Mycoses can spread easily throughout the body, but a person’s nails and feet are the most favorite places for their localization. The virus is highly contagious and spreads, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a Fungus?
Naturally, there are many types of fungal pathogens that can affect the human body. Fungus is always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in a variety of ways: in public places, through shared shoes, through direct contact.
The most common sites of localization are the feet, i. e. the feet and nails. This placement is due to several reasons:
- increased foot sweat caused by individual characteristics;
- tight and uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent injuries to feet, microcracks, scratches, corns;
- pressure;
- intoxication caused by alcohol and smoking;
- hypothermia in the legs of a permanent nature.
It is impossible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stage is almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to appear actively:
- unpleasant pungent foot odor;
- nail plates turn white and laminate may appear;
- itching, and sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- wounds form on the skin around the nails, erosions appear.
Treatment depends on the stage of the nail fungus, the earlier the problem is noticed, the easier it is to fix. But it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can last several months and even years. Loss of symptoms does not mean complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This can only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain circumstances the virus will resume.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for fungal infections can last several months. There are many pharmaceutical products recommended by mycologists to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them give a 100%guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise using various methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Alternative medicine benefits:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- almost no contraindications and side effects;
- when used properly, fully verify its effectiveness.
The most popular method of getting rid of fungus can be advised by an expert. The main thing is to use the new tool carefully. In addition, do not forget about the age of the patient, it is not recommended to use products that have not been tested for children. Patients under the age of 16 are seen during an appointment with a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a time -tested drug
To date, iodine is still an effective remedy for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive consumption of iodine can cause burns, so the dosage must be strictly adhered to when applying.
This method is very effective if it is used from the beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to harm the nail plate and skin during treatment, you should follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at the pharmacy and check its expiration date.
- Wash feet thoroughly and pat dry. It is very important that patients only use their own towels, this reduces the risk of transmission of infection.
- On each affected nail and one placed next to it, drip a drop of iodine and rub it well.
- Let the iodine dry a little, and for some time after that do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. It has such a method and some side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which causes aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity may be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning while rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of the disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against mycosis
Acetic compress is another popular recipe for getting rid of mycosis at home. To do this, use regular 9% table vinegar and a bath is prepared from it.
The recipe is simple: you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix thoroughly. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing the concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for baths is 2: 1.
The water must be cold, otherwise the vinegar will lose its properties. In addition, you need to prepare a bath with hot water, feet lowered into it to steam. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. This procedure can be performed every two days, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it is used to fight bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in its pure form at the pharmacy, but you need to use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend using an infusion of propolis on alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use it for mycoses.
To combat this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- moisten a cotton pad in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night, a piece of slightly diluted material is placed on the affected nail, but such a compress can be kept no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use with caution.
The mushrooms
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim that it can lead to the activation of the process, while others claim that it can completely eliminate mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this mushrooms are soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a certain brown color and aroma, then it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effect.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and peeled and squeezed lightly to remove excess liquid, then rubbed gently on the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compressed, done before bed. Feet need to be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Dip one part in warm water, send the other into the syrup. Remove the mushrooms from the water and attach them to your nails, attach cellophane over them, and wear tight socks or two. Compression can cause tingling, mild pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are considered quite desirable, and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless material is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, so it is advisable to use it to get rid of nail fungus quickly at home. It is birch tar, a product of birch bark processing, which is actively used. It can be purchased at specialty pharmacies.
Birch tar is often the basis of ointments, but in case of mycosis, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Various types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular because of their effects.
First you need to steam your feet. It is better to do this in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead part of the nail, and smear the new spot with tar and rub well. Then you can not dress for several hours, tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day; after this time, you can make a cold bath for your feet. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made of natural fabrics, and treat the shoes with a mild tar solution.
Foot baths using tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half a bar of soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add a little soda. Perform the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean the rough tissue and let the feet dry.
Herbal decoction
It is no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in traditional medicine. For the treatment of mycosis, decoctions of the plant are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- king banana;
- sage brush;
- calendula;
- St. WortJohn;
- chamomile.
For the preparation of the decoction, it is the dried flowers of this plant that are used. It is very important to respect the proportions and maintain an adequate amount of time for the couple. For the treatment of fungus, only decoction of water is used, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Experts recommend using decoctions only as an aid, they can improve the process, but do not face advanced stages. In addition, some of the plants presented can cause allergic reactions.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you have to be patient. For full effect, sometimes you need to use several recipes. A full course of treatment can take years. It is better to consult a specialist before choosing a method of treatment. And in no case does not start the process, the severe stage is very difficult to treat.