Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is effective in the early stages of the disease. With a more advanced form, it is better to get advice from a specialist.
the best remedy for toenail fungus
Few people know that with the help of vinegar you can solve a rather difficult medical problem of eliminating nail fungus. With the availability of table vinegar (9% acid solution) and even vinegar essence (70% acid solution) available in the store or market, there are many ways to treat foot fungus with this product.
Of course, self-medication with vinegar should be carried out only if the disease has not gone into advanced form, and it is advisable to combine it with specially designed drugs. However, when there is an urgent need to treat nail fungus, and there is no money and time to visit a doctor, and there is no medical therapy, it is possible to use vinegar alone, provided you follow the appropriate safety regulations. rules.
Features of the use of vinegar for the treatment of fungi
The main effect of using vinegar is to create an acidic environment in the area of fungal infection, which prevents the growth of hyphae and the spread of spores. Gradually, the fungus, which was left without access to new sources of nutrients, dies, and the absence of much more resistant spores prevents the possibility of recurrence of the disease.
At first glance, everything is very simple - how to destroy bacteria with an antiseptic. But in fact, the fungus turns out to be very durable, because its body is not on the surface of the nail or skin, but goes into the thickness of the tissue. In this regard, a positive result of oncomycosis treatment should be expected only in the case of strict regularity of procedures, which will not leave the parasite time to rehabilitate and penetrate the skin.
Before treating nail fungus, make sure the concentration of acetic acid used corresponds to that specified in the recipe. If vinegar essence is mentioned in the recipe, then it means 70% solution that must be dissolved or applied to the point. Edible or table vinegar, respectively, contains 6 and 9% acid. Ignoring these data can lead to the fact that the treatment will end in a chemical burn.
Vinegar baths
Warm foot baths are considered an effective remedy against fungus, and regular use allows you to get rid of onychomycosis at an early stage without additional medications. Also, vinegar baths are an excellent prevention of fungal infections. The procedure requires warm, about 50 ° C, water and a glass of table vinegar 9% concentration. The water level in the pool should not be high, but only up to the ankles. The feet are dipped in the solution and kept there for 15 minutes.
Before the bath with vinegar, it is desirable to perform a complete pedicure procedure, including removing the affected areas of the nail plate and dead layers of skin, calluses and corns on the feet, but without applying a decorative coating on the nails. If you cut and file your nails yourself, then you need to do it very carefully, because microdamages on the skin can contribute to the spread of fungal infections.
Immediately after the vinegar bath, dry your feet with a towel and put on cotton socks. Repeat three times a week.
Vinegar lotions
Lotions in places affected by fungi are best done after a bath with vinegar. Pharmaceutical products and pure 9% vinegar are also suitable for this, in which a cotton pad is moistened and applied to the nail for fifteen minutes.
More complex recipe: a mixture of vodka or forty-degree medical alcohol, glycerin and 70% acetic acid in equal proportions, stir until smooth. A cotton swab moistened with the solution is held for fifteen minutes in the affected areas, after which cotton socks are put on. The course of treatment is a week, if necessary it can be repeated after a few days.
Mast
Vinegar-based fats are stored for a long time, they are more suitable for use than products of liquid consistency. To prepare acetic ointment, it is necessary to take 70% acetic acid, dimethyl phthalate, glycerin and olive oil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. After thoroughly mixing all the ingredients, the ointment is ready for use.
To prevent the spread of the fungal infection and destroy its pathogens, you must apply the ointment to the affected areas daily with a cotton swab, hold for 8-10 hours, and then rinse with laundry soap. You can use this recipe not only to treat oncomycosis of the nails on the feet, but also on the affected fingernails.
Treatment of toenail fungus with tea tree oil
Ways to use tea tree oil:
- Foot bath with tea tree oil. Pour warm water into the sink to the level of the ankles, add 15-20 drops of essential oil and keep the feet in it for twenty minutes, maintaining a high water temperature (45-50 ° C). The course of treatment is two months, bathing is required daily. During the treatment, it is necessary to remove the affected areas of the nail plate with a file, scissors or scissors.
- Applying oil on the nail plate. If you do not have a reaction to undiluted tea tree oil, then it is applied in pure form to the affected areas of the nail, to improve the effectiveness of the action. The feet are pre-steamed in warm water with the addition of laundry soap (it can be rubbed for better dissolution). The oil is rubbed into the nail plate with a cotton swab twice a day, it is not necessary to rinse the product.
How to quickly cure nail fungus?
