Nail fungus - onychomycosis - is a disease caused by parasitic fungi.This type of disease occurs in 20% of the adult population.Fungal infection happens quite easily;to do this, it is enough to touch the skin of the feet with the surface that has such fungi.
Infection can occur, for example, in a public bathroom or swimming pool;in some cases, infection with a fungal infection occurs when trying on shoes in a store or when visiting a beauty salon, which uses poorly disinfected instruments for manicure and pedicure.Infection can occur when you use shoes that were worn by a person infected with the fungus several months ago;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 every person should know how to treat nail 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 deal with the disease in the earliest stages of the infection process.
When treating nail fungus with folk remedies, you can use fairly simple and effective methods of therapy.Folk remedies have simple recipes and simple procedures, which allows everyone to use them independently.
To treat the disease in the initial stages of infection, you can use apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, celandine juice, iodine solution, hydrogen peroxide, and kombucha-based compresses.
The most popular recipes are as follows:
- Soak your feet once or twice a day in a 1:1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water.Soaking time is 15-20 minutes.After this time, you should let your feet dry.Procedures should be performed over two weeks.Gradually, the fungus begins to disappear, and a healthy nail comes in place of the damaged nail.
- It is recommended to lubricate the skin and nail plates affected by fungal infection with tea tree oil three times a day.For a single use you will need from 4 to 10 drops of oil.The antifungal effect of this drug is observed two weeks after the start of therapy.In some cases, it is necessary to extend the course of treatment.This medicine is prohibited for use in the treatment of diseases in children and pregnant women.
- Using Kombucha.You need to prepare a dressing for the treatment.For this purpose, you should wrap a plate of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, and after these manipulations put on socks.The procedure must be done in the evening, before going to bed.In the morning, it is necessary to wash the lower limbs with warm water.And remove the dead parts and lubricate the places where they were removed with iodine solution.One of the side effects of this treatment method is the occurrence of quite severe pain, but the advantage of the method is the rapid achievement of a positive result of the therapy.
- The infection can be cured using propolis tampons.For this purpose, you can use propolis tinctures or its extract.This product can be used daily.Exposure to propolis accelerates the growth of the nail plate.Which leads to an acceleration of the healing process.
If there is no improvement in the condition when using traditional methods, you should seek help from a doctor to conduct an examination and prescribe a complex therapy for the treatment of the pathology.
The use of iodine in the treatment of toenail fungus
One of the means that helps fight nail fungus is iodine solution.Eliminating the infection with iodine is quite simple.In addition, this method of destruction is cheap and available to everyone.
Most experts in traditional methods of treatment recommend starting the treatment of infection with iodine solution, which is most likely due to the availability of this drug and its wide use.Medical iodine solution has pronounced disinfectant and antiseptic properties.
For treatment, you need to use iodine daily, the solution is applied to the damaged areas of the skin of the feet and nails.
To treat foot fungus at home using iodine solution, you will 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 wool.It is best to drip the drug solution directly onto the nail plate.
The use of iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can accelerate the healing of damaged areas, which allows the skin to regenerate.In order to provide a more significant antifungal effect during the procedures, it is recommended to treat not only the affected areas, but also the areas adjacent to the wound.
When treating the affected nail, it is enough to apply one drop of the medical composition.
Another way to use iodine solution to kill fungi is to take a bath with this medicine.
To prepare the 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, the damaged tissue is removed from the affected areas without causing injury to the healthy skin.After removing the affected areas, the surface of the skin should be treated with hydrogen peroxide and a bandage with an antibacterial composition should be applied.
If necessary, you can mix iodine with apple cider vinegar.This mixture can be treated in the morning and in the evening, and the treatment lasts longer than two weeks.
How to treat with vinegar?
You can get rid of yeast infections with vinegar.To perform the procedure, you must mix 70% acetic acid and glycerin in equal proportions and shake well before use;The resulting mixture is applied to 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 taken daily before going to bed.The usual course of such therapy is three weeks or more.
Using apple cider vinegar, you can prepare products with the addition of vegetable oil.The solution is prepared in a 1:1 ratio of components.When treating a fungal infection, moisten the gauze or bandage with the resulting solution and apply it to the damaged nail.It is recommended to wear this bandage for 4 hours a day until the infection is completely cured.
In addition to these methods of treatment, there are other recipes for folk remedies based on vinegar, and the most common among them are the following:
- egg fat and vinegar;
- using pure vinegar;
- using wine vinegar.
When preparing vinegar-based products, you can use vinegar essence, previously diluted with water to the desired concentration.
Treatment of fungi with celandine
Using celandine at home can help treat the infection.It is recommended to smear the nail plate that is deformed and infected with a fungal infection with celandine juice using a cotton swab three times a day.For this purpose, the juice is squeezed from a fresh, recently harvested plant.
Partly fresh juice can be used immediately after receiving, and part of the juice can be fermented in a dark place for 2-3 weeks.Celandine therapy lasts quite a long time;it is necessary to carry out procedures until the new nail grows.
