Toenail fungus is a disease that affects many people. This disease is easy to take, but to cure toenail fungus is much more difficult. Many patients use folk remedies to get rid of the fungus. In many cases, the treatment of nail fungus with them is cheaper and more effective than traditional medicine.
What are nail fungus
The cause of nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection of the nail plate with pathogenic fungi. Fungi are the smallest microorganisms that feed on proteins contained in nail tissues. Most of the fungi that live on human nails belong to the genus Trichophyton, although onychomycosis can also be caused by fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Candida.
Onychomycosis is a contagious disease. The fungus can get on the nails through contact with objects that contain fungal spores. This can be the floor in saunas, baths, swimming pools, changing rooms, manicure tools, shoes, socks. However, the active reproduction of the fungus occurs only in severely weakened immunity or in problems with the health of the circulatory system, endocrine system. Provoke the disease also:
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- nail injuries;
- neglect of hygiene rules;
- taking drugs that reduce immunity - immunosuppressants, corticosteroids;
- Overweight;
- uncomfortable or old shoes.
The main symptoms of onychomycosis:
- itching, burning;
- deformation, thickening or thinning of the nail;
- change in nail color (brown, brown, yellow or dark);
- stratification, nail disintegration;
- bad smell.
Neglecting nail fungus can lead to nail plate loss, suppuration. Also, the fungus can reach the surfaces of the skin and even extend beyond the feet. There is a risk of infecting other people, especially those close to the patient.
How can you cure nail fungus?
Many methods have been developed to treat nail fungus. Most of them involve the application of antifungal drugs on the surface of the nail. 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 pharmaceutical drugs, their unavailability (for example, if a person lives in a rural area), low efficiency, distrust of traditional medicine, allergy to drugs.
Treatment of fungus with folk remedies: the most effective ways
Therefore, often people in search of a cure for onychomycosis turn to folk remedies for help. These methods have no strictly scientifically proven effectiveness. But in practice, the treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies helps many, especially if the disease is at an early stage, 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 preclude the parallel use of traditional pharmaceutical drugs. In this case, the effect of the latter can be significantly enhanced. It is usually not worth waiting for quick results of treatment, the removal of the fungus with folk remedies often lasts for 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 remedies, as 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 early stages of the disease.
Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents based on herbs (St. John's wort, celandine, herbal preparations) can be attributed to folk remedies. These treatments and prescriptions are also most often recommended by doctors as ancillary.
Also, folk remedies include the use of:
- essential oils of plants;
- birch tar;
- kombucha;
- propolis;
- garlic, onion;
- vinegar;
- ground coffee;
- household and tar soap;
- lemon juice.
Most often foot baths, lotions, compresses, ointments are used to treat onychomycosis with folk remedies. Sometimes the products can be smeared directly on the surface of the nail. The duration of some procedures is only a few minutes, while in other cases the therapeutic compounds must be kept on the nails for hours. In this case, the procedure is best performed at night.
Warm baths with healing solutions are usually made 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 over, then you need to add some hot water to the container.
It is recommended to steam the feet before applying any medication on the nail surface. Therefore, in the treatment of onychomycosis, it is preferable to use baths, as the surface of the nail softens and therapeutic compounds penetrate better into deep tissues. In addition, when using baths, the healing substances can penetrate under the nail bed, and with compresses and lotions only the upper surface of the plate is affected. Meanwhile, parasitic fungi often live below.
It is necessary to regularly cut the loose and deformed part of the nail affected by the fungus. To treat healthy and diseased nail plates, it is best to use a variety of manicure tools to avoid transmitting the infection. It is necessary to change socks regularly during the treatment period, as increased sweating contributes to the development of the fungus. 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 strong universal antiseptic that is often used at home. It is also active against pathogenic fungi. You can use both baths and lotions. To prepare the bath, you need 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 - it is on this characteristic that the treatment of mycosis with vinegar is based. 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, you need to pour enough water into a basin so that it reaches the ankles, then add 200 ml of vinegar to it. 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. Dissolve 200 ml of vinegar in 5 liters of water and then add 2 raw eggs. The mixture breaks down. You should keep in this foot bath for 20 minutes. The course of treatment is 1-2 weeks.
