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 your feet with a surface that has such fungi.
Contamination can occur, for example, in a public bath or swimming pool.In some cases, infection with a fungal infection occurs when you try on shoes in a store or when you visit a beauty salon, which uses poorly disinfected instruments for manicures and pedicures.Infection can occur when you use shoes worn by a person who was 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 the treatment of nail fungus
Timely treatment of nail fungus at home using the fastest methods allows you to effectively treat the disease in the early stages of the infection process.
When treating nail fungus with folk remedies, you can use quite simple and effective treatment methods.Folk remedies have simple recipes and simple procedures, which allow anyone 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 compresses based on kombucha.
The most popular recipes are:
- Soak your feet once or twice a day in a 1:1 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water.The soaking time is 15-20 minutes.After this time, you should let your feet dry.The procedures should be done within two weeks.Gradually, the fungus begins to go away and a healthy nail takes the place of the damaged nail.
- It is recommended to lubricate the skin and nail plates affected by a 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 from the use of this drug is observed two weeks after the start of treatment.In some cases, an extension of the course of treatment is required.This drug is prohibited for use in the treatment of diseases in children and pregnant women.
- Using Kombucha.For treatment, you should prepare a compress.For this purpose, you should wrap a plate of kombucha in cellophane and wrap a bandage around your leg, after these manipulations you should wear socks.The procedure should be done at night, before going to bed.In the morning, you should wash your lower extremities with warm water.And remove the dead areas and lubricate the removed places with iodine solution.One of the side effects of this treatment method is the occurrence of quite strong pain, but the advantage of the method is the rapid achievement of a positive treatment result.
- The infection can be treated using tampons with propolis.For this purpose, you can use tinctures of propolis or its extract.This product can be used daily.Exposure to propolis accelerates the development of the nail plate.Which leads to an acceleration of the healing process.
If, when using traditional methods, there is no improvement in the condition, then you should seek help from a doctor to conduct an examination and prescribe complex therapy to treat the pathology.
The use of iodine in the treatment of toenail fungus
One of the means that help fight toenail fungus is iodine solution.Removing iodine contamination is quite easy.In addition, this method of destruction is cheap and accessible to everyone.
Most experts in traditional treatment methods recommend starting treatment for the infection with iodine solution, which is probably due to the availability of this drug and its widespread use.Medical iodine solution has strong disinfectant and antiseptic properties.
For treatment, you need to use iodine daily, the solution is applied to damaged areas of the skin of the foot and nails.
To treat athlete's foot at home using an iodine solution, you will need to apply a few drops to the affected areas twice a day.The treatment of the affected areas is carried out using a cotton swab or a cotton swab.It is best to drip the drug solution directly onto the nail plate.
The use of iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can speed up the healing of damaged areas, which makes it possible to restore the skin.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 use baths with this drug.
To prepare a 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 skin surface will need to be treated with hydrogen peroxide and a bandage with an antibacterial composition 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 course of treatment lasts more than two weeks.
How to treat with vinegar?
You can get rid of a yeast infection with vinegar.To perform the procedure, you need to mix 70% acetic acid and glycerin in equal proportions and shake well before use.the resulting mixture is lubricated on the affected nail plates three times a day.The duration of treatment is approximately three weeks.
Traditional medicine has developed a simple antifungal drug - baths with the addition of apple cider vinegar, which are done daily before going to bed.The usual course of such treatment 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 gauze or a bandage with the resulting solution and apply it to the damaged nail.It is recommended that you wear this bandage for 4 hours a day until the infection is completely healed.
In addition to these methods of treatment, there are other recipes for folk remedies based on vinegar, the most common among them are the following:
- egg and vinegar ointment;
- using pure vinegar.
- using wine vinegar.
In the preparation of vinegar-based products, vinegar essence can be used, previously diluted with water to the desired concentration.
Treatment of the fungus with felandine
Using celandine at home can help treat the infection.It is recommended to lubricate the nail plate that is deformed and infected with a fungal infection with celandine juice using cotton three times a day.For this purpose, the juice is squeezed from a fresh, recently harvested plant.
Partially fresh juice can be used immediately after taking it and partially juice can be fermented in a dark place for a period of 2-3 weeks.Celandine treatment lasts a long time.it is necessary to carry out procedures until a 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 treatment, you can use dry celandine herbs.For this purpose, the herb must be ground in a coffee grinder into a powder state and mixed with iodine, vinegar or tea tree oil.The result of mixing should be a porridge-like mass.
Using the resulting composition, apply a compress to the damaged nail plate.
