Fungal diseases that affect toenails and toenails cause serious discomfort and can significantly impair a person's quality of life. In addition, nail fungus is characterized by a long and complex treatment process, when it is detected in later stages.
However, it is easier and relatively simple to deal with it if you start timely treatment when the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear.Traditional medicine suggests adopting some recipes that can solve the problem of mushroom development.
Iodine protects nail health
Having a protein structure, dermatophyte fungi parasitize the nails, skin of the feet and between the toes and feed on the horny scales of the skin and the keratin that is part of the nail plate.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the most popular remedy for treating onychomycosis at home is an alcoholic solution of iodine. An iodine solution has a harmful effect on the structure of protein cells, destroying them; in addition, iodine is a fairly strong antiseptic and has pronounced fungicidal properties (resistance to mold formation).
Don't forget that iodine is a very active substance, and if handled improperly, it can cause harm, such as chemical burns, etc.
The affordable price of iodine makes this drug attractive to consumers for nail fungus treatment and prevention purposes. It is worth remembering the rules to follow when using iodine solution for medical purposes.
Safety rules when working with iodine
- Treating your skin with iodine solution can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
reaction. Therefore, before you start using it, examine the skin reaction by lubricating the area on the bend of the elbow with iodine solution. - Regular use of iodine solution strongly pigments the nail in a yellow color, which can only be eliminated by the growth of a new nail.
- If used incorrectly or if the allowable dose is exceeded, chemical burns or inflammatory skin lesions (dermatitis) may occur.
- Only affected nails and skin areas should be treated and only at the stage of primary symptoms.
Recipes based on iodine solution
- Recipe 1. An alcoholic solution of iodine (5%) is applied one drop to each affected nail twice a day, in the morning and before bed, using a cotton ball for convenience. To prevent the disease, as well as for further strengthening, the same solution, but in a smaller dosage, can be lubricated on healthy nails.
- Recipe 2. The six-week treatment cycle is divided into three phases of fourteen days each. During the course, the infected areas of the skin and nails are treated alternately: Castellani liquid in the first two weeks, iodine solution in the second phase, vinegar solution (9%) in the last two weeks.
- Recipe 3. A solution consisting of the following components is first prepared: iodine, chloronitrophenol, vinegar essence, garlic juice, in equal parts, a teaspoon of each component. This solution should be used to treat the infected nail every day before going to bed. The nail must first be steamed and the softened part removed. Before use, the medicinal mixture must be shaken.
When treating nails with any manicure accessories, you should remember: to avoid infection of healthy nails, the affected areas should be treated with separate tools.
Treatment with copper sulphate
Copper sulfate, or copper sulfate among people, is often used to accompany the traditional treatment of fungal infections. It occurs in the form of crystals, dissolves easily in water and is non-toxic. Two forms are applicable for the treatment.
- Copper sulphate solution. It can be done at home. One teaspoon of copper sulfate crystals is dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water. The resulting solution is very concentrated, so for treatment it should be used in diluted form: 1 tbsp. L. solution for 1. 5 liters of water. Using this solution, take ten-minute foot baths before treating the affected areas of the skin and nails with the medications recommended by your doctor.
- Copper sulphate ointment. Copper sulfate crystals are calcined on a hot surface until the color turns gray or white. Then mix it with the other ingredients: yellow sulphur, tar or goose fat, a teaspoon each. The resulting ointment is used daily to treat sore nails until complete recovery.
Sea and table salt for treating fungal infections
Sea salt and ordinary salt can be added to therapeutic foot baths. At the same time, the affected areas of the skin of the foot and nails are disinfected. As a rule, such antiseptic procedures are aimed against infections living on the skin and are necessary to prepare the nails for the subsequent application of medicinal ointments.
Salt alone is not able to cure mushrooms, but it is often used as an integral part of medicinal ointments and mixtures made according to folk recipes.
Against advanced fungal infections, for example, garlic water is particularly suitable; it is used twice a day to treat affected feet and nails. This water is easy to prepare at home. The ground garlic clove is mixed with salt until a paste is obtained. The resulting mixture is dissolved in 200 ml of water. After final cooling, melt another 4 tablespoons. L. salt.
Unusual uses of regular soda
Regular soda can be a good helper in the treatment of another type of fungus - yeast. These fungi also affect the feet, parasitizing the skin and nails. It is recommended to use baking soda in several quite effective recipes.
- Recipe 1. The daily use of soap and soda baths will contribute to better penetration of the medicinal components contained in the drugs directly into the lesions. This can often be difficult, as the affected nail is quite thick, grows quickly and acts against penetration, while soap and soda baths soften the nail plate. Mix 3 cups of soda and 3 tbsp. L. grated soap, then dissolve the resulting mixture in 7-10 liters of water. Feet fly for 20 minutes a day for 4-5 days.
- Recipe 2. A certain amount of soda is diluted with water to form a paste, which is used to cover the infected nail. A few minutes after applying the soda paste to the nail, add a little lemon juice. Then the mixture is removed, the nail is washed with soap and treated with antifungal agents. This remedy is also used only as a concomitant treatment.
Birch tar treatment process
Birch tar is a powerful remedy for treating all types of skin diseases. Therefore, you can treat your feet with natural birch tar. However, the feet are already prepared. The feet, steamed in hot soapy water, are subjected to the next treatment: the rough, affected skin of the feet is exfoliated and the infected nails are cut. Then the already dry skin of the feet is lubricated with birch tar applied to a cotton pad using rubbing movements. You should not wear socks or shoes for the next hour and a half. Let the tar be absorbed into the skin.
Tar is no less effective as a treatment in ointments or mixtures. You can make a tar ointment yourself, with a tar content of 5–10% in the early stages. You will need a rich nourishing cream or some kind of fat. Natural tar is added to the cream and everything is mixed thoroughly. The ointment is ready for use.
Another effective option for treating fungus is sulfur tar ointment, consisting of tar, powdered sulfur, a base in the form of cream or fat - in the ratio: 3: 2: 10, respectively. Apply a thin layer of ointment to the affected areas, let it dry and apply a plaster over it.
The use of tar soap is useful for the prevention of any skin diseases, as it contains up to 12% pure tar and has antiseptic properties. You should opt for handmade tar soap, the usefulness of the composition of which will be beyond doubt.
Celandine for clean skin
Celandine is a poisonous plant, the juice of which is successfully used against fungus and other skin diseases.
- Celandine juice. Celandine juice is used to treat diseased surfaces of the skin and nails. Freshly squeezed juice is mixed with alcohol (70%) in a 1: 1 ratio and infused over the next 24 hours. The treatment process lasts about a week, treatments are carried out regularly 3-4 times a day on previously prepared nails and feet.
- Infusion of celandine. Add 100 g of dry celandine leaves to 1 liter of boiling water. After half an hour, the resulting infusion is added to the foot bath and the feet are steamed for 20 minutes a day.
- Ointment. Celandine is part of a medicinal herbal ointment to fight fungal infections. Add 5 drops of fresh celandine juice, 2 drops of oregano and 2 drops of pre-prepared calendula tincture to the cooled boiled water (4 tablespoons). Treatment with such an ointment will take about 10 days, but the damaged areas should be treated at least three times a day.
- Celandine oil. You can use celandine oil, which is sold in any pharmacy, or make it at home yourself, although this process is quite labor intensive.
It is even better to use folk remedies for nail fungus in combination with traditional medicine - the effect will be stronger, and the treatment time until complete recovery will be significantly shortened.