The internal and external use of hydrogen peroxide for the treatment of infectious and other diseases was described by Professor Neumyvakin in a book written on the basis of personal experience. Hydrogen peroxide is mentioned as a prophylactic agent with antibacterial properties.
External use of hydrogen peroxide to treat fungal infection is carried out after steaming the feet in warm water with dissolved soda in the amount of one teaspoon per liter. When the nail plates become soft, pinch a small fragment of the affected area of the nail with manicure pliers and, after soaking it in 3% peroxide solution, attach it to the nail plate. Leave on for 10-15 minutes on the nails or 40 minutes to an hour on the feet. Perform the procedure twice a day until the symptoms of the fungal infection disappear.
To reduce peroxide evaporation and increase the intensity of exposure, the nail plate with lotion is wrapped in plastic wrap. After the exposure time, wash your toes and hands thoroughly under running water.
For therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, it is recommended to instill hydrogen peroxide in the nail cavity three times a day.
Hand and foot baths (depending on the location of onychomycosis) with hydrogen peroxide give good results. Dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide in water at a temperature of 40-50 ° C at the rate of two tablespoons per liter of water. The duration of the procedure is fifteen minutes, the regularity of the procedure is twice a day for one week.
Instead of hydrogen peroxide, negative redox dead water, also called anolyte water, can be used in this recipe. Anolyte water is safe to use on sensitive skin, but has antiseptic properties that reduce the rate of fungal growth.
An effective treatment for advanced toenail fungus
This extreme method of treating fungal infection is used for severe nail plate lesions, it must be used with caution so as not to damage the skin.
To get rid of the fungus, the nail is treated with a rust neutralizer (available at an auto parts store). This product contains phosphoric acid, which effectively destroys fungi, but if used carelessly, can damage skin tissue. Therefore, in the process of its use it is necessary to observe safety measures - work in a well-ventilated area, wear goggles and rubber gloves, avoiding contact with skin and mucous membranes.
A safer way would be to use kerosene, which also has great penetrating power and has a strong effect on fungi.
Other folk remedies for toenail fungus
Comprehensive treatment of toenail fungus with the help of folk recipes based on hydrogen peroxide allows you to destroy the fungus and permanently get rid of the unpleasant odor and other symptoms associated with it.
Two effective folk remedies against fungal infections:
- Recipe for peroxide 1. To prepare the medicinal mixture you will need baking soda (0, 5 cups), hot water (4 cups), hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of 3% (0, 25 cups) and half a cup of magnesium sulfate or Epsom salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and pour in another quarter cup of vinegar. Soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution and apply it with a band-aid to the nail plate affected by the fungus. The bandage needs to be renewed every ten hours, the course of treatment is one month.
- Recipe with peroxide 2. The procedure for treating fungi according to this recipe consists of three phases. First you need to prepare a solution to treat fungal surfaces of nails and skin - mix 3% vinegar and peroxide in a concentration of 3% in a ratio of 1: 1. The feet are treated with this mixture while sizzling. The second stage is immersing the fingers with a fungal infection of the nail for half a minute in a weak solution of bleach in water, after which they are thoroughly washed under running water and wiped with a towel. Finally, tea tree oil mixed with Vaseline is applied to the nail plate in equal proportions. Wear warm socks or gloves (if this technique has been used to treat nail oncology). The course of treatment is one week.
- Novocaine lotion. A very simple but effective folk remedy in treating fungus is novocaine lotion. Simply soak a piece of cotton wool with novocaine and apply it to the fungus at night. Just two lotions like this are enough to get rid of the fungus permanently.
- Apricot resin tincture: 1 tablespoon of resin removed from the tree, pour a glass of vodka, insist three days. Apply this solution to the skin of the feet and nails. Shake before each use. It took us a month to heal, the diseased nails were cut off as they peeled, new, healthy ones grew. At the examination, the doctor confirmed the fact of recovery. I can also recommend the use of old, thickened sunflower oil in this case.
- Application of garlic: I took garlic cloves, squeezed it with a garlic press, applied the mass on the nail, covered with cellophane and wrapped in a bandage or put on the tip of my finger. I left the bandage until the morning, the first few days I felt a throbbing pain, like an abscess, but I had to endure it. The procedures were repeated daily and new nails grew.
- Strong coffee. Few people know that ordinary but strong coffee is a very good folk remedy for treating fungus. Strengthen your coffee and just dip your hands or feet in the cup, depending on where you have the fungus. This procedure is best performed in the evening, before bedtime. The fungus completely disappears after several such evening procedures. At the same time, the skin becomes smooth and the pain quickly disappears.
