Surely many have heard of at least one folk remedy for toenail fungus. In fact, there are dozens of them. And how among such a variety to choose what will definitely help? Treatment of onychomycosis (namely, in medicine, the defeat of the nail plate by a fungus) on the legs can take from several months to a year. Therefore, the choice of means must be approached with all seriousness. To make it easier for you, in the article we will consider the rating of remedies for toenail fungus for home use.
What is nail fungus
As the name implies, the causative agent of the disease are fungi, namely the genus Trichophyton. Once on the nail plate, the spores spread in depth, destroying its structure. Outwardly, this is manifested by a change in the structure and color of the nail. It becomes yellow or brownish. If you run your finger over the surface, you can feel that it has become uneven, tubercles and grooves have appeared. When the disease is started, the nail platescrumble, break, or even come off. And also the disease can go to the skin of the fingers and feet. In this case, the treatment of folk remedies for toenail fungus will be ineffective. It will be necessary to connect antifungal drugs.
Stages of fungus development
Specialists identify several stages of the disease:
- At the first stage, it is almost impossible to determine onychomycosis at home. Symptoms are manifested only by minor changes in the nail plate (spots, cracks).
- In the second stage, the symptoms are well. Noticeable deformity of the nail. Its color becomes yellow or grayish, an unpleasant odor appears. At this stage, it is still possible to eliminate toenail fungus with home remedies.
- The third stage is considered an advanced form of the disease. The nail crumbles, breaks and may come off.
How to recognize the disease at an early stage
When the disease progresses, it can be difficult to cure it with home remedies. In order not to wait for obvious signs of nail damage, you need to know the symptoms of an incipient disease:
- flaking of the skin around the nail and on the fingers, as well as itching in these places;
- appearance of an unpleasant smell on the legs;
- pain when walking;
- reddening of the surface near the nail;
- foci of cloudy and dark circles;
- flaky plates.
If you notice these harbingers of toenail fungus in time, folk remedies will help you quickly cope with the disease. Sotry to inspect your toes more often.
How an insidious disease appears on the nails
If you are faced with onychomycosis, then you should not be upset and reproach yourself for a frivolous attitude to your he alth. This disease is quite common. According to the World He alth Organization, 20% of the world's population suffers from it. Anyone can get onychomycosis, no one is immune from it. Of course, there are factors that contribute to the appearance of the disease. There are several causes of toenail fungus:
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- tight or poor quality shoes;
- mechanical damage;
- poor foot care;
- ingrown toenail;
- poor personal hygiene;
- non-sterile nail care instruments;
- taking antibiotics;
- compromised immunity.
The risk of contracting onychomycosis increases when visiting public places:
- steam room;
- pool;
- group fitness rooms;
- locker rooms;
- public beaches;
- spas.
A he althy body can easily cope with a fungal attack. If you have a weakened immune system, there are wounds on your legs, it is recommended to refrain from visiting these places. But even if you do not go to such establishments, the risk of infection with the fungus still exists. Disputes can move from relatives through common household items: towels, manicure supplies, washcloths, slippers. As a rule, atmany of these items are individual. If this is not the case, then you need to make sure that each family member has his own set of such household items. Especially if someone in the household has a fungus on their feet or hands.
General rules for treating fungus at home
When choosing home remedies to fight toenail fungus, you need to be patient. Procedures will need to be performed regularly with a break a day or daily, and in some cases several times a day. The duration of the course ranges from several months to a year.
Toenail fungus therapy includes the following steps:
- It is good to steam out coarsened areas using antimicrobial agents. Hot baths take at least 15 minutes.
- Cut off and file the damaged areas of the nail with a sanding file. Clean off the damaged tissue that was under the cut nail plate.
- Then, the affected areas should be treated with the selected drug. You can combine the use of folk and pharmacy remedies. You can steam your legs in herbal decoction or add soda, s alt or hydrogen peroxide to the water. And you can treat your nails with an antifungal ointment.
- Careful hygiene is a prerequisite for the effective treatment of onychomycosis. Use disposable nail files, and treat manicure accessories with alcohol. Change your socks often and buy open-toed slippers.
How to cure nails with laundry soap
EconomicSoap from toenail fungus is used as a separate remedy and together with other drugs. The effectiveness of the product is associated with a high concentration of alkali, which creates an environment unsuitable for fungi. For the treatment of fungus, soap with a mark of 72% is suitable. Consider proven recipes:
- In the evening rub your nails with soapy washcloth for at least 15 minutes. Remove the affected areas by cutting them with scissors and sawing with a file. In the morning, wash your feet under the tap, dry and smear your nails with tar. Repeat every 2 days for 2 weeks.
- Prepare a solution of hot water, grated soap and soda. In the bath with the prepared product, steam the legs for 15-20 minutes. Trim and file damaged areas.
- For this recipe, you need to prepare a decoction of aspen bark: pour 100 g of chopped bark into 0.5 liters of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Steam in a foot bath for 20 minutes. Then dry your feet and grease your nails with a mixture of laundry soap and soda. To prepare the mixture, you need to rub a tablespoon of soap, add a teaspoon of soda, pour a little hot water and mix well.
Using acetic acid against fungus
To remove fungus from toenails, vinegar should be taken at 9%. There are several ways to use vinegar:
- For a therapeutic bath, you need to add a glass of vinegar to a bowl of water heated to 50 ° C. After steaming, dry your feet and put on cotton socks.
