Toenail fungal infection is a rather unpleasant disease. In addition to aesthetic discomfort, it has a negative effect on the patient's immune system. As treatment practice shows, drugs do not always contribute to obtaining the desired result. And if we also take into account its harmful effects on the entire body, then it is worth seriously thinking about the meaning of such therapy. Therefore, a natural question arises for the carrier of the infection: how to get rid of toenail fungus in order to forget about the disease forever.
Pros and cons of home therapy
I would like to immediately warn the reader that one should not expect quick results from traditional medicine recipes. The desired effect at home can be seen only after regular daily procedures for a certain period of time. It is also worth noting that nail fungus is of several types, so each recipe should be selected only individually.
Home therapy has the following benefits:
- naturalness. The medicine, prepared at home, includes only natural and known ingredients;
- the ability to influence various types of fungal infections. In addition to effective treatment, a home remedy not only has no harmful effects on the body, but also makes it possible to strengthen protective functions;
- selection of components taking into account the individual characteristics of the body. When making a recipe, it is possible to refuse raw materials that cause allergies;
- availability. Any home remedy against fungus does not use scarce components, which makes it possible to avoid storing them for future use and prepare the medicine as needed.
Preparatory procedures
During treatment, hygiene must be observed, which does not allow the fungal colony to multiply. Includes daily change of socks, water procedures and the use of personal items only. Before using external products, the affected nails undergo the following treatment:
- soak the nail plate in medicinal baths of soap and soda solution;
- remove affected areas with a nail file, tweezers or scissors;
- drug application.
Strengthening the immune system is of great importance to successfully eliminate fungal infections from the body. To do this, experts recommend taking special vitamin complexes that increase the protective functions of the body.
Vinegar-based recipes
Vinegar has received good reviews against fungal infections on the nail plate. Its action is based on the inability of fungal spores to survive in an acidic environment. A prerequisite for successful treatment is the correct proportion of the drug.
To prepare medicines at home, any type of vinegar is used: table vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The latter type is preferable, since it is prepared only from natural ingredients. You can also use vinegar essence, but diluted to the required concentration.
vinegar baths
This method is the simplest and most comfortable way to eliminate nail fungus. Treatment with this method lasts about 2 weeks, alternating with other methods.
- Heat 0. 5 liters of 9% vinegar to a comfortable temperature and pour into a container. Dip the affected fingers into the liquid and hold for 15 minutes. Do not rinse with water. For greater effect, you can wear socks soaked in vinegar overnight;
- Vinegar diluted with carrot juice 1: 1 also helps eliminate fungus. Heat the mixture to 40° and steam the leg;
- Infuse a bundle of dried celandine in 1 liter of table vinegar. The infusion period does not matter: the longer, the better. Add about 5 tablespoons to the strained infusion. l. table salt and stir. Use it as a warm bath for 5 minutes. To enhance the effect, the procedure is carried out several times a day.
Ointments with vinegar
- Pour 100 g of vinegar essence into a fresh chicken egg. Leave in a dark place for 5-7 days to dissolve the eggshells. Add melted or softened butter to the resulting mixture, then beat everything. The resulting emulsion should resemble mayonnaise. Apply the ointment to the affected nail every night until the external signs disappear completely. During treatment, the nail surface will soften and peel off. To remove the affected area more quickly, you can carefully cut it;
- For this ointment you will need 1 tsp. combine dimethyl phthalate with 1 tbsp. l. any vinegar and vegetable oil. A raw egg is added to the well-mixed ingredients and the entire mixture is beaten. The finished ointment is stored in the refrigerator and used as
dressings at night.
Other recipes with vinegar
Dilute the vinegar essence with plain water 1: 1 and mix with linseed flour. Knead a firm dough that looks like plasticine and wrap it in plastic. If necessary, pinch a piece of dough, form a flat cake and place it on the affected nail, securing it on top with a plaster. The treatment is carried out for 5 days.
Nail treatment with iodine.
