Fungal infection of the nail plate is an infectious disease caused by several types of harmful microorganisms. Since the fungus leads not only to deformation, but also, in case of complications, to nail rejection, it must be treated. Folk remedies for nail fungus are the safest and most effective treatment options for this disease.
Nail fungus and its signs
Before using folk remedies for nail fungus, you should make sure that this is it. Signs of onychomycosis do not appear immediately, but gradually. The first symptoms are almost always unnoticed, especially if the person has never experienced a similar problem before.
The main signs of this disease are itching on the skin of the palms and soles, and changes in the color of the nails. If you start therapy at this stage, it will be easy to heal. In addition to itching and changes in the shade of the nail plate, fragility appears, inflammation of the finger area near the nail is observed, as well as thickening of the skin around it.
Important! The pathological process should be diagnosed by a doctor, who will also tell you what folk remedies should be used to treat mycosis.
Causes of nail fungus
Depending on the type of lesion and its location, there are many causes. Nail fungus affects not only the feet, but also the hands. When one nail is infected, the sores spread to the other nails. This disease is contagious, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with the causes of its occurrence on the arms and legs.
By walking
Mycosis is a public disease, because it is most easily infected in places that are widely used:
- Infection can occur in swimming pools, saunas or bathhouses. Harmful microorganisms remain in the bathroom on the floor, on changing benches, and carpets. High humidity is a favorite environment for the life and reproduction of pathogenic fungi.
- At home in the bathroom. Even if a person does not visit a swimming pool or wash in a public shower at work, this will not protect him from infection. If there is already an infection carrier in the family, the use of one towel, wipe and soap becomes the cause of family infection. Bathroom mats, shower grates and unwashed bathtubs can also be a source of infection.
- At the pedicure session. Manicurists and pedicurists are required to sterilize their instruments after each use. If this rule is ignored, the customer may be infected not only with fungus, but also get additional skin problems.
- When trying on shoes. Not all stores and retail stores regulate the process of trying on shoes when buying them. When choosing a new pair, you should try them on with socks, because the possibility of problems with nails and skin in the form of fungus increases.
- When walking barefoot on the beach. Particles from the feet of infected patients remain on the sand, and when walking barefoot, healthy people can become infected with onchemycosis.
In hand
Before you think about how to get rid of nail fungus using folk remedies, you should familiarize yourself with the reasons for its occurrence. The palms of the hands do not come into contact with the causative agents of the disease as often as the feet, so the route of infection to the nail plate on the hands will be different. The most common include:
- disorders of the endocrine glands, the presence of severe blood diseases that lead to complications;
- increased level of sweat in the palms;
- long-term use of antibacterial agents or drugs against malignant tumors;
- the presence of chronic gastrointestinal disease, which leads to a weakening of the body's resistance to various microorganisms;
- the formation of damage during professional activities, housework;
- manicure with non-sterile instruments.
How can adults and children get rid of fungus?
Depending on the form of the disease being treated, the therapy may be different. At the first manifestation on the skin of the hands or feet, or toenails, you should consult a pediatrician if it is a child, a therapist or a dermatologist if it is an adult.
The specialist will prescribe the necessary medicine. These include tablets and ointments. In addition, many of them recommend folk remedies for nail fungus. This method is no less effective and helps to fight the problem, although it is an advanced version.
Important! Therapy requires an integrated approach, as this makes getting rid of lesions easier. Therefore, along with the listed methods, hardware treatment options are practiced.
Folk medicine recipes
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies occurs after consultation with a doctor. After diagnosis and tests, the specialist takes into account the individual needs of the patient and prescribes the appropriate medication. It is not worth practicing independent treatment, because ignorance of some features of the disease and the presence of allergies to some components of the medicine or folk methods will lead to complications.
Vinegar and egg essence
Vinegar and other acids destroy microorganisms that trigger the development of fungi. Therefore, vinegar essence or ordinary table 9% is quite often used in treatment. Bathing with it can help even with advanced forms. They use it to make baths, lotions, and prepare ointments. The most effective remedy with this component is an ointment, which includes chicken eggs with butter. Making homemade ointment:
- Wash one egg and put it in a container so that it does not touch the wall or peek out.
- Pour not with vinegar, but with vinegar essence (70%).
- Place in a dark place for a few days, by which time the shell will dissolve completely.
- Remove the film from the resulting composition, then mix with the essence.
- Add a spoonful of butter, beat.
Apply the mixture to the affected area before going to bed. To enhance the effect, roll it back with a bandage. Treat with it for at least a month and a half or until the problem is completely eliminated.
