A change in the color and thickness of the toenails can be safely considered the first sign of an infectious fungal disease - onychomycosis. At the initial stage, there is still a chance to do without expensive drugs, it is only important to know which folk remedies for nail fungus are most effective. You can get rid of this disease at home if you strictly follow all the rules and recommendations.
The main factors that cause the disease
Onychomycosis is classified as an infectious disease, so the only way it appears is infection. This usually happens unnoticed, and the first stage is almost asymptomatic. The appearance of light skin and small cracks on the nail plate also rarely alarm a person. Typically, treatment begins when visible signs of the disease are detected:
- nail color change;
- plate thickness;
- constant itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).
It is easy to get infected with fungi - it is enough to contact a sick loved one during joint trips to saunas and baths, fitness centers, using common household items, for example, a bath rug or bed linen. Often the disease can be transmitted in public places such as swimming pools or water parks if the treatment is not according to accepted standards.
There are also some individual risk factors for getting a yeast infection, such as a weakened immune system. In order not to provoke the onset of the disease, before visiting places with an increased risk of infection, you should pay attention to the condition of your body. It is not recommended to take risks if:
- The man recently caught a cold and his immune system has not yet fully recovered.
- There is damage to the nails or feet.
- There are doubts about the proper hygiene of the club or shoes, for example, in a bowling center.
Fighting nail fungus is a long process. In its advanced form, this can lead not only to cosmetic concerns, but also to more serious diseases that may require surgical intervention.
Modern medicine offers a large selection of different antifungal drugs to get rid of this disease, but not everyone has the opportunity to buy them because of their high cost. Traditional recipes for toenail fungus are no less effective when used properly and will cost much less.
Treatment with iodine
Of all the options for treating fungus with folk remedies, iodine is rightfully considered the most popular. The effectiveness of its use has been proven by dermatologists, and the drug is recommended for the treatment of affected areas of nails and feet. The product compares favorably with:
- low price;
- good disinfectant properties;
- ease of use.
It has been proven that regular treatment of the affected areas of the nail with iodine for two weeks can completely remove the fungus. To do this, the affected plate should be soaked with the medicine every day until a healthy nail grows completely. For prevention, healthy nails on other fingers can also be treated with iodine.
The drug is also often used as an additional ingredient in other home recipes to combat athlete's foot. For example, they mix iodine with apple cider vinegar, treat the skin around the nail or make a foot bath by adding the product to the water. In combination with celandine, vegetable oil or an antimicrobial agent, the drug is used to prepare mixtures for the treatment of not only nail fungus, but also foot fungus.
Before using iodine, remember that this drug can cause an allergic reaction, so you should do a test: apply a small amount of iodine to the skin and wait a few hours. Care should be taken when using iodine for people with thyroid disease.
Soda treatment
Baking soda is a fairly common tool to fight various infections. It is also good for treating toenail fungus with folk remedies. It is recommended to be used in two doses.
The first is to steam your feet in the bath. To do this, prepare a solution: 1 tablespoon of baking soda per liter of hot water. Soak your feet in the solution for about 20 minutes. Then move on to the next part of the procedure.
For the second step, you will need to prepare a soda solution (soda and a little water). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area of the steamed nail plate and the wrapping method is used (you can use a regular transparent film). The duration of the procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. Therefore, your feet should be washed with water to avoid irritation.
If the disease begins, the treatment should be carried out daily. For the initial phase, two to three times a week are enough. The effect will be visible faster if you combine baking soda treatment with medications. It usually takes about two months to completely get rid of the fungus, but even after full recovery, it is recommended to take a soda bath once a week to avoid recurrence.
Alcohol tablets
A good way to defeat nail fungus is an alcohol compress. This is done before bed and left overnight. Due to heating, the affected areas of the nail plate expand, which facilitates the penetration of the disinfectant inside. Ammonia compress is considered the most effective, but a regular one will do. To perform the procedure correctly, you must:
- Steam your feet.
- Use a file to remove the dead top layer of the affected nail.
- Treat with hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply a cotton pad soaked in an alcohol solution to the nail.
- Put it on your fingertip or wrap it in foil.
- In the morning, remove the compress and coat the nail with antifungal gel or cream.
- Repeat the procedure every other day until the fungus disappears completely.
To increase the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A weekly celandine compress filled with alcohol will help significantly speed up the treatment, and the juice of a fresh plant can be used instead of an antifungal cream.
A compress with an alcohol solution of propolis will also help to quickly get rid of the fungus. The healing properties of this product have been known for a long time. It can cure not only the fungus on the nails, but also on the whole foot. Propolis has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which eliminates the use of other drugs after removing the compress.
Kombucha uses
A concentrated solution of kombucha is very effective for treating toenail fungus using folk remedies. The infusion has antibacterial properties and the stronger the concentration, the better. An infusion of mushrooms for three months is considered optimal.
Treatment with this popular method can be carried out in two ways. The first is to use a cotton ball soaked in kombucha concentrate, boiled well overnight. The second is to lubricate the affected area with the mushrooms themselves, rubbed into a paste.
Both in the first and in the second method, after the procedure, the dead layer of the nail must be cut. At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to disinfect both the nail itself and the instruments used.
Despite the fact that kombucha is a completely natural medicine, it has some contraindications for use. It cannot be used:
- women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- alcoholics;
- people with diabetes and hepatitis;
- HIV and AIDS patients.
In other cases, kombucha has been established as one of the most effective methods of treating mycoses without the use of drugs.
The use of birch tar
The oldest way to get rid of toenail fungus is birch tar. Its use has been known for a long time, but it has not lost its effectiveness. Tar can be used in its pure form, or you can prepare an ointment from it by mixing it with cream.
Before applying the substance, you should pre-treat the feet and nails, steam them and remove the dead parts. Then you can treat it with tar. A distinctive feature of this method is that air access is required for the applied medicinal composition. The procedure takes about two hours, so you should take care of a comfortable body position in advance.
A more modern method is to use tar soap. But it is more suitable for the daily prevention of the recurrence of the disease than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can lead to allergic reactions and dry skin, so use with caution. And even the unpleasant smell, which is very persistent for several hours, does not add any benefit to the product.
Do not rely entirely on tar treatment. It is best used as a natural complementary medicine to medications.
Salt and vinegar
Vinegar and salt are commonly used as toenail and toenail fungus aids. In addition, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps soften the nails for further processing. Usually solutions are made from these ingredients. The recipe for the solution is very simple:
- 100 ml of vinegar (preferably apple cider);
- 2 liters of hot water;
- 0. 5 cups of salt.
Mix everything thoroughly and soak your feet in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Such baths will not only help to steam the nails before the procedures, but will also disinfect the entire surface of your feet.
Whatever folk remedy is used to fight toenail fungus, you must remember: if after two weeks of treatment there is no visible result, you should immediately consult a doctor.