Nail fungus is an infection by microorganisms. The disease is called onychomycosis. Since the disease does not lead to a deterioration in well-being, and many effective recipes are known, it is natural that many people treat nail fungus at home with folk remedies.
The symptoms of fungus are familiar to many - thickening or thinning of the nail, splitting, and discoloration. Spots of different shades form on the plate - white, pink, gray. They grow and can cover the entire surface. To prevent the microorganism from spreading to all nails and skin, prompt action is necessary.
Methods for treating fungus
First of all, you need to examine the nail plates and get rid of the damaged parts. In addition, preventive measures are taken to prevent fungi from spreading further. To do this, wash the lower limbs every day, wear clean socks and use individual manicure equipment, towels and do not wear someone else’s shoes.
Regardless of the methods used, you should first make soap and soda baths to clean your nails. This should be done once every seven days for six months. Pour soda into hot water and mix it with laundry soap. Then keep your feet in this bath for no more than 20 minutes.
Tea tree oil is also an effective treatment as it cleanses the nails. It should not be diluted. Oil is dripped under the nail with a pipette and an adhesive plaster is placed on this place.
After effective cleansing, you can start using pharmaceutical drugs against fungus or use recipes offered by traditional medicine. They may be more effective, inexpensive and have no side effects. They optimally combine quality and affordability.
If you listen to the advice provided by official medicine, then it is necessary to treat this disease with medications. The product can be used externally or internally. Only medications should be prescribed by a doctor and should be used under his supervision. When treating nail fungus with folk recipes, it is not necessary to have a doctor’s permission.
Basic principles of traditional treatment of mycosis
Traditional methods of treating nail fungus allow you to quickly and effectively cope with this disease without causing harm to the body. It is also worth noting the fact that the means used are absolutely harmless and can be used even in the early stages, thereby stopping the symptoms and progression of the disease.
But despite all the effectiveness of alternative treatment, you need to adhere to the following principles:
- Procedures should be carried out regularly until complete recovery, otherwise unpleasant symptoms will soon return.
- During treatment, the patient should avoid visiting public bathing areas.
- It is necessary to wash your feet daily and clean off dead skin and nails using personal hygiene products.
- You need to dry your shoes every day and change your insoles regularly.
- You should keep your feet dry, as the fungus actively multiplies in a humid and warm environment.
It is also worth noting that some folk remedies help relieve unpleasant symptoms during treatment, while others remove the fungus from the body, so sometimes they need to be used in combination.
There should be no sores on your hands
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By looking at the condition of the hands, you can determine the status of a person, so you need to take care of them so that fungal infections do not appear and cannot spread.
Comprehensive treatment will be the best solution to get rid of the fungus. However, the patient should not expect that the disease will leave him in one day. Only patient, regular procedures will promote recovery. But if the patient refuses to follow the rules for treating the fungus, a relapse may occur.
There are many different medications for the problem, designed specifically for the hands. As for traditional methods, recipes for getting rid of fungus on the hands can also be used for the feet. You can learn about them by reading the article to the end.
Reviews from patients who have dealt with fungus
Many folk remedies for nail fungus are very effective. This is confirmed by numerous reviews. Patients in their responses to certain prescriptions recommend:
- adhere to the regular use of the course of treatment, do not stop doing the procedures, even if they need to be carried out daily for several months. Otherwise, there is a possibility of allowing the disease to spread further;
- use a combination of several remedies against the disease. In this case, the fungus can be affected from different sides by different mechanisms. This helps to achieve maximum effect and speedy recovery.
Despite the fact that folk recipes have gone through thick and thin and really help get rid of fungus, you should not choose a recipe yourself.
You should definitely consult your doctor. He will recommend the most effective remedy that can be prepared at home.
Our whole life is spent on our feet.
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A person’s entire life is spent on their feet, so they bear a huge load and few people think about the fact that their feet require special attention. If hygiene is not observed, an infection will develop and a fungus will appear. But until this problem is resolved, you will have to feel discomfort and possibly pain. Since there are enough methods to eliminate this defect, there is no need to delay.
You can use folk recipes or seek qualified help from a dermatologist before starting treatment. However, there will be no harm from using home medicine. Perhaps a cosmetic defect may occur if the patient uses some strong remedy, but this is temporary and will pass quickly. But it is better not to use potent ingredients without consulting a doctor.