To prepare the second recipe, you also need essence (1 tablespoon) with eggs, as well as dimethyl phthalate (1 teaspoon). Mix all the components and leave in a cool place for 24 hours. The resulting ointment can also be used before going to bed. After application, wear gloves or socks, depending on the location of the lesion. The result after daily use of the composition should appear after 3-4 weeks.
Peroxide and vinegar
Fungal nail disease can also be treated with vinegar and peroxide. With the help of this composition, it is removed from the skin in 1 week. For preparation, 3% hydrogen peroxide and the same vinegar are used. It is necessary to mix these solutions in equal quantities. If a 3% vinegar solution is not available, it is appropriate to dilute a 9% solution with water in a ratio of 1 to 3.
Before using the resulting liquid, it should prepare the surface. Hands or feet should be washed with antibacterial soap and nails, if any, should be trimmed. Apply the solution using a cotton pad. Remove it from the nail plate only after stopping the hissing process, which is characteristic of peroxide. Afterwards, wash your feet and hands and lubricate the affected area with tea tree essential oil. Although this recipe is quite effective, it will take a month for your nails to grow back.
tea mushroom
Previously, kombucha was popular and found in almost every home. Although not currently relevant, it is an effective folk remedy in the fight against fungus. It has an antibacterial effect. For the first treatment option, not the liquid is used, but the mushroom itself. A small piece is applied to the affected area, wrapped in a bandage or plastic bag. Leave it like this until it dries or in the morning. For preventive purposes, in addition to the lotion, the kombucha liquid itself is also used. In addition to lotions, kombucha is used in other ways. To do this, it needs to be crushed and rubbed into the affected nails or skin on the feet or hands. Do this at least twice a day.
The next option involves the presence of kombucha infusion for three months. The liquid in which the mushrooms float is also used as a solution for lotions. It must first be filtered and boiled for at least 40 minutes.
Important! It is not recommended to use this option for pregnant and lactating women, those suffering from diabetes or alcohol, because this mushroom contains alcohol.
Treatment with laundry soap
Another home option to eliminate fungus involves using laundry soap. Although experts consider this option not very effective, it is still used as a supplement. Laundry soap has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
It helps to soften the nails during the bath, which facilitates the subsequent nail treatment process. To increase the effect, tar and vinegar are used together with soap. You can speed up the healing process by using the following options for using the product:
- wash your feet or hands with laundry soap 2 times a day (morning and evening);
- steam your feet with a little dishwashing soap for at least 20 minutes (one tablespoon of soap per liter of hot water);
- soap your feet, wait 20 minutes.
After the presented manipulation, the skin and nail plate soften, which facilitates its processing.
Birch tar and tar soap
Birch tar and its derivatives, often soaps, are used to solve cosmetic problems. This includes increased oil on the skin, occurrence of blackheads, and this also includes nail fungus. Previously, birch tar was used to remove skin lesions by lubricating the skin and nails with it. But before doing this, it is worth steaming it in soapy water or another solution. After removing the dead skin using a pumice stone, nail file or scissors, the tar is applied with cotton and left for several hours without a bandage.
In addition to using it in its pure form, you can prepare an ointment based on it. For this you need baby cream and tar. Mix in equal quantities. Also use by applying to the required area. Leave the ointment for 2 hours, then wash your feet (hands) in warm water.
Another way to cure fungal infections is also to make tar ointment. To prepare it you need badger fat or cream, sulfur powder and tar. The mixture consists of two parts tar and one part fat and sulphur. Mix all this until well combined. To facilitate the process, heat it in a water bath. Apply the resulting composition to the nail and cover with a band-aid.
A folk remedy for treating nail fungus involves the use of tar soap. With it, like household items, you can make baths and lotions. It also has antibacterial properties. Tar soap and ointment based on it are effective products, but their significant drawback is a specific smell, as well as some limitations.
Important! Soap and ointment should not be used if the patient has sensitive or dry skin or has allergic manifestations.
Iodine solution against fungi
Iodine is used to combat the growth of microorganisms on nails and skin. It helps to get rid of unpleasant odors and itching. To get the effect of this medicine, you should use it systematically for one or two months.
To get rid of fungal infections, you need to take a 5% solution and apply it twice a day. They also make baths with it, adding it to hot water. This procedure lasts at least 15 minutes, and after that, hydrogen peroxide is applied to the damaged nail.
Lotion is made using iodine solution. For preparation you need nitrofungin with garlic juice, iodine and vinegar essence. Mix everything in equal quantities, stir and apply to the skin area that has been steamed overnight. Also, with this composition, the affected nail area can be easily removed.