Another available and proven remedy is an alcoholic solution of iodine, which is an excellent antiseptic and has tanning and cauterizing properties. Its action is based on the ability to coagulate the proteins formed by parasitic fungi.
The daily use of iodine as an antifungal agent has received good reviews. However, before treatment, it is recommended to check the individual skin tolerance, as cases of allergic reaction are known. To do this, simply apply a drop of the substance to the bend of your elbow and wait about a day. If itching or redness occurs, this method is not suitable for you. If no skin changes are found, you can safely begin treatment.
The most famous method is to simply apply a drop of iodine to the nail plate with a cotton swab twice a day.
It is especially important to ensure that the nail plate is completely saturated with iodine, as live fungal spores may remain in untreated areas.
After a week, a slight burning sensation may appear in the treated area, which indicates the effectiveness of the treatment and is a sign of destruction of the fungal colony.
Proven recipes with iodine.
Other iodine-based recipes are also used at home, which include several components:
- Grind the dry celandine and combine it with iodine to form a thick paste. Apply the resulting composition to the affected nail, cover the top with polyethylene and secure overnight. To remove the nail plate, 3 to 5 sessions are usually enough;
- In a container with hot water (3 liters), dissolve a small bottle of 5% iodine solution or replace it with manganese until the liquid turns pink. Steam the nails for about 10 minutes, then dry them well and apply a penicillin bandage. The procedure is performed about 3 times and from the first time an improvement in the condition of the nail plate is observed;
- Combine iodine solution with apple cider vinegar (1: 1) and mix well. Apply to the nail plate twice a day. Continue the course of treatment for at least 20 days.
Baking soda against fungus
The well-known baking soda has become widespread not only in cooking, but also in medicine. Thanks to its alkalizing properties, the alkaline reserve in the body increases and the acid-base balance is normalized. As for fungal infections, the effectiveness of baking soda is due to alkalization of the surface of the nail plate, which allows creating uncomfortable conditions for the reproduction and vital activity of fungal spores.
soda baths
- For the bath you will need 2 liters of liquid (40°), baking soda (2 tablespoons) and soap (grated or liquid in the amount of 1 tablespoon). Mix well all the ingredients. Soak your toes in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes, then use a pumice stone or foot file to remove the softened nail layer. Then dry your toes well and put on a clean sock. Use it until the external signs of fungus on the nail plate completely disappear;
- A recipe that contains half a cup of soda, 4-5 cups of water (40°), ¼ of the same container of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar is considered a powerful remedy. You can add half a cup of Epsom salt if you wish. Once the solution is well mixed, you can steam your feet. The procedure lasts approximately half an hour and is performed every night.
baking soda paste
To prepare it you will need to prepare 2-3 teaspoons of soda, a little water and lemon. Mix the first two components until forming a homogeneous paste. Apply the resulting composition to the affected nail and immediately squeeze a few drops of lemon juice. A reaction should occur, accompanied by slight foaming and hissing. After a few minutes, the paste can be washed off with clean water and your feet dried.
To make pasta, you can use another simple and economical recipe. To prepare it you will need vegetable oil (you can replace it with tea tree oil or another type) and soda. The two components are mixed to a pasty state and then applied to the steamed nail plate. The nail paste is covered with polyethylene and left overnight. In the morning, the bandage is removed, the nail is washed with water and dried.
Treatment with hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide has a good effect against nail fungus. It can be used as both a main and auxiliary action. The secret of this product is its ability to destroy various pathogenic microflora. To get rid of a fungal infection on the nail plate, simply apply cotton wool soaked in this solution to the affected area for 2-3 months. The procedure is performed twice a day and its duration varies by 5 minutes.
You can also take baths with this medicine. Hydrogen peroxide is combined with warm water (2 tablespoons: 1 l). Steam the legs in several approaches for 30 seconds with a 2-minute break.
Despite the apparent simplicity of the recipes, each of them has the amazing ability to eliminate fungus on the nail plate. Therefore, regular implementation of such procedures will help to get rid of this insidious disease for a long time.