What causes a fungal nail infection?
Nail fungus or as it is called in medicine onychomycosis is a disease that causes damage to the nail plates and adjacent areas by parasitic fungal microorganisms. This is one of the subtypes of mycosis. If we take into account all the diseases to which only the feet can be susceptible, onychomycosis is the most common.
Several groups of fungi can be caused:
- epidermophyte;
- dermatophytic;
- microsporia.
You can get the infection in public places where the humidity is too high. This includes baths, steam rooms, swimming pools, beaches.
Wooden objects (benches, deck chairs, etc. ) are widely used here. Due to the porosity of the wood, this fungus is difficult to kill.
In addition, doctors distinguish several risk groups. For people who belong to one of them, the probability of infection increases dramatically.
To:
- the elderly;
- cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy;
- after treatment with antibiotics or steroids;
- HIV-infected;
- patients with diabetes.
It is not always possible to get rid of the disease quickly. The speed of healing depends on the type of parasite that caused it, the stage of development of the disease, the area of the lesion, the presence of complications and accompanying problems, and the general condition of the organism.
Symptoms of onychomycosis
Damage to the nails from the parasitic fungus cannot go unnoticed. Symptomatic changes on the nail plates are quite pronounced and are reduced to the following.
- Lost natural shine, transparency.
- The color changes. It can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, bluish, greenish, grayish.
- Surface roughness appears.
- Stripes, stains and thickenings are clearly distinguished.
- Layering is observed.
- There is a nail peeling.
- Different areas are painted and crumbled.
- Surrounding tissues may become red, swollen, and itchy.
- There are sensations of pain.
- The feet exude an unpleasant odor.
Despite all this, self-diagnosis can be difficult. At the beginning of development, the signs of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of some other lesions:
- nail area injury;
- age modifications;
- onycholysis;
- nail psoriasis;
- paronychia;
- pseudomonic onychia.
How to quickly get rid of nail fungus folk remedies and remedies
One should be realistic and understand that fungal infection of nails and nail areas is not cured in a week. According to doctors, the healing period can last from 6-8 weeks to six months, and sometimes 8-12 months.
It depends on many factors, as well as on the activity of nail growth. On the hands this process takes place much faster than on the feet, so the cure here comes earlier.
The best and fastest possible positive results can be achieved if you follow the recommendations below.
- Use a variety of therapeutic measures in the complex. Do not rely on the effectiveness of any miracle cure. Competently combine pharmacological preparations and recipes of traditional medicine.
- Treatment should be active, but gently - aggressive agents, which are often used for therapeutic purposes, should not affect healthy parts of the body located in the immediate vicinity of the affected.
- Strictly adhere to hygiene requirements to prevent the fungus from spreading, also to avoid re-infection soon after healing. And the probability of that is very high.
- Pay attention to the dryness of the affected extremities. Remember that humidity and heat are ideal conditions for active reproduction of fungi.
- Eliminate all the causes that caused the appearance of onychomycosis and eliminate them.
- Every day, carefully, but as much as possible, cut off the growing edge of the affected nail. If possible, go through a laser exposure procedure, which very effectively inhibits the pathological activity of the pathogen.
Pharmacological agents
Anti-pathogens are usually divided into three subgroups depending on the active components. Each of them in its arsenal has external fats and tablets of general action on the whole body.
It should be borne in mind that the latter have an extensive list of side effects. Therefore, you should not prescribe medication yourself. To minimize the risks, it is necessary to undergo an examination, identify which types of fungi have caused the disease and act with drugs that "target".
Subgroups of antifungal drugs
- Azole agents. They are based on triazole or imidazole, as well as their derivatives. Depending on the concentration, they exhibit fungistatic or fungicidal action. They are effective in combating yeast-like molds and fungi.
- allylamine agents. The active ingredients may be terbinafine, naftifine, butenafin. They are able to stop the growth of fungi and also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Other drugs. They act on the basis of additives flucytosine, morpholine, griseofulvin, chloronitrophenol. They are characterized by narrower activity focused on certain types of fungal pathogens.
External funds
At the beginning of the development of onychomycotic lesions, only ointment should be used. Only if they prove to be ineffective are antifungal tablets given.
Difference between cream and ointment:
- have a direct effect on lesions;
- relatively harmless;
- have fewer contraindications;
- side effects are limited.
If the disease is caught at the beginning of development, then they will be able to deal with it within a month.
The most popular creams and ointments against fungi
- Zinc grease. It allows you to relieve inflammation, dry the affected areas, get rid of itching, get an adsorbing effect.
- Naftifine based. It fights inflammation, has an antimicrobial effect. The agent is prone to accumulation on treated surfaces. Use the ointment no more than twice a day. The tool is not used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Use of tablets
To ensure a systemic effect on the whole body, the doctor prescribes oral tablets. Broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed.
- based on fluconazole. It is enough to take only once a day. Means are well tolerated. In rare cases, intestinal disorders and a rash on the body may occur. The course of treatment can be 1-4 weeks.
- Terbinafine-based. Capable of accumulating in the skin and its horny formations (hair, nails). The course of treatment is at least 6 weeks. You need 1 tablet a day. The drug is not given to young children, pregnant and lactating women. May cause migraine, muscle and joint pain, allergies, anorexia.
All medicines for nail fungus on the hands or feet should be taken only after consulting a doctor.
How to treat toenail fungus folk remedies at home
First of all, one should strictly adhere to all medical recommendations, do not skip medication and bring the treatment to an end, and do not interrupt the course after the elimination of particularly unpleasant symptoms.
In addition, you need:
- use local baths regularly;
- apply a specialized varnish that blocks the spread of fungi, and has a therapeutic effect;
- daily remove protruding parts of the growing nail, which is affected by the disease;
- use special tools to soften the nail plate to remove it;
- steam hands or feet before using external topical agents;
- take measures to prevent household infection.
Special varnishes
Varnishes have a number of advantages. The active ingredients penetrate well into the affected nails, but at the same time they harden and do not leave marks on clothes, bedding and shoes.
The hardened layer reliably blocks the flow of oxygen to pathogens, which blocks their activity. But varnishing products are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.
Before using varnishes, resort to using a warm local bath. Soaked plates affected by the fungus are cut to the maximum, treated with a file or other grinding device. The surface dries
Varnish is also recommended for covering healthy nails. The procedure is repeated every night for a long period - from several months to six months.
Help from a surgeon
Both part and the whole board can be removed. But that is not a guarantee of complete relief from the disease. The likelihood of further spread of fungal infection is very high.
After surgery, the finger heals for a long time. In addition, suppuration may develop. A newly grown nail can be deformed. A preferred alternative to such a method is laser therapy.
Traditional medicine
The following medications are used to treat nail fungus:
- Garlic. Apply garlic paste in the form of applications on sore nails. A fixing bandage is placed on top. It is practiced every evening to repeat the procedure. You can also use squeezed garlic juice in the same mixture with alcohol. The resulting balm is used to treat nails twice a day.
- Vinegar. Acetic acid acidifies the environment, which inactivates pathogens. This tool lubricates damaged nails every day. You can use vinegar compresses. To do this, the lumps of cotton wool are moistened in vinegar and fixed on the desired fingers in the affected area. The compresses last all night, they are taken off in the morning.
- Peroxide. Like vinegar and other similar products, apply directly to nails or cotton swabs. Peroxide acts as an antiseptic.
- Alcoholic iodine solution. They can cover nail plates, including healthy ones, 1-2 times a day. In addition, iodine supplementation is suitable for any bath. To do this, just add a few drops of the product.
- Propolis tincture. It can be used for lotions, as well as injected into local baths for hands or feet. Compresses are left on the nails overnight. You can prepare an ointment, which is a mixture of propolis and butter. The composition is applied to the gauze and placed on the desired area. The remedy is left for 10 hours.
- Remedies for vegetable burns. Onions or horseradish are suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis. They have antimicrobial activity. Herbal products are used in the form of porridge. You can also make some kind of fat by mixing liquid mash with butter or melted chicken fat.
- Essential extracts. These agents have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerative action. Oils can be used to prepare local baths or as part of dressing mixtures:
- cedar;
- tea tree;
- rosemary;
- lavender;
- ate some others.
The essential extract is mixed with Vaseline in a ratio of 1: 1. It should be rubbed into the damaged nail plates. As always in such cases, the drug will have a stronger effect if the nails are pre-steamed.
Prevention measures
The risk of re-infection with the fungus after removal of the disease is very high. Therefore, you must clearly follow simple rules:
- follow foot hygiene;
- get rid of shoes, towels and socks that you used during the treatment;
- avoid sharing such things with other family members;
- avoid excessive foot moisture, use talcum powder;
- treat the inner surfaces of shoes with antiseptics.
Don't forget, take all the medicines for nail fungus after consulting a doctor.