Fungal infection of toenails is a rather unpleasant disease. In addition to aesthetic discomfort, it has a negative effect on the patient's immune system. As therapeutic practice shows, drugs do not always contribute to achieving the desired result. And if we also take into account their harmful effects on the whole body, then it is worth thinking seriously about the meaning of such therapy. Therefore, for the carrier of the infection a natural question arises: how to get rid of toenail fungus so that you can 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 the recipes of traditional medicine. 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 various types, so each recipe should be selected only on an individual basis.
Home therapy has the following advantages:
- naturalness. The drug, prepared at home, includes only natural and well-known ingredients;
- the ability to influence various types of fungal infections. In addition to effective treatment, the home remedy not only does not have a harmful effect on the body, but also allows you 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 fungi does not use scarce components, which allows you to avoid storing them for future use and produce the medicine as needed.
Preparatory procedures
During treatment it is necessary to observe hygiene, which does not allow the fungal colony to multiply. Includes daily changing of socks, water procedures, and use of items for personal use only. Before using external products, the affected nails are subjected to the following treatment:
- soak the nail plate in medicinal baths with soap and soda solution;
- remove the affected areas with a nail file, tweezers or scissors;
- application of the drug.
Strengthening the immune system is of no small importance for the effective removal of fungal infections from the body. For this purpose, 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 medicine.
To prepare the medicine at home, any type of vinegar is used: table vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The latter type is preferable, since it is prepared only on the basis of natural ingredients. You can also use vinegar essence, but diluted to the required concentration.
Vinegar baths
This method is the easiest and most convenient way to get rid of fungus on the nail. Treatment with this method lasts about 2 weeks, alternating with other methods.
- Heat 0. 5 liters of 9% vinegar to a pleasantly warm temperature and pour it into a basin. 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 to eliminate fungi well. Heat the mixture to 40° and steam the thigh;
- Infuse a pack 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 filtered infusion. L. table salt and mix. Use as a warm bath for 5 minutes. To enhance the effect, the procedure is performed 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 soft butter to the resulting mixture, then beat everything together. The resulting emulsion should resemble mayonnaise. Apply the ointment every evening on the affected nail until the external signs completely disappear. During the treatment the nail plate softens and peels off. To remove the affected area more quickly, you can carefully cut it;
- for this ointment you will need 1 teaspoon. combine dimethyl phthalate with 1 tbsp. L. any vinegar and vegetable oil. A raw egg is added to the carefully mixed ingredients and the entire mixture is beaten. The finished ointment is stored in the refrigerator and used as
medications at night.
Other recipes with vinegar
Dilute the vinegar essence with plain water 1: 1 and mix with flaxseed flour. Knead a stiff dough that resembles plasticine and wrap it in plastic. If necessary, break off a piece of dough, form a flatbread and place it on the affected nail, fixing 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 that make up parasitic fungi.
Daily use of iodine as an antifungal agent has received good reviews. However, before treatment, it is recommended to test the individual skin tolerance, as cases of allergic reaction are known. To do this, just apply a drop of the substance to the crease of the elbow and wait about a day. If itching or redness occurs, this method is not suitable for you. If no changes are detected on the skin, you can safely start treatment.
The most famous method is simply to apply a drop of iodine to the nail plate with a cotton ball twice a day.
It is especially important to ensure that the surface of the nail is completely saturated with iodine, since live fungal spores may remain in untreated areas.
After a week you may experience a slight burning sensation in the treated area, which indicates the effectiveness of the treatment and is a sign of the destruction of the fungal colony.
Tested recipes with iodine
Other iodine-based recipes are also used at home, which include various components:
- Grind the well-dried 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 fix it overnight. To remove the nail plate, 3-5 sessions are usually sufficient;
- in a bowl of hot water (3 liters), dissolve a small bottle of 5% iodine solution or replace it with manganese until the liquid turns pink. Steam your nails for about 10 minutes, then dry them thoroughly and apply a penicillin bandage. The procedure is performed approximately 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 treatment cycle for at least 20 days.
Baking soda against fungi
The well-known sodium bicarbonate has spread 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 normalizes. As for fungal infections, the effectiveness of baking soda is due to the alkalization of the surface of the nail plate, which allows you to create 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 all the ingredients thoroughly. Soak your fingers in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes, then use a pumice stone or foot file to remove the softened layer of the nail. Then dry your toes thoroughly and put a clean sock on your foot. Use until the external signs of fungus on the nail plate completely disappear;
- A recipe containing half a cup of soda, 4-5 cups of water (40°), ¼ of the same container of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar is considered a potent remedy. If desired, you can add half a cup of Epsom salt. After the solution is well mixed, you can steam your feet. The procedure takes about half an hour and is performed every evening.
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 together until a smooth paste is formed. Apply the resulting composition to the affected nail and immediately squeeze out 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 the feet can be dried.
To prepare pasta, you can use another simple and economical recipe. To prepare it you will need vegetable oil (can be replaced with tea tree oil or other type) and soda. The two components are mixed together until a pasty state is obtained, after which they are applied to the steamed nail plate. The paste on the nail is covered with polyethylene and kept overnight. In the morning the bandage is removed and 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 both as a main action and as an auxiliary action. The secret of this product is its ability to destroy various pathogenic microflora. To eliminate a fungal infection on the surface of the nail, it is enough to apply a cotton ball soaked in this solution to the affected area for 2-3 months. The procedure is performed twice a day, the duration of which varies within 5 minutes.
You can also take a bath with this drug. Hydrogen peroxide is combined with hot water (2 tablespoons: 1 l). Steam the legs in several approaches for 30 seconds with a 2 minute break.
Despite the seeming simplicity of the recipes, each of them has the amazing ability to eliminate fungus from the nail plate. Therefore, regular implementation of such procedures will help get rid of this insidious disease for a long time.