Nail fungus (onychomycosis of the feet and hands) is one of the most common diseases.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, one in five people on the planet suffers from this disease, so the treatment of toenail fungus with home remedies is quite popular and, in most cases, effective.
Healthy nails always look quite attractive, they are characterized by a uniform, smooth nail plate with a pleasant soft pink tint and a light natural shine. If the appearance of the nails is different, it is likely that they are affected by a fungal infection, which is detected in 50% of cases of nail diseases.
The main signs of nail fungus (onychomycosis) are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- brittleness and fragility of nails;
- color change from yellowish to gray;
- redness of the skin of the finger around the nail;
- itching and burning;
- cracks in the skin.
This disease is transmitted easily and quickly, mainly through public places (swimming pools, gyms, bathrooms, etc. ). The main way a fungal infection enters the skin is through microfissures that occur as a result of small wounds, tight shoes, circulatory problems in the legs, deformed feet, etc.
Toenail fungus is treated with home remedies alone or in combination with traditional medicine. It is better that several means intervene in the therapy. Among the medications, the most used are antifungals for internal and external use, depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Traditional medicine recipes also offer remedies for internal use in the form of tinctures, teas, decoctions and for external use in the form of ointments, compresses and solutions.
Popular folk remedies for toenail fungus based on iodine and vinegar.
Home remedies for toenail fungus are quite varied, but there are several well-known recipes that are used more frequently than others.
One of them is the use of an alcoholic iodine solution. This product is a powerful antiseptic and has disinfecting, cauterizing, drying and tanning properties. In addition, iodine is capable of coagulating the protein structure of the fungus, directly destroying it.
To treat the disease, apply a drop of a 5% alcohol-iodine solution to the affected nails twice a day for 2 to 3 weeks. In a week, this simple popular recipe for nail fungus will make itself felt. A slight itching and burning sensation will appear, which indicates the onset of a fungal infection. If the pain is difficult to bear, nail treatment should be reduced from twice a day to once. In general, the course of treatment with this method will be 20 to 40 days.
It is also good to use iodine for preventive purposes. To do this, you need to treat each nail plate with a drop of the product every two days. At the same time, it is important not to touch the skin of the finger around the nail so as not to burn or damage it.
It's important to know!
Treatment of nail fungus with iodine can provoke an allergic reaction associated with the body's individual intolerance to this substance. In this case, treatment should be stopped immediately and other means used.
Home remedies for toenail fungus prepared with vinegar are also widely used. It is necessary to prepare a solution consisting of 9% ordinary table vinegar and water, maintaining a ratio of 1: 8, and immerse the infected fingers and nails in it, after steaming them in ordinary hot water and removing the affected areas. Of the surface. of the nail plate as much as possible. This procedure must be repeated seven times a day for two days.
These home remedies for nail fungus should be kept in the refrigerator or any other suitable cool place.
Traditional recipes for toenail fungus.
As noted above, in most cases, treatment with folk remedies, most of which are prepared on the basis of natural ingredients of plant and animal origin, helps to eliminate toenail fungus (onychomycosis). .
Recipe number 1. Ointment for nail fungus based on vegetable oil and dimethyl ester of o-phthalic acid.
To prepare this product you will need the following ingredients:
- vegetable oil (sunflower) - 1 tablespoon;
- chicken egg (raw) - 1 piece;
- o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester - 1 tsp.
All of the above ingredients should be combined and the resulting ointment should be applied to the affected nails. Wrap your fingers in regular plastic wrap and put on cotton socks. Leave the ointment applications overnight. Repeat this procedure for 3-4 days. Soon the affected nails will begin to die and healthy ones will grow in their place.
Recipe No. 2. Kombucha compress
An excellent popular recipe for nail fungus is based on kombucha. It should be used as a compress. You need to take a piece of the fungal plate, carefully remove the upper thin film from it, and apply the rest to the affected nail from above, wrap it in plastic wrap and secure it with a regular bandage or put on thin socks. The compress should be done at night, and in the morning rinse your nails thoroughly with warm water, if possible, cut off the dead parts and lubricate the rest of the nail plate with an iodine solution. It is worth noting that treating nail fungus with kombucha is quite painful, but very effective.
Recipe No. 3. Mushroom ointment based on eucalyptus and honey.
Home remedies for toenail fungus prepared from eucalyptus are very effective. To do this you need to take:
- eucalyptus oil - 30-40 grams;
- apple cider vinegar - 1 teaspoon;
- Natural honey (liquid) - 15 grams.
All of the above ingredients should be mixed and the prepared ointment should be allowed to rest in the refrigerator for three days, then lubricate the affected nails with it daily.
Recipe No. 4. An effective antifungal remedy based on lavender and tea tree oil.
Essential oil helps very well against nail fungus, especially lavender. Helps fight infections and soothes skin irritation. And tea tree oil is a natural plant antibiotic. To prepare the product, mix lavender, tea tree and olive oil in equal proportions and apply the resulting mixture to sore nails for 8-10 hours (preferably overnight), protecting the treated nail plates with thin cotton socks.
Recipe No. 5. Mouthwash and vinegar baths
This popular recipe for nail fungus includes a rather unusual drug - mouthwash. It should be combined in equal proportions with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, diluted with a little warm water and immerse your fingers with infected nails in the bath for 15 minutes.
In order for the treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies to be successful and not cause relapses, it is necessary to complete it, as well as observe proper rules of personal hygiene to avoid reinfection with this disease.