Nail fungus – onychomycosis – is a disease caused by parasitic fungi.This type of disease occurs in 20% of the adult population.Infection with a fungus occurs quite easily;To do this, it is enough to touch the skin of your feet with a surface on which such fungi are located.
An infection can occur, for example, in a public bath or swimming pool;In some cases, infection with a fungal infection occurs when trying on shoes in a store or visiting a beauty salon where poorly disinfected instruments for manicure and pedicure are used.Infection can occur when wearing shoes that were worn several months ago by a person infected with the fungus;This situation leads to reinfection.
When the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear, treatment should be started 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 fight the disease at the earliest stages of the infectious process.
When treating nail fungus with folk remedies, you can use fairly simple and effective therapy methods.Folk remedies have simple recipes and simple procedures that allow everyone to use them independently.
To treat the disease at the very first stage of infection, you can use apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, celandine juice, iodine solution, hydrogen peroxide and kombucha compresses.
The most popular recipes are the following:
- Soak your feet in a 1:1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water once or twice a day.The soaking time is 15-20 minutes.After this time you should let your feet dry.The procedures should be carried out over a period of two weeks.Gradually the fungus begins to disappear and a healthy nail replaces the damaged nail.
- It is recommended to lubricate the skin and nail plates affected by a fungal infection with tea tree oil three times a day.For a single application you need 4 to 10 drops of oil.The antifungal effect of this drug is observed two weeks after starting therapy.In some cases an extension of treatment is necessary.This remedy is prohibited for the treatment of diseases in children and pregnant women.
- Use kombucha.For treatment you should prepare a compress.To do this, you should wrap a plate of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, after these manipulations you should put on socks.The procedure must be carried out at night before going to bed.In the morning you need to wash your lower limbs with warm water.And remove dead spots and lubricate the places where they were removed with iodine solution.One of the side effects of this treatment method is the appearance of quite severe pain, but the advantage of the method is the rapid achievement of a positive therapeutic result.
- The infection can be cured with tampons containing propolis.For this purpose, you can use propolis tinctures or their extract.This product can be used daily.The action of propolis accelerates the growth of the nail plate.This leads to an acceleration of the healing process.
If there is no improvement in the condition using traditional methods, you should consult 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 remedies to combat toenail fungus is an iodine solution.Clearing an infection with iodine is quite simple.In addition, this method of destruction is inexpensive and accessible to everyone.
Most experts in traditional treatment methods recommend starting the treatment of the infection with an iodine solution, most likely 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 skin on the feet and nails.
To treat athlete's foot with an iodine solution at home, you need to apply a few drops to the affected areas twice a day.Treatment of the affected areas is carried out with a cotton swab or cotton swab.It is best to drip the active ingredient solution directly onto the nail plate.
Using iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can speed healing of damaged areas, allowing skin to recover.To achieve a stronger antifungal effect during procedures, it is recommended to treat not only the affected areas, but also those adjacent to the wound.
When treating the affected nail, it is enough to apply a drop of the medicinal composition.
Another way to use iodine solution to kill fungi is baths with this medicine.
To prepare a bath, you need to 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, the surface of the skin must be treated with hydrogen peroxide and a bandage with an antibacterial composition must be applied.
If necessary, you can mix iodine with apple cider vinegar.This mixture can be treated morning and evening and the treatment duration is more than two weeks.
How to treat with vinegar?
You can fight a fungal infection with vinegar.To carry out the procedure, you need to mix 70% acetic acid and glycerin in equal proportions and shake well before use;The resulting mixture is smeared 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 the addition of apple cider vinegar, which are carried out daily before bedtime.The usual course of such therapy is three weeks or longer.
You can use apple cider vinegar to prepare products with the addition of vegetable oil.The solution is prepared in a component ratio of 1:1.When treating a fungal infection, moisten gauze or bandage with the resulting solution and apply to the damaged nail.It is recommended to wear this bandage for 4 hours a day until the infection is completely healed.
In addition to these treatment methods, there are other recipes for vinegar-based folk remedies, the most common of which are the following:
- egg and vinegar ointment;
- with pure vinegar;
- with wine vinegar.
When preparing vinegar-based products, vinegar essence can be used, previously diluted with water to the desired concentration.
Treatment of mushrooms with celandine
Using celandine at home can help cure the infection.It is recommended to lubricate the deformed and infected nail plate with celandine juice using a cotton swab three times a day.To do this, the juice is pressed from a fresh, freshly picked plant.
In some cases, fresh juice can be used immediately upon receipt, in other cases the juice can be fermented in a dark place for a period of 2-3 weeks.Celandine therapy takes quite a long time;It is necessary to carry out procedures until a new nail grows.
Celandine can be used in a mixture with alcohol to treat pathologies.For this purpose, a juice solution containing 70% alcohol is prepared in a 1:1 ratio.The prepared solution is applied to the affected areas four times a day.
For therapy, you can use dry celandine herbs.To do this, the herb must be ground into powder in a coffee grinder and mixed with iodine, vinegar or tea tree oil.The result of mixing should be a mushy mass.
