom, bathroom and rooms in the house with disinfectants.
When visiting the pool, sauna and bathhouse, it is necessary to wear special footwear.Which should be individual.After visiting the bath and shower, it is recommended to dry the skin, especially the skin between the fingers.
If you are prone to diabetes, you should periodically monitor the level of glucose in the body, since the presence of an increased content of this component in the body is a contributing factor to the development of a viral infection on the skin of the legs.
Be sure to wash your feet daily with soap and dry your shoes if they get wet.It is also necessary to change your socks.
When choosing shoe models, it is recommended to give preference to those varieties that do not restrict movement and can let air pass freely.
When buying socks, tights, tights and shoes, it is advisable to give preference to quality products.
Among other things, to prevent the appearance of a fungal infection, it is recommended to control the diet.With a lack of certain vitamins and nutritional compounds in the diet, the body wears out and is 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 imperative to monitor the condition of your toenails and the skin around them every day;It is necessary to trim them promptly, using disinfected personal tools.