- To enhance the effect of treatment, you can spenda course of vinegar lotions. Moisten a piece of soft cloth with vinegar and place on the affected areas. Keep for 15-20 minutes. Repeat the procedure every 2 days until the fungus disappears.
- Acetic ointment. This recipe will require 70% vinegar. It is necessary to mix acetic acid, glycerin, vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate. Vinegar is taken in two parts, and the remaining components one at a time. Mix everything well and apply to the affected area for 8 hours, preferably at night. Wash your feet well in the morning.
Onion and garlic treatment
Onion and garlic for toenail fungus is considered a very powerful remedy. It is able to cope even with chronic onychomycosis. For treatment, it is better to choose recipes where onions and garlic are used in liquid form. So antifungal components penetrate the damaged areas more easily. There are several such recipes:
- Grate the onion and squeeze the juice. Before going to bed, the nail plates are processed with onion juice, socks are put on the feet. The product does not require rinsing.
- To prepare the tincture, you need 4 tablespoons of onion peel, pour 200 ml of vodka. After 14 days, the infusion will be ready. They lubricate sore nails several times a day.
- Garlic lotions are prepared from crushed garlic and softened butter, taken equally. The mixture is applied to the affected areas at night. The compress is fixed with a bandage. Socks are worn on top for more hold.
The disadvantage of these products is a persistent smell, especially in the case of garlic.
Using Peroxidehydrogen
First you need to steam your feet well in water with the addition of soda (a tablespoon of soda is taken on a kettle of hot water). The water temperature must be at least 50 °C. Place a cotton pad soaked in peroxide on the nails, wrap with plastic wrap on top. Keep the compress for an hour, and then remove and rinse with water. To have an effect, you need to do the procedure 3-4 times a day.
The use of baking soda in the treatment of onychomycosis
In the treatment of toenail fungus, soda acts as a softening agent for the nail plate. To make the remedy easier to penetrate into the affected tissues, they are soaked in hot baths with the addition of soda and laundry soap. Then the feet are dried with a towel and ointment, cream or other remedy is applied to the nails.
Celandine will clean nails from fungus
This herb has long been known for its antiparasitic properties. The sap of the plant is poisonous and has an antifungal effect. To treat toenail fungus with celandine, use the recipes:
- Squeeze juice from fresh grass and drip it on sore spots every 1-2 hours. Such treatment should be carried out within a month or until the fungus disappears.
- Baths are made with a decoction of dry herbs. For this, 100 g of herbs are poured with boiling water and infused for 20 minutes. The filtered broth is mixed with water one to one. Take a bath for about 20 minutes.
- Tincture of celandine with alcohol also successfully treats nail fungus. Dry celandine is poured with vodka and infused2 weeks. The proportions are taken one to two. Start treating the affected areas with 5 drops, gradually increasing to 20.
Using tea tree oil
In folk medicine, tea tree oil has been successfully used for toenail fungus. The legs are steamed in a hot bath. Add 20-25 drops of oil to the basin. You need to soak your feet in the bath for at least 20 minutes. The procedure is carried out once a day, the duration of the course is 30 days. There is another option for using tea tree. First you need to steam your legs in hot water with the addition of soda. Dry your feet and lubricate the affected areas with tea tree oil. It is recommended to apply the product 2 times a day.
Iodine
Iodine smears diseased nails with a cotton swab. The rest of the plates will also be useful to process for prevention purposes. Just use another cotton swab for this. Carry out the procedure 1-2 times a day.
Propolis tincture
Propolis tincture for toenail fungus can be prepared at home or bought ready-made. For self-preparation, you need to pour propolis with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 4. Let it brew for 2 weeks. Compresses are made from 20% of the tincture. To do this, moisten a cotton pad or swab in the tincture and apply it to the nail. The compress is fixed with a bandage. A day later, the old compress is changed to a new one.
Ammonia
Ammonia, or ammonia, can be found in any first aid kit. For treatment, you need to add 1 tablespoon to 1 glass of water.ammonia. Soak a cotton pad, swab or just a piece of cloth in this solution. Make a compress on sore nails at night.
Prevention of toenail fungus
Prophylaxis can prevent many diseases, including onychomycosis. Following these simple recommendations will help protect yourself from this disease:
- Use customized manicure tools. Disinfect them periodically.
- Don't wear someone else's shoes. It can be slippers at a party, common slates in the pool or bath.
- When trying on new shoes in the store, do not wear them barefoot.
- Wear shoes made from natural materials that allow the skin to breathe.
- Combat excessive sweaty feet with baby powder, foot products or oak bark.
- Strengthen your immune system, especially in spring and autumn. Eat more vegetables and fruits, spend hardening.
- Control your blood sugar levels. Diabetes can cause toenail fungus.
- Perform pedicures and other hygiene procedures on time.
- Wash your feet and change your socks daily.
- Always dry your feet after washing.
- Wear shoes for the weather. During warmer months, wear sandals, flip flops, or lightweight fabric shoes.
- Wash your shoes from the inside with laundry soap.
- Keep your bathroom clean. Keep mold out of there.
These simple tips will save you from toenail fungus, andfolk remedies will help to eliminate the disease in the early stages. If the situation is neglected, and folk remedies do not help for more than a month after the start of use, then it is better to turn to traditional medicine and visit a mycologist.
