Fungal diseases that affect the toenails and feet cause severe 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 the later stages.
However, it is easier and relatively uncomplicated to deal with it if you start timely treatment when the initial symptoms of a fungal infection first appear.Traditional medicine suggests adopting some recipes that can solve the problem of developing fungus.
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 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 alcohol solution of iodine. A solution of iodine has a detrimental effect on the structure of protein cells, destroying them; moreover, iodine is a fairly strong antiseptic and has pronounced fungicidal properties (resistance to mold formation).
Do not forget that iodine is a very active substance and, if handled improperly, can cause some harm, such as chemical burns, etc.
The affordable price of iodine makes this drug attractive to consumers for the treatment of nail fungus, as well as for prevention purposes. It is worth remembering the rules that should be followed when using iodine solution for medical purposes.
Safety rules when working with iodine
- Treating the skin with iodine solution can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
reaction. Therefore, before you start using it, examine the reaction of the skin by smearing the area on the bend of the elbow with an iodine solution. - Regular use of iodine solution strongly pigments the nail in a yellow color, which can only be gotten rid of with the growth of a new nail.
- If used incorrectly or if the permissible dosage is exceeded, a chemical burn or inflammatory skin lesion (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 alcohol solution of iodine (5%) is applied one drop to each affected nail twice a day, in the morning and before bed, using a cotton swab for convenience. To prevent the disease, as well as for additional strengthening, the same solution, but in a smaller dosage, can be lubricated on healthy nail plates.
- Recipe 2. The six-week course of treatment is divided into three stages of fourteen days each. During the course, infected areas of skin and nails are treated alternately: Castellani liquid in the first two weeks, iodine solution in the second stage, vinegar solution (9%) in the final two weeks.
- Recipe 3. A solution is first prepared, consisting of the following components: iodine, chloronitrophenol, vinegar essence, garlic juice, in equal parts, one teaspoon of each component. This solution should be used to treat the infected nail every day before going to bed. The nail should 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: in order to avoid infection of healthy nails, the affected areas should be treated with separate tools.
Treatment with copper sulfate
Copper sulfate, or copper sