Toenail fungus: folk remedies to get rid of it at home

A change in the color and thickness of the toenails can safely be considered the first sign of an infectious fungal disease - onychomycosis. At the initial stage there is still the possibility of doing without expensive drugs, the only important thing is to know which folk remedies against toenail 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 causing the disease

Onychomycosis is classified as an infectious disease, so the only way it manifests itself is through infection. This usually happens unnoticed and the first stage is almost asymptomatic. Even the appearance of slight flaking and small cracks on the nail plate rarely alarms a person. Typically, treatment begins when obvious signs of the disease are detected:

• change in nail color;
• plaque thickening;
• persistent itching at the base of the nail (sometimes between the toes).

It is easy to get a fungus - just come into contact with a sick loved one during joint trips to saunas and baths, fitness centers, using ordinary household items, for example, a bath mat or bed linen. Often the disease can be transmitted in public places such as swimming pools or water parks if treatment does not comply with 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 a high risk of infection, you should pay attention to the condition of your body. It is not advisable to take risks if:

1. The man recently caught a cold and his immune system has not fully recovered yet.
2. There is damage to the nails or feet.
3. There are doubts about the correct hygiene of the stick 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 disorders, but also to more serious diseases that may require surgery.

Modern medicine offers a wide choice of various antifungal drugs to get rid of this disease, but not everyone has the opportunity to purchase them due to their high cost. Traditional recipes for toenail fungus are no less effective when used correctly and cost much less.

Iodine treatment

Of all the options for treating mushrooms 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 plaque must be bathed with the drug daily until a healthy nail grows completely. For preventive purposes, healthy nails of 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 foot baths by adding the product to 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 need to do a test: apply a small amount of iodine to the skin and wait a few hours. Caution should be exercised when using iodine for people with thyroid disease.

Soda treatment

Baking soda is a fairly common means of fighting various infections. It is also useful for treating toenail fungus with folk remedies. It is recommended to use it in two doses.

The first is to steam your feet in the bathtub. To do this, prepare a solution: 1 tablespoon of baking soda per liter of warm 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 slurry (baking soda and a little water). The resulting mass is applied to the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe steamed nail plate and the wrapping method is used (you can use ordinary cling film). The duration of the procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. Therefore, feet should be rinsed with water to avoid irritation.

If the disease begins, treatment should be carried out every day. For the initial phase, two or three times a week are sufficient. The effect will be noticeable faster if you combine sodium bicarbonate treatment with medications. It usually takes about two months to completely eliminate the fungus, but even after complete recovery it is recommended to take sodium baths once a week to avoid relapses.

Alcohol tablets

A good way to defeat nail fungus is an alcoholic compress. This is done before going to bed and left overnight. Due to heating, the affected areas of the nail plate expand, making it easier for the disinfectant to penetrate inside. The ammonia compress is considered the most effective, but a regular one will also do. To correctly carry out the procedure you need:

1. Steam your feet.
2. Use a file to remove the dead top layer of the affected nail.
3. Treat with hydrogen peroxide.
4. Apply a cotton ball soaked in an alcohol solution to the nail.
5. Place it on your fingertips or wrap it in cling film.
6. In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with antifungal gel or cream.
7. Repeat the procedure every other day until the mycosis disappears completely.

To enhance the effect, pure alcohol can be replaced with tinctures based on it. A weekly compress of celandine filled with alcohol will help significantly speed up the treatment, and instead of antifungal cream you can use the juice of a fresh plant.

A compress with an alcoholic tincture 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 fungus on the nails, but also on the entire foot. Propolis has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which eliminate the use of other drugs after removing the compress.

Use Kombucha

A concentrated kombucha solution is very effective for treating foot fungus using folk remedies. The infusion has antibacterial properties and the higher the concentration, the better. An infusion of the mushroom 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 mushroom itself, rubbed into a paste.

In both the first and second methods, after the procedure, the dead layer of the nail should be cut off. At the end of the treatment it is necessary to disinfect both the nail itself and the instruments used.

Although kombucha is a completely natural remedy, it has some contraindications for use. I can't use:

• women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• alcoholics;
• people with diabetes and hepatitis;
• patients affected by HIV and AIDS.

In other cases, kombucha has established itself as one of the most effective methods for treating mycosis without the use of drugs.

Use of birch tar

The oldest way to get rid of foot fungus is birch tar. Its use has been known for a long time, but it has not lost its effectiveness. Tar can be used pure or you can make an ointment by mixing it with cream.

Before applying the substance, it is necessary to pre-treat the legs and nails, steam them and remove the dead parts. Then you can treat it with tar. A distinctive feature of this method is that access to air is required for the applied medicinal composition. The procedure lasts about two hours, so you should take care of a comfortable position of the body in advance.

A more modern method is to use tar soap. But it is more suitable for daily prevention of relapses of the disease than for treatment. In some cases, using soap can lead to allergic reactions and dry skin, so use it with caution. And even the unpleasant smell, very persistent for several hours, does not add any benefit to the product.

Don't rely entirely on tar treatment. It is best to use it as a natural remedy complementary to medications.

Salt and vinegar

Vinegar and salt are commonly used as aids against nail and toe fungus. Additionally, salt can be used for both marine and culinary purposes. It has strong antimicrobial properties and is well absorbed. Vinegar helps soften nails for further processing. Solutions are usually made with these ingredients. The solution recipe is very simple:

• 100 ml of vinegar (preferably apple vinegar);
• 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 also disinfect the entire surface of the feet.

Whatever folk remedy is used to combat toenail fungus, you should remember: if after two weeks the treatment has not given a visible result, you should immediately consult a doctor.