How to treat with vinegar?
You can get rid of a fungal infection with vinegar. To carry out 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 remedy - baths with the addition of apple cider vinegar, which are performed 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 component ratio. When treating a fungal infection, moisten 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 treatment methods, 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.
When preparing vinegar-based products, vinegar essence can be used, previously diluted with water to the desired concentration.
The fastest way against nail fungus
A fairly popular medicine for fungal infections is iodine. If you treat the affected areas of the nails for ten days, you can get rid of this problem.
If the patient cannot tolerate the intense burning sensation, then he does not need to continue treatment and use this method. There are other equally effective ways to help eliminate this disease.
Self-cure of nail fungus can be done with useful products. These include propolis. An alcoholic propolis tincture is made. Then the diseased nails are treated. This procedure allows you to:
- Eliminate fungal infections.
- Get your nails in order.
- Buy a new, healthy nail plate.
The first signs of nail fungus should be treated with the following steps:
- Prepare a soap bath with laundry soap. The water must be hot.
- Then the legs are steamed and the affected part is cleaned using pumice and manicure accessories.
- After the procedure, you should wipe off the moisture from your feet. This must be done carefully.
- Birch tar is applied to the affected areas. This composition should not be washed off until about two hours have passed.
- Then you should take cotton wool and wipe the treated areas.
After all these actions, you should not walk barefoot. You must be sure to wear socks. The next day, you can place your feet in warm water and wash them using laundry soap.
How to recognize the disease?
Nail fungus is not difficult to identify, especially in the initial stages. First, spots appear that differ in color from the main color of the nails. They may be yellow or brown depending on the type of infection. In addition, the following symptoms of fungus-affected nail plates may occur:
- deformation;
- fragility;
- pain;
- itching;
- unpleasant smell.
Nails may crumble or peel, and over time they begin to become deformed, especially if not properly treated. The disease not only negatively affects the appearance of the nails, but also causes discomfort. It becomes difficult to walk in shoes or even barefoot. If there is an unpleasant odor, it means that the process of necrosis of the tissues surrounding the diseased nail has begun. With such inflammation, urgent medical attention is required. First of all, it is necessary to prevent the development of infection. If nail fungus is detected, treatment at home includes many methods, the selection of which depends on the degree of progression and neglect of the disease.
How to treat nail fungus with folk remedies
This unpleasant disease has the property of mutation, so it is able to survive in any conditions. Its constant variability contributes to the development of immunity to various drugs. But if you turn to traditional methods for help, you can achieve more results. Here we will offer several anti-fungal options to quickly eliminate fungal inflammation or prevent it.
Use of Kombucha. This component has become an effective and excellent treatment. It can be used as a compress. Affected areas can be cured with kombucha. The plate is placed on the fingers and then a film is placed, which is secured with socks. The patient should be aware of the pain of this procedure. But it's worth being patient with. The compress should remain in place until the morning. Then it is washed off and iodine is applied to the affected areas.
Herbal mixture for internal use. To get rid of fungi completely, you should carry out not only external procedures, but also take the medicine internally. You can remove infections from the body with herbal infusions. To do this take:
- Verbena officinalis.
- Oak bark.
- Calendula.
- Blackberry.
The proportions of herbs should be equal. The total weight is ten grams. The plants are mixed and brewed with boiling water. After this, put on fire and boil for a quarter of an hour. You need to take the resulting drug 5 ml several times during the day. You can make lotions with herbal remedies.
Lotions for nail fungus with mint salt. Take fresh mint and salt. Mix these two ingredients 1:1. Then this composition can be applied to the sore spot and kept for an hour. This method against the fungus must be used every day until the disease completely disappears.
Golden mustache against nail fungus. Many people know about this indoor plant. In this case, it should be filled with alcohol. You can use vodka (500 ml). You need to fill the container with golden mustache, then fill it with alcohol. When a week has passed, the tincture will be ready. When using, add water to the solution in a ratio of one to three.
You can prepare lilac against fungi. Also, lilac flowers need to be infused with alcohol or vodka for two weeks. The prepared solution can be used to wipe off sore nails.