The use of hydrogen peroxide in treatment
Hydrogen peroxide is not a composition capable of destroying a fungal infection.The use of a solution of this chemical substance allows you to stop and prevent the development of pathology.
Peroxide is characterized by the presence of strong deodorizing properties, so it is ideal for treating damaged areas.
When using peroxide, you must follow its instructions for use.
Treatment with hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A warm foot bath is made, to which copper sulphate is added.The legs are placed in the solution and steamed well.
- After steaming, use a clean towel to dry the skin, paying special attention to the skin between the fingers.
- After drying the skin, cotton or swabs soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution are applied to the affected areas.Tampons are attached to damaged areas using adhesive tape.After tampon application, the foot in the area affected by the infection is wrapped in a towel.This type of compression should be maintained for 4-50 minutes.The procedure should be carried out twice a day with a break of twelve hours.
- After the toenails become open, you should cut the soft areas of the nail plate and apply an antifungal cream to the surface.
The disease will subside 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 need to steam your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
After the procedure, the skin of the feet is dried with a clean towel and the softened nail is carefully filed with a nail file.At the end of the damaged nail removal procedure, an antifungal cream is applied to the treated area.It is recommended to do this procedure 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, when this chemical compound is used, the development of a recurrence of the infectious process can be avoided.
Pregnant women suffering from an infection should pay special attention to the chemical.Since its use does not cause negative consequences for both the mother's body and the unborn child.
Treatment of advanced forms of the disease
An old and neglected fungus can threaten a patient with nail loss.for this reason, therapeutic measures should be started as early 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 has acquired a loose and flaky appearance, then treatment measures may be significantly delayed.
Before starting treatment for a fungal infection, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the factor that contributes to the growth of microorganisms.There is a whole range of treatments 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 lubricated with a nourishing cream and peroxide kombucha is applied to the sore spot.After which the damaged area is wrapped in polyethylene and fixed with a bandage, this bandage is applied all night and the procedure itself is carried out several times.
- You can get rid of old or neglected mycosis using a solution of potassium permanganate.
When using the second method, the feet should be steamed in a solution of potassium permanganate and a compress made of a pre-prepared mush mixture of alcohol and propolis should be applied to the damaged areas.Compression 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 an old form of fungus, the use of topical antifungal creams and oral medications will be required.
The use of compresses based on 5% sulfur ointment and preparations with iodine has an excellent result.In addition, it is recommended to nourish the nail daily with lavender and tea tree essential oils.
Use of medication during home treatment
When you get rid of an infectious process, tablets should be selected by the attending physician.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 to the patient.For this reason, self-prescription of these drugs is contraindicated.should be taken only if prescribed by the attending physician.
Currently, pharmacies offer patients tablets for the treatment of fungal infections, as well as effective products in the form of creams and gels.
If no positive effect is observed when using the prescribed medicines at home, you should immediately contact your doctor for advice and to adjust the medicine used.
If it becomes necessary to remove the nail plate, you can use special creams that are applied as a compress.
After exposure to the compress, the softened part of the nail is cleaned with a nail file.This process should be performed daily until the nail bed is completely clean.
Prevention of illness
The most effective method of combating a fungal infection is to prevent the infection.
To prevent the occurrence of an infectious process, you should use only individual pedicure products.To carry out hygiene procedures, you must have your own towel.You should not put someone else's shoes on your feet.
Getting rid of contamination is a complex, time-consuming and financially expensive business, so you should try to prevent contamination.For this purpose, it is recommended to regularly clean the toilet, bathroom and rooms of the house using disinfectants.
When visiting the pool, sauna and bath, you must wear special shoes.Which must be individual.After visiting the bathroom and showering, it is recommended to wipe the skin dry, especially the skin between the fingers.
If you have a tendency to diabetes, you should regularly monitor the level of glucose in the body, since 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 feet.
Be sure to wash your feet daily with soap and dry your shoes if they get wet.It is also necessary to change your socks.
When choosing shoe models, it is recommended to give preference to those varieties that do not restrict movement and are able to freely allow air to pass through.
When buying socks, tights, stockings and shoes, you should prefer quality products.
Among other things, to prevent the occurrence of a fungal infection, it is recommended to control your diet.With the lack of certain vitamins and nutrients in the diet, the body wears out and is easily susceptible to infection.To replenish 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 pronounced.
It is imperative to monitor the condition of the nails and the skin around them on the feet every day.it is necessary to cut them in time, using personally disinfected tools for this purpose.