Apply a compress to the damaged nail plate with the resulting composition.
The use of hydrogen peroxide in treatment
Hydrogen peroxide is not a composition that can destroy a fungal infection.By using a solution of this chemical substance, you can stop and prevent the progression of the pathology.
Peroxide is characterized by pronounced deodorizing properties, making it ideal for treating damaged areas.
When using peroxide, you must follow the instructions for use.
Therapy with a hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A hot foot bath is prepared to which copper sulfate is added.The feet are placed in the solution and steamed well.
- After steaming, wipe the skin dry with a clean towel, paying special attention to the skin between the fingers.
- After the skin has dried, cotton pads or swabs soaked in a hydrogen peroxide solution are applied to the affected areas.Tampons are attached to damaged areas with adhesive tape.After applying tampons, the leg is wrapped with a towel in the affected area.This type of compress should be kept for 4-50 minutes.The procedure should be carried out twice a day with a twelve-hour break.
- After the toenails become light, you should trim the soft areas of the nail plate and apply an antifungal cream to the surface.
The disease will disappear much faster if you use a special foot bath with a hydrogen peroxide solution.To do this, you need to take two liters of water and dissolve 100 ml of peroxide in it.You need to steam your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin of the feet is wiped dry with a clean towel and the softened nail is carefully filed with a nail file.At the end of the removal of the damaged nail, an antifungal cream is applied to the treated area.It is recommended to carry out 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.In addition, the use of this chemical compound makes it possible to avoid the development of a relapse of the infectious process.
Pregnant women suffering from an infection should pay special attention to the chemical.Since its use does not have any negative consequences for either the mother's body or the unborn child.
Treatment of advanced forms of the disease
An old and neglected fungus can cause the patient to lose a nail;For this reason, therapeutic measures should begin as early as possible.It is advisable to begin recovery at the initial stage of the infectious process, when the first signs of damage appear.
If the nail plate has become thick and has acquired a loose and flaky appearance, therapeutic measures may be significantly delayed.
Before starting therapy for a fungal infection, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the factor that contributes to the development of microorganisms.There are a number of remedies that are quite effective in the fight against 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 peroxidized kombucha is applied to the sore spot.Then 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 mycoses with a solution of potassium permanganate.
In the second method, the legs should be steamed in a solution of potassium permanganate and a compress made from a prepared mushy 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 other day until the pathological process is completely eliminated.
When treating an old form of fungus, the use of topical antifungal creams and oral medications is necessary.
The use of compresses based on 5% sulfur ointment and preparations with iodine has an excellent effect.In addition, it is recommended to care for the nail daily with lavender and tea tree essential oils.
Use of medications during home treatment
When eliminating an infectious process, tablets should be selected by the attending physician.The modern pharmaceutical market offers patients a large selection of such drugs.
When using antifungal drugs at home, you should remember that they all have a variety of contraindications that must be taken into account when taking them.
In addition, all of these drugs can cause a number of side effects in the patient.For this reason, self-prescription of these medications is contraindicated;They should only be taken on the instructions of your 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 the prescribed medications at home, you should immediately contact your doctor for advice and adjustment of the medications used.
If it is necessary to remove the nail plate, you can use special creams that are applied as a compress.
After exposure to the compress, the softened part of the nail is cleaned with a nail file.This procedure should be carried out daily until the nail bed is completely clean.
Prevention of the occurrence of diseases
The most effective way to combat a fungal infection is to prevent infection.
To prevent the occurrence of an infectious process, you should only use individual pedicure products.In order to carry out hygiene measures, you must have your own towel.You should not put someone else's shoes on your feet.
Eliminating an infection is a complex, time-consuming and financially costly undertaking, so you must make efforts to prevent infection.For this purpose, it is recommended to regularly clean the toilet, bathroom and rooms in the house with disinfectants.
You must wear special shoes when visiting the swimming pool, sauna and bathhouse.What should be individual.After visiting the bath and shower, it is recommended to wipe the skin dry, especially the skin between the fingers.
If you are prone to diabetes, you should regularly monitor the level of glucose in the body, since the presence of an increased content of this component in the body is a factor contributing to the development of a viral infection of the skin of the legs.
Be sure to wash your feet with soap daily and dry your shoes if they get wet.It is also necessary to change socks.
When choosing shoe models, it is advisable to give preference to those options that do not restrict freedom of movement and allow air to pass through freely.
When buying socks, tights, stockings and shoes, you should pay attention to quality products.
In order to prevent the occurrence of a fungal infection, it is recommended, among other things, to control your diet.When there is a lack of certain vitamins and nutrients in the diet, the body becomes fatigued and is easily susceptible to infections.To compensate for the loss of vitamins and biologically active compounds, it is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially in the spring, when the lack of vitamins in the body is particularly acute.
It is imperative to monitor the condition of the nails and the skin surrounding them on the feet daily;It is necessary to trim them in a timely manner and use personal disinfected tools for this purpose.