Important! After using files, scissors and other objects to remove the lesion, it is necessary to disinfect. This is necessary to eliminate the possibility of re-infection.
Potassium permanganate solution
The easiest way to disinfect surfaces is to treat them with potassium permanganate. This product allows you to use it for both lotion and bath. The easiest way is to take a moistened cotton, dip it in manganese and treat the skin and nails.
- To prepare an antimicrobial bath you need half a liter of vinegar and 10 grams of manganese. Dissolve all this in 10 liters of boiled hot water. Keep your feet or hands in this liquid for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure until recovery occurs.
- For the lotion, add half a teaspoon of liquid potassium permanganate to a glass of water. Add some lemon juice here. Wet a napkin or cotton pad with this solution and apply it to the wound. Put on socks after wrapping the area. Keep the lotion for at least a quarter of an hour.
Essential oil lotion
Traditional treatment methods are not exhaustive, and everyone can choose a more effective option for themselves. Oils, essential and other, are used for various purposes, but have also proven themselves as effective solutions for fungal problems. Onychomycosis is eliminated by using tea tree oil, lemon, eucalyptus, mint, thymol and pine. Also castor oil, avocado oil, coconut oil.
The first solution for lotion consists of a little vinegar and eucalyptus oil. Leave the composition for three days and store in a cool place after use. Lubricate the nails and affected skin with it. Use until symptoms disappear. No less common is a mixture of two oils - tea tree and lemon. This composition will quickly return your nails to their previous state.
Important! Using tea tree oil often causes the nail plate to darken.
Take a bath and compress with table or sea salt
The simplest and most effective remedy against fungus consists of sea or table salt. In addition, you need iodine with soda, essential oils, garlic water and more. For the first bath, you need to mix a glass of soda with a liter of water, two spoons of salt and iodine solution.
The next option requires the use of essential oils, which have a calming effect and disinfecting properties. For 100 grams of salt you need 6 drops of oil. Chamomile, eucalyptus, juniper are suitable. Lotions are also made with salt. The solution requires a tablespoon of sea or table salt, the same as garlic juice. Dissolve all this in a glass of water. Apply to the nail plate and skin twice a day.
Important! Sea salt baths are effective even for advanced forms of the disease.
mummy
This pharmaceutical drug has a wide range of application and action. Its rich composition allows you to get rid of the signs of onychomycosis. But a significant drawback is that it can cause allergic reactions. This drug has a negative effect on fungal growth by activating various processes. They allow you to destroy pathogenic microorganisms without unnecessary pain and trouble. This drug allows you to restore the natural processes of the natural skin, which leads to the rapid healing of lesions on the legs and arms.
Cheap and effective medicine
The best medicine for the treatment of mycosis is the one that is suitable for a particular patient. If we are talking about the early form of the disease, then the simplest and cheapest way is suitable for therapy. These include lotions with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and iodine solution. The best foot bath with hands is when adding sea salt or ordinary table salt, also with the same potassium or permanganate of iodine.
Despite the cheapness and ease of preparation, the use of this option leads to the rapid achievement of its effect. The more advanced the form, the lower the possibility of eliminating the manifestation of the disease. In this case, you can not do without using drugs.
Important! When using folk remedies, the main condition is systematic use.
Reviews
After people see the manifestation of the disease, they often do not go to the doctor for a consultation, but go to the forum and read the reviews of those who have solved their problem. This option is suitable if the patient is at least somewhat knowledgeable about the treatment.
There is a lot of information and videos on the Internet on the topic of onychomycosis and its therapy. Each of them is effective in certain cases. If we are talking about advanced forms of the disease, traditional treatment options will not work. Therefore, it is advisable to stop using alternative medicine before an examination by a specialist takes place.
Prevention of nail fungus
A good way to eliminate onychomycosis is prevention. The fight against disease begins with the following recommendations:
- refuse to walk barefoot on the beach;
- use rubber slippers when using bathrooms and showers in widely used places, saunas and showers;
- try on shoes while shopping in socks;
- prefer socks made of cotton fabric;
- pushing other people's shoes;
- do not use other people's personal hygiene products;
- keep your feet dry;
- monitor your health status, because fungal diseases appear against the background of general malaise.
Important! Compliance with preventive measures is also necessary after treatment, because after recovery the patient has an increased risk of relapse.
Conclusion: Folk remedies for the treatment of nail plate fungus are effective methods that even experienced experts consider. Therefore, it is actively used not only at the initial signs of the disease, but also in advanced forms of nail fungus. Watch a video from a user: how to quickly get rid of nail fungus.