But from the unique medicinal flower Kolanchoe, you do not need to make any tinctures to treat the disease. It can be used immediately without preparation or mixing. To do this, take a fresh leaf and apply it to the affected area. Then secure it with a band-aid.
It is better to do this before going to bed so that the juice of the leaves is absorbed under the skin. There are no side effects from using this biologically active product.
You can also carry out therapeutic procedures with your favorite aromatic drink - freshly brewed coffee. There is no need to put sugar in coffee. It is necessary to brew enough of this drink so that you can half fill a basin with it and place your feet in it. There will be no itching sensation and the thickening will disappear. The recipe is very simple to prepare.
Garlic helps in the treatment of many diseases. With the help of this unique plant, many diseases are cured, including fungal ones. Garlic can be used to make a decoction or tea that you can drink. The fresh product is used in the form of compresses. They are applied to the affected areas.
Poplar buds have antifungal properties. To prepare the tincture, the buds should be infused with vodka. On the eleventh day, the tincture can be used to treat affected skin and nails. The compress is left overnight. In the morning, your nails will become softer. Some time after treatment, a new healthy nail will begin to grow.
What are the most effective options?
Is it possible to cure onychomycosis only with the help of alternative medicine? To cure nail fungus quickly with folk remedies, you should definitely combine unconventional methods with medications prescribed by a specialist. Otherwise, if only traditional treatment recipes are used, toenail fungus becomes chronic, since its causative agent can only be neutralized with the application of pharmaceutical drugs.
Traditional treatment for toenail fungus involves the use of the following plants and other products:
- iodine treatment;
- vinegar applications;
- onion compresses;
- coffee grounds, garlic compresses;
- applying propolis;
- kerosene treatments;
- Birch tar;
- novocaine;
- essential oils;
- tea mushroom;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- apricot resin.
The listed remedies for toenail fungus are the most popular.
Vinegar treatment options
This product neutralizes the activity of fungal spores, since they do not tolerate an acidic environment. To achieve results, you need to choose the right concentration of the product used. To quickly treat fungus on toenails with folk remedies, it is recommended to use 70% vinegar essence or 9% acetic acid. You should not use more saturated formulations, as they can cause a burn to the epidermis.
How to cure fungus at home using vinegar:
- Baths. Heat water, pour half a glass of solution. The volume of liquid in the container should be ankle-deep. Steam for 10 minutes every other day. After the bath, dry your skin thoroughly and put on clean cotton socks.
- Lotions or applications are recommended after the previous procedure. To do this, soak a cotton pad or gauze folded in several layers in 9% vinegar and apply for 15 minutes.
- Ointment. To create an ointment, you should prepare vinegar, glycerin, vegetable oil (linseed, corn), dimethyl phtholate. All ingredients are taken in equal parts and mixed. Lubricate the nail plate with the finished ointment and wash it off with laundry soap after 7–9 hours.
Treatment with vegetable juices
Onions and garlic have long been used to get rid of many infectious processes in the body. The simplest method of using these vegetables is to treat the affected plate with freshly squeezed juice. You can squeeze out a clove of garlic, mix it with water and salt in equal proportions, apply it as an application for two to three hours, and then wash it off with laundry soap.
Sakania Luiza Ruslanovna
Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, trichologist
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Mix freshly squeezed garlic juice with natural medical alcohol. Lubricate damaged areas morning and evening.
How to cure fungus using horseradish root:
- Grind the root of the raw material using a grater, meat grinder or blender.
- Apply in the form of an application to the affected area, wrap with a bandage, apply at night, and rinse in the morning.
Using Tree Resin
This recipe is unusual, but effective. Remove the resin from the bark of the apricot tree, pour it with moonshine or vodka in the proportions of 1 tbsp. l. resin per 1 glass of alcohol-containing liquid. Let it sit for several days.
Lubricate the damaged area with the prepared mixture. The therapeutic effect lasts one month.
Application of essential oils
Recipes based on essential oils are popular because they are convenient to use and work quickly. Such substances have a cleansing, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and restorative effect. This is how pathogenic flora is destroyed.
