Mycoses can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's nails and feet are the favorite place to locate them. The virus is very easily transmitted and spread, the therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications that are used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time the demand for folk remedies for the treatment of toenail fungus remains high.
What is a fungus?
There are many types of fungal pathogens in nature that can affect the human body. The fungus is always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in different ways: in public places, through common shoes, through direct contact.
The most common sites of localization are the feet, namely the feet and nails. This location is due to a number of reasons:
- increased sweating of the feet caused by individual characteristics;
- tight, uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent injuries to the legs, microcracks, scratches, calluses;
- stress;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- hypothermia of the legs with a permanent character.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to appear actively:
- unpleasant pungent foot odor;
- the nail plate becomes white and lamination may occur;
- itching and sometimes 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 remove. But it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can take several months or even years. The disappearance of the symptoms does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This may only mean a reduction in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will resume.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them gives a 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise to use different methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Advantages of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceuticals;
- practically no contraindications and side effects;
- when used properly, fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods of removing the fungus can be advised by experts. The main thing is to use the new tools with great care. In addition, do not forget about the patient's age, the use of untested products for children is not recommended. Patients under the age of 16 are seen by a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a time-tested remedy
To date, iodine is still an effective treatment for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive iodine use can cause burns, so the dosage should be strictly adhered to when administered.
This method is very effective if used from the very beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to damage the nail plate and skin during treatment, you must follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at a pharmacy and check its expiration date.
- Wash your feet well and dry them. It is very important that the patient uses only his own towel, this reduces the risk of transmitting the infection.
- On each affected nail and the one that is placed next to it, drop a drop of iodine and rub it well.
- Allow the iodine to dry a bit and for a while then do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. There is such a method and a number of side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which creates aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity may be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning during rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against fungal infections
Vinegar compresses are another popular recipe for removing ringworm at home. To do this, use the usual 9% table vinegar and prepare baths from it.
The recipe is simple: you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix well. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing the concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for the bath 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, the feet are lowered into it for steaming. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a bath of vinegar. The procedure can be done 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 must use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend the use of infusion of propolis on alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use for mycoses.
Two methods are used to combat this nasty disease:
- moisten a cotton swab in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- a slightly melted piece of the substance is placed on the affected nails at night, but such a compress can last no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use it very carefully.
Tea sponge
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts say it can activate the process, while others say it can completely get rid of mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a healing solution, so the mushroom is soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, after which it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal action.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of sponge should be peeled and peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess fluid, then gently rubbed on the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress made before bedtime. The feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of sponge and cut lengthwise. Immerse one part in warm water and return the other to the syrup. Take a sponge out of the water and attach it to your nails, attach cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. The compress can cause numbness, mild pain, mild burning - such symptoms are considered completely justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
tar
This odorless substance is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action, so it is advisable to use it to quickly remove nail fungus at home. Birch tar, a product for processing birch bark, is actively used. It can be purchased at a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar is often the basis of ointments, but in the case of mycosis the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Different types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular because of their effect.
You have to steam your feet first. It is better to do this in soapy water. Then cut the dead parts of the nail, and fresh places smear with tar and rub well. Then you do not have to dress for several hours, the tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. Then it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day, then 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 light tar solution.
Foot baths with tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half the soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 liters). You can add a little soda. Perform the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean the rough tissues and allow the feet to dry.
Herbal decoctions
It is no secret that there are many herbs that due to their antiseptic properties are actively used in traditional medicine. Decoctions of such plants are used to treat mycosis:
- celandine;
- nettles;
- burdock roots;
- plantain;
- wormwood;
- marigold;
- St. John's Wort;
- camomile.
The dried flowers of these plants are used to prepare decoctions. It is very important to observe the proportions and maintain enough time for a couple. Only water decoctions are used to treat the fungus, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Decoction experts recommend using it only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not cope with the advanced stages. In addition, some of the plants presented may cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you need to be patient. For the full effect you sometimes need to use several recipes. The full course of treatment can take years. It is best to consult a specialist before choosing a method of treatment. And in any case do not start the process, the difficult stages are extremely difficult to treat.