Celandine can be used to treat pathology in a mixture with alcohol.For this purpose, a juice solution is prepared with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:1.The prepared solution is applied to the affected areas 4 times a day.
For therapy, you can use dry celandine plants.For this purpose, the plant must be ground in a coffee grinder into a powder and mixed with iodine, vinegar or tea tree oil.The result of mixing should be a mush-like mass.
Using the resulting composition, apply a poultice to the damaged nail plate.
The use of hydrogen peroxide in treatment
Hydrogen peroxide is not a compound that can destroy a yeast infection.The use of a solution of this chemical substance allows you to stop and prevent the progression of the pathology.
Peroxide is characterized by the presence of pronounced deodorizing properties, so it is ideal for treating damaged areas.
When using peroxide, you must follow the instructions for its use.
Therapy with hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A warm foot bath is made 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 toes.
- After drying the skin, cotton pads or sticks soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution are applied to the affected areas.Tampons are attached to damaged areas with adhesive tape.After placing the tampon, the leg in the area affected by the infection is wrapped in a towel.This kind of compress should be kept for 4-50 minutes.The procedure should be performed twice a day with a break of twelve hours.
- After the nails 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 prepared with a hydrogen peroxide solution.For this purpose, you will need to take two liters of water and dissolve 100 ml of peroxide in it.You must steam your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin of the foot is dried with a clean towel, and the softened nail is carefully sanded with a file.At the end of the procedure of removing the damaged nail, an antifungal cream is applied to the treated area.This procedure is recommended once a day.
An additional benefit of using peroxide is that it can speed up the processes that promote healing.Under its influence, pathogenic microorganisms stop multiplying and spreading to new areas.In addition, using this chemical compound can avoid the development of a relapse of the infectious process.
Pregnant women suffering from infection should pay special attention to chemicals.Because its use does not cause negative consequences for both the mother's organism and the unborn child.
Treatment of advanced forms of the disease
An old and neglected fungus can threaten the patient with nail loss;for this reason, therapeutic measures should be started as soon as possible.It is recommended to start recovery in the initial stages of the infectious process when the first signs of damage appear.
If the nail plate has become thick and acquired a loose and scaly appearance, then therapeutic measures can 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 medications that are quite effective in fighting old and advanced infections.
The following methods can be used at home:
- The skin around the affected area is smeared with a nourishing cream, and peroxided kombucha is applied to the painful area.After that, 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 mycosis using a solution of potassium permanganate.
In the second method, the legs should be scalded in a solution of potassium permanganate, and a poultice made of a previously 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.
In the process of treating the old form of fungus, the use of topical antifungal creams and oral medications will be required.
The application of dressings based on 5% sulfur grease and preparations with iodine has an excellent effect.In addition, daily nail care with lavender and tea tree essential oils is recommended.
Use of drugs during home treatment
When you get rid of the infectious process, the tablets should be selected by a doctor.The modern pharmaceutical market offers patients a wide selection of such drugs.
When using antifungal drugs at home, you should remember that they all have a large number of contraindications that must be taken into account when taking them.
In addition, all these drugs can cause a number of side effects in the patient.For this reason, self-prescription of these drugs is contraindicated;they should only be taken if prescribed by a 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 you do not notice a positive effect when using prescribed medicines at home, immediately contact your doctor for advice and adjustment of the medicine used.
If it is necessary to remove the nail plate, you can use special creams that are applied as a poultice.
After exposure to compression, the softened part of the nail is cleaned with a file.This procedure should be carried out daily until the nail bed is completely cleaned.
Disease prevention
The most effective way to fight a yeast infection is to prevent the infection.
To prevent the occurrence of an infectious process, you should use only individual pedicure products.You must have your own towel to perform hygiene procedures.You should not put other people's shoes on your feet.
Dealing with an infection is a complex, time-consuming and financially expensive endeavor, so you must try to prevent the infection.For this purpose, regular cleaning of toilets, bathrooms and rooms in the house using disinfectants is recommended.
When visiting the pool, sauna and bathroom, you must wear special footwear.Which should be individual.After taking a bath and shower, it is recommended to dry the skin, especially the skin between the toes.
If you have a tendency to diabetes, you should regularly monitor the level of glucose in the body, because the presence of an increased content of this component in the body is a factor that contributes to the development of a viral infection on the skin of the legs.
Be sure to wash your feet daily with soap and dry your shoes if they get wet.It is also necessary to change the socks.
When choosing a shoe model, it is recommended to give preference to those varieties that do not restrict movement and allow air to pass freely.
When buying socks, tights, socks and shoes, priority should be given to quality products.
Among other things, in order to prevent the occurrence of a fungal infection, it is recommended to control the diet.With a lack of certain vitamins and nutritional compounds in the diet, the body becomes exhausted and is easily susceptible to infections.In order to compensate for the loss of vitamins and biologically active compounds, it is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially in spring, when the lack of vitamins in the body is particularly acute.
It is mandatory to monitor the condition of the nails and the skin around them on the feet every day;it is necessary to trim them in a timely manner, using personal disinfected tools for this purpose.