There are many methods of using essential oils:
- Steaming. Pour hot water into a bowl, add a few drops of ylang-ylang oil, lavender, rosemary, tea tree (optional). Wash the skin, dry it well, and place it in a container. The session lasts a quarter of an hour.
- Applications. Heat the essential oil and mix with a small amount of warm liquid. Apply the composition to cotton wool or a folded piece of bandage, secure with a gauze bandage. After this procedure, the plate becomes soft and elastic, it is easy to cut and clean with a nail file or buff.
If you are not allergic to tea tree oil, apply it to the sore spot. It is not necessary to rinse off. Before applying, thoroughly steam the lower limbs.
Hydrogen peroxide and novocaine
To stop the activity of pathogen spores, hydrogen peroxide is used. First, steam the skin in heated water with a pinch of baking soda. Cut off part of the plate and apply a cotton pad pre-soaked in peroxide to it. Keep for about an hour. Conduct such sessions twice during the day. The duration is not limited until the problem gets rid of.
Peroxide-based baths are made. Heat the water to 55 degrees, add 2 tbsp. l. peroxide per 1 liter of hot liquid. Steam after waking up and before going to bed, steaming duration is 15 minutes. Treatment is carried out for a week. You can also mix peroxide with baking soda: take a liter of water, pour in two tablespoons of peroxide, add 1⁄2 cup of soda. Apply the resulting mixture onto a cotton pad and attach it to the affected area with a band-aid. This compress needs to be changed after 10 hours. Therapy lasts 30 days.
Mix peroxide in equal quantities with vinegar and apply the mixture for two minutes. Rinse off the liquid with running water. Treat with tea tree oil. Repeat the session daily for seven days.
You can get rid of onychomycosis through applications based on Novocaine. Moisten a cotton pad with novocaine and attach it to the affected area. Keep it for half an hour. Repeat until completely cured.
Healing properties of propolis
Propolis is a universal product for the treatment of many pathological processes. Under its influence, pathogenic flora is destroyed, it has fungicidal, antibacterial and wound-healing properties, and suppresses the activity of the causative agent of onychomycosis. After using this option, unpleasant symptoms are eliminated. There are different ways to use:
- Alcohol tincture is applied to cotton wool and applied to the damaged area. Cover with a dry cotton pad and bandage your finger. Keep the compress for a day. Then remove it, remove the softened layer of the plate. Treat with a nail file. Repeat all manipulations again.
- Apply a piece of propolis to pre-steamed fingertips. Session duration is 30 minutes. Apply morning and evening for 30 days.
- Grind the propolis (grate or grind in a meat grinder), add an antifungal pharmaceutical agent to the pulp. Such components enhance each other's effectiveness.
Baths made from bee products. Propolis tincture is added to the water (20 drops per 3 liters of liquid). Place the limbs in a container with liquid for a quarter of an hour, at the end of the session, wipe the skin dry, and finally wipe with peroxide.
Treatment of onychomycosis with propolis lasts three months. If the patient feels relief, the symptoms become less pronounced, there is no need to interrupt therapy. Otherwise, this is fraught with relapse of the disease. If all the rules of therapy are followed, you can completely recover from the disease.
Use of celandine
The plant is recommended to be used fresh. Celandine is known for its bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects. Its juice helps neutralize the action of the causative agent of onychomycosis. Grind the above-ground parts of the plant in a blender, squeeze out the juice from the pulp through several layers of gauze. Apply a cotton swab soaked in celandine to the affected area.
You can anoint it with juice and let it soak in. They also do foot baths. For this:
- take dry raw materials;
- pour boiling water over the above-ground part of the plant;
- Place in a container with boiling water, put on low heat, and simmer for several minutes;
- let it cool, strain.
Use the prepared solution for foot baths. Session duration is 20 minutes. Repeat twice a day.
Using other options
Alternative therapy suggests fighting the disease by treating the nail plates with iodine, kerosene, and kombucha. Such substances reduce the severity of symptoms of the disease.
Applications made from coffee grounds help get rid of itching and discomfort, and stop the proliferation of pathogen spores. Treatment with birch tar prevents further development of pathology.
Dermatologists recommend combining drug treatment and alternative therapy options. If only alternative medicine is used, it is not always effective. The condition worsens, the pathological process becomes chronic. You can use any recipes only after prior consultation with a dermatologist.
