Mycoses can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's nails and feet are the most preferred place for their localization. The virus is transmitted and spreads very easily, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a fungus?
In nature, there are many types of fungal pathogens that can affect the human body. Fungi are always uncomfortable and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in different ways: in public places, through shared shoes, through direct contact.
The most common place of localization are the feet, respectively the feet and nails. This decision is due to a number of reasons:
- increased foot sweating caused by individual characteristics;
- tight and uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent foot injuries, microcracks, scratches, corns;
- stress;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- hypothermia of the legs of a permanent nature.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to appear actively:
- unpleasant pungent foot odor;
- the nail plate turns white and lamination may appear;
- itching, and sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- scars form on the skin around the nails, erosion appears.
Treatment depends on the stage of the nail fungus, the earlier the problem is noticed the easier it is to fix. But it must be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can take months and even years. The disappearance of scars does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This may only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will restart again.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them give a 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise the use of different methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and popular methods.
Benefits of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- practically no contraindications and side effects;
- when used properly, fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods to get rid of fungus can be advised by experts. The main thing is to use new tools very carefully. In addition, do not forget about the age of the patient, the use of untested products for children is not recommended. Patients under 16 years of age are seen in a meeting with the mycologist, but at risk are persons over 35 years of age.
Iodine - a time-tested drug
To date, iodine is still an effective remedy for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive use of iodine can cause burns, so the dose should be strictly adhered to when applying it.
This method is very effective if used from the beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to damage the nail plate and skin during the treatment, you should follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at a pharmacy and check its expiration date.
- Wash your feet thoroughly and dry them. It is very important that the patient use only his towel, this reduces the risk of transmitting the infection.
- On each affected nail and what is placed next to it, add a drop of iodine and rub well.
- Allow the iodine to dry slightly and for a while then do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. There is such a method and a variety of side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which creates aesthetic concerns. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity can be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning while rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against fungal infections
Acetic compresses are another popular recipe to get rid of mycosis at home. To do this, use ordinary table vinegar 9% and from it prepare baths.
The recipe is simple: you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix thoroughly. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing the concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for the bath is 2: 1.
The water must be cold, otherwise the vinegar will lose its properties. In addition, you need to prepare a hot water bath, feet are sitting on it for steam. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be done every two days, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has a strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it is used to fight bacteria and fungal spores. Propolis in its pure form can be bought at the pharmacy, but you must use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend the use of an infusion of propolis in alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use it for mycoses.
To fight this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- soak a cotton pad in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night, a slightly melted piece of the substance is placed on the affected nails, but such a compress may be held for no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use it very carefully.
Tea mushrooms
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim that it can lead to the activation of the process, while others claim that it can completely get rid of mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this mushroom soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should take on a brown color and a specific aroma, then it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effect.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and peeled and squeezed slightly to remove excess liquid, then gently rubbed into the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, done before bedtime. Feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Dip one foot into warm water, pausing between layers to allow them to dry. Take a mushroom out of the water and stick it on your nails, stick cellophane on top and wear a tight sock or even two. Compresses can cause tingling, slight pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are considered quite justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless substance is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, so it is advisable to use it to quickly remove nail fungus at home. It is birch tar, a product for the processing of birch bark, which is actively used. It can be bought at a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis of ointments, but in the case of mycosis, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Different types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular because of their effect.
First you need to steam your feet. It is better to do this in soapy water. After that, cut the dead parts of the nail and smear the fresh places with tar and rub well. Then you should not dress for several hours, the pitch is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, washing the feet for at least a day is not recommended; after this time, you can take a cold bath for your feet. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made of natural fabrics and treat the shoes with a light tar solution.
Foot baths using tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half a bar of soap, grind and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add a little soda. Perform the procedure no more than 20 minutes, then clean the thick tissue and let the feet dry.
Herbal decoction
It is no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in traditional medicine. For the treatment of mycosis, decoctions from such plants are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- delli;
- sage brush;
- calendula;
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile.
The dried flowers of these plants are used for the preparation of decoctions. It is very important to respect the proportions and save enough time for a couple. For the treatment of fungi, use only decoction in water, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Decoction experts recommend using only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not cope with advanced stages. In addition, some of the plants presented may cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you have to be patient. For full effect, sometimes you need to use some recipes. The full course of treatment can take years. It is best to consult a specialist before choosing a treatment method. And under no circumstances should you start the process, the severe stages are extremely difficult to handle.