For lotions, take cotton swabs pre-soaked in vinegar and also apply on the nails for 15 minutes.
Vinegar treatment requires caution as it is an aggressive substance. Vinegar therapy should not be performed on damaged skin.
Treatment with celandine
Celandine is a plant that has long been used to treat problem 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 ground and squeezed plant. 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 should 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 juice of celandine in equal proportions. The liquid is infused during the day. Tincture of celandine lubricate the affected nails.
You can also prepare an ointment from celandine. For this 2 tbsp. the oil is mixed with chopped celandine grass. The ointment is rubbed into the nails 2-3 times a day for 10-14 days.
treatment with garlic
Garlic contains natural substances that kill harmful microorganisms. Therefore, garlic is also used in the treatment of onychomycosis.
For treatment you can use garlic juice or crushed garlic. 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
In the treatment of onychomycosis are used oils of lavender, ylang-ylang, lemon, fir, rosemary. The most popular is tea tree oil. Essential oils can be used in therapeutic baths. For a bath with a volume of 3 liters (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 the tea tree oil bath also involves the use of salt. For 1 liter of water take 1, 5 tablespoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of oil. The procedure should be performed within 15 minutes.
You can also make compresses with essential oils. To do this, in 2 tsp water dissolve a few drops of hot oil. Apply cotton wool soaked in the solution on the nail. You need to hold 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 should last 2-3 weeks.
propolis
Propolis is a by-product of beekeeping, which 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 fungus. To prepare the tincture, you need 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 also apply pure propolis on the nails. This procedure should also not last more than 15 minutes.
Salt and soda
Sea and table salt, 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. You also need to add a tablespoon of baking soda. The procedure is performed within 15 minutes. It is recommended to combine with the application of antifungal ointments.
You can use another recipe for baths - for 4 liters of water take 100 g of salt and 4 tablespoons of vinegar. To enhance 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 have an aggressive effect on protein compounds in fungal cells and in the nail itself. As a result, the fungus loses its source of nutrition. Iodine is cheap and very easy to use. It is necessary to treat nail plates affected by the fungus with iodine every day. 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 drop 10 drops of iodine solution in a container of water. The procedure should last 10-15 minutes.
Iodine can also be used to prevent fungus on healthy nails. However, regular treatment with iodine 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. Most often, compresses are made with alcohol, which are applied to the affected nail. Before the procedure, the nails should be well steamed in warm water. Alcohol compress is best done at night, and in the morning treat the nail with antifungal medication.
Tea sponge
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.
Compresses with tampons soaked in boiled kombucha concentrate are usually used to treat onychomycosis. This procedure should be performed at night. You can also lubricate the nails with a mushroom paste.
Contraindications to the use of kombucha:
- pregnancy,
- diabetes,
- breastfeeding,
- 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 make compresses with hydrogen peroxide. To do this, cotton swabs should be moistened with peroxide and applied to inflamed nails. The duration of the procedure is 1 hour. You can also mix peroxide with vinegar in equal proportions. Soak a cotton swab with this mixture. The mixture is then applied to the nails with it.
Tar and tar soap
Birch tar is one of the most ancient antiseptics and anti-inflammatory drugs known to folk medicine. Tar can be used both in pure form and in the form of an ointment, in addition to traditional medicines. Soap with the addition of tar is also used. Before applying tar on the nails, they must be steamed. Tar is applied to dry nails. The procedure lasts 2 hours, after which the tar is washed with warm water.
In the absence 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 bath. To dissolve the soap better, you can grate it. The water temperature is warm but not burning. Perform the procedure in 20 minutes. Another recipe is used - soap in an amount of 15 g is mixed with 30 g of baking soda. This mixture should be rubbed into inflamed nails every day.
After using tar soap, the skin may become excessively dry. In this case, you can use a humidifier. Tar and tar soap are contraindicated for people with very dry and sensitive skin.
Boric acid
This popular antiseptic will also help against fungus. With 2% boric acid solution it is necessary to regularly wipe the diseased nail, pre-steamed in water. However, the acid should not be used if there are wounds, abrasions 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 survive, they die quickly as a result of urea exposure. It is best to use urea together with birch tar. Both substances are taken in equal proportions and mixed. The composition is applied to the nails and held for one 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.