You can ask your question to our author:
How to treat nail fungus with vinegar
It is difficult for fungal formations to exist in an environment where there is high acidity. The fungicidal effect can be achieved using regular table vinegar and natural apple cider vinegar. It is best to use the second option.
To prepare a healing bath, you need to pour hot water (3 liters) and table vinegar 9% (half a liter). Then you need to place your feet there for a quarter of an hour and then dry them with a towel. To enhance the effect, you should go to bed with cotton socks soaked in vinegar.
Use pure or mixed apple cider vinegar as a lotion. For dilution, use vegetable oil in an amount of one to one. Pure apple cider vinegar and vegetable oil in a one to one ratio make an excellent composition for lotions. Gauze is soaked in it, which is wrapped around the fingers and secured with an adhesive plaster. To avoid burning your skin, do not touch it with gauze.
The use of iodine in the treatment of toenail fungus
One of the means to help fight toenail fungus is iodine solution. Removing infection with iodine is quite easy. In addition, this destruction method is inexpensive and accessible to everyone.
Most experts in traditional methods of treatment recommend starting treatment for the infection with an iodine solution, which is most likely due to the availability of this remedy and its widespread use. Medical iodine solution has pronounced 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 nail.
To treat foot fungus at home using an 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 using a cotton swab or cotton swab. It is best to drip the drug solution directly onto the nail plate.
Important addition: Pityriasis versicolor: how to use the drug in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor?
The use of iodine in the treatment of fungal infections can accelerate 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 fungus is to use baths with this medicine.
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, damaged tissue is removed from the affected areas without causing injury to 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 evening, and the course of treatment lasts more than two weeks.
Preparations for nail fungus
To achieve a faster and more severe effect, only under the supervision of a doctor, you should use medications. Although there are components in pharmacies that do not pose a danger. They can be used independently. For example: potassium permanganate and eucalyptus.
In this case, prepare a bath with the addition of potassium permanganate and vinegar. Add vinegar and potassium permanganate in very small quantities to hot water. The resulting composition is mixed and used against foot fungus every day for a week.
Nails will acquire a full radiance if they are treated with eucalyptus ointment, which is prepared with essential oil (40 g), honey (15 g), apple cider vinegar (1 tsp). The resulting ointment should be refrigerated for about three days. Then it can be used until a healthy nail plate appears.
What causes fungus to appear? There are various bacteria and fungi on our skin. Only in a natural acidic environment do they not have the opportunity to reproduce and damage the epidermis. When the normal acid-base balance of the skin changes, onychomycosis begins to develop. This occurs for the following reasons. When a person:
- wears low-quality and tight shoes to save money;
- does not maintain personal hygiene;
- has a weakened immune system, due to constant consumption of antibiotics or for other reasons;
- often sweats, but does not have the opportunity for frequent hygiene procedures;
- constantly takes antibacterial agents without thinking about the consequences and side effects.
From uncontrolled use of medications, the body's microflora is disrupted and dyspeptic diarrhea is formed.
Prevention of fungal nail infections
Infection occurs when pathogenic fungi come into direct contact with the skin and nails of a person susceptible to infection.
If there is no predisposition to the disease, no metabolic disorders, and the immune system is strong enough, then mycosis will not develop.
Also, you can reduce the risk of onychomycosis if you follow simple rules and do not neglect personal hygiene:
- do not wear tight shoes;
- walk in the sauna, bathhouse, swimming pools only in flip-flops;
- wear socks made from natural materials and change them every day;
- never use someone else's shoes;
- wipe your feet dry after bathing or showering;
- keep your feet dry at all times.
If you follow each of these rules, the risk of developing the disease will decrease.
How to treat nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide
This component neutralizes the action of microbes and creates an unfavorable environment for the development of various infections. In addition, peroxide promotes the rapid removal of old damaged tissue. The following treatment is necessary: treat the affected areas with a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide until the defect is eliminated.
If you use this component together with other remedies, then the sores will heal faster. During treatment procedures, it is imperative to strictly observe hygiene. The skin at this time is especially delicate and can be easily damaged, so you should not make sudden movements so as not to damage young tissue.
Homemade ointments
One of the most effective folk remedies for nail fungus is homemade ointments. Their undoubted advantage is that most of the necessary components can be found in any housewife’s kitchen, and preparing the product will take no more than 15 minutes.
If the nail plates are affected by fungus, it is recommended to use the following remedies:
- vinegar based ointment. A medium-sized chicken egg must be broken into a glass (along with the shell) and pour the resulting vinegar (75%). The glass is removed to infuse for 24 hours in a dark place. After this time, the shell will dissolve, it is necessary to remove the film that appears on top of the liquid, and leave everything else in the glass. To the result you need to add 15 grams. butter, mix everything and again remove the medicine to infuse in a dark place. The next day the antifungal ointment will be ready. It must be applied to the affected areas daily until the signs of pathology completely disappear;
- ointment with vinegar and glycerin. For preparation you will need: olive oil, glycerin capsules, dimethyl phthalate (a tablespoon) and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. All components must be thoroughly mixed and the prepared mixture should be placed in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. After this time, the medicine will be ready for use; it must be applied to the nail plate before bed. Rub the ointment into the affected areas, cover the top with a plastic bag and put on a sock. When you wake up in the morning, you need to remove the remaining product and wash your limbs with laundry soap.
Other recipes
To quickly get rid of the lesion, you can use other recipes:
- You need to squeeze the juice out of a fresh tangerine and treat your nails with it twice a day (morning and evening). The duration of such treatment is 30 days;
- Salt has proven itself very well against nail fungus. A tablespoon of table salt should be crushed along with 5 mint leaves. Apply the resulting mass to the affected nail, secure with a bandage and leave to act for an hour;
- Nail plates can be lubricated with low-fat sour cream. This treatment will help eliminate itching and burning.
Reviews of patients who overcame their illness
Based on numerous reviews, it became clear that it is necessary to use traditional methods. Feedback confirms how effective homemade products are. Only the patient must be constantly treated, not neglect the treatment of nail fungus and not skip more than one procedure.
If you adhere to the prescribed prescription, the disease will not be able to develop and affect new tissues. The maximum effect will be achieved if the defect is treated comprehensively. You shouldn’t stop, fungi need to be completely eliminated, so you need to be treated regularly. You can combine some medications with folk remedies only after consulting a specialist.
Many people suffer from excessive sweating. This causes microorganisms to develop. It is necessary to fight sweating to avoid unpleasant consequences. To get rid of sweating, you can use cosmetic preparations. You can also powder your feet with starch. It will not only eliminate redness and itching, but also stop sweating.
In any case, a doctor’s advice will not hurt, but will help you avoid making mistakes when using treatment methods.
Antifungal drugs
You need to know how to quickly cure toenail fungus, because it is not always possible to consult a doctor. Therapy includes the use of antifungal medications by mouth and medications that are applied directly to the damaged nail. Antimycotic ointments, gels, and varnishes help destroy the fungal mycelium in the nail plate scales, eliminating the risks of re-infection and spread of onychomycosis. The use of systemic and local antifungal therapy is considered mandatory, the rest of the treatment is optional.
Antifungal ointments
At the first symptoms of the disease, ointments help fight fungus on the toenails. The main purpose of using local preparations is to destroy mold and yeast fungi that are on the surface of the nail plate. Based on the recommendations of dermatologists, the rating of ointments for onychomycosis is headed by:
- Clotrimazole. An effective drug that is applied 2-3 times a day to the affected nail area and nearby areas of the foot. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of neglect of the disease. The disadvantages of the ointment include contraindication for use in all trimesters of pregnancy.
- Ketoconazole. An inexpensive medicine that quickly kills the fungus. Apply the ointment to the affected areas 1 time/day. The course of therapy lasts from 4 to 6 weeks. Disadvantages of use - possible side effects in the form of itching, burning, local swelling.
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Pills
Treatment of toenails with systemic medications is carried out with multiple antifungal drugs. It is not difficult to buy them at any pharmacy, and the most popular among them are:
- Terbinafine. The tablets help quickly cure the infection thanks to the active substance of the same name. Terbinafine stops the proliferation of fungal cells, which leads to their death. You need to take the drug 250 mg/day for 2-6 weeks. The disadvantage of use is a large list of contraindications.
- Fluconazole. The drug helps cure onychomycosis in 1-2 weeks, as it is characterized by pronounced antifungal activity. The daily dosage varies from 200 to 400 mg per day, depending on the stage of nail damage. A negative effect may occur if the drug is taken incorrectly: abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence.
Lucky
Effective therapy for fungal infections of the nail plate is carried out with special varnishes. The advantage of this antifungal agent is its high efficiency, because, unlike thick ointment, it penetrates faster into the nail plate, destroying fungal spores. The only disadvantage of the product is the high price. Among the most popular varnishes for onychomycosis are:
- Loceril. Comes complete with files and tampons. It contains only 5% of the active substance, so it is effective only at the initial stage of the fungus.
- Batrafen. The most powerful product among the presented line. Helps even with advanced stages of fungus. The peculiarity of the drug is strict adherence to the dosage: the first month, apply once every 2 days, the second month – 2 times/week, the third – 1 time/week.
Creams
Antifungal creamy products for external use differ from ointments in a lighter consistency. The disadvantage of antifungal creams is their relatively low effectiveness, regardless of the composition. Among the popular ones:
- Nizoral. Apply 1-2 times/day for 4-6 weeks. For the treatment of onychomycosis it is used in complex therapy.
- Fungoterbin. Use 1 time/day as an adjunct to systemic treatment of toenail fungus.
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 progression of 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.
Important addition: Treatment of nail fungus with boric acid
Therapy with a hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out according to the following scheme:
- A hot foot bath is made, to which copper sulfate is added. The feet are placed in the solution and steamed well.
- After steaming, use a clean towel to wipe the skin dry, paying special attention to the skin located between the fingers.
- After drying the skin, cotton pads or swabs soaked in a solution of hydrogen peroxide are applied to the affected areas. Tampons are secured to damaged areas using adhesive tape. After applying tampons, 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 carried out twice a day with a twelve-hour break.
- After the toenails become light, you should trim the soft areas of the nail plate and apply an antifungal cream to the surface.
The disease will go away 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 wiped dry with a clean towel, and the softened nail is carefully filed off with a nail file. At the end of the procedure for removing the damaged nail, an antifungal cream is applied to the treated area. It is recommended to perform this procedure once a day.
An additional benefit of using peroxide is that it can speed up processes that promote healing. Under its influence, pathogenic microorganisms stop multiplying and spreading to new areas. In addition, when using this chemical compound, the development of a relapse of the infectious process can be avoided.
Pregnant women suffering from 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.
other methods
- Celandine grass contains phytoncides, alkaloids and organic acids that help fight fungus. To lubricate the plates, you can use fresh plant juice or alcohol tincture and oil, which are sold at the pharmacy.
- To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is useful to mix celandine oil with Iodinol in a 1:1 ratio. Soak cotton wool in the solution, apply to the plate and leave for 3 hours. Repeat the therapy twice a day until the new plate has completely grown.
- A celandine bath is useful for preventing fungus in children and adults. Three spoons of dry herb should be steamed in a liter of boiling water. Leave for an hour, strain, dilute halfway with hot water and place the feet in the liquid for 20 minutes.
- In advanced stages of onychomycosis, white is used. This is a dangerous method that is used when other methods do not produce results. To remove the fungus, steam the feet in a soda-salt bath and remove the softened layer of the plate with a file. The whitening solution is applied to dry nails with a cotton swab. You need to wait 20 minutes for the product to be absorbed and put on socks. The procedure should be done before bedtime. In the morning, wash your feet with warm water and soap. Treatments are carried out every other day until symptoms disappear.
Why does fungus appear on nails?
Factors contributing to fungal infection
You can become infected with the fungus when visiting public places - baths, saunas, swimming pools, or when using socks and shoes of a sick person. Fungal spores easily survive in sand, so the beach is also a place where the risk of contracting an infection increases significantly.
There are factors that contribute to the establishment of infection:
- Increased sweating of the feet (sweat is an ideal breeding ground for fungi);
- Wounds, abrasions, cracks, cuts, corns (as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes, careless cosmetic treatment. It is easier for infection to penetrate into the wound surface);
- Reduced immunity;
- Unsanitary feet;
- Frequent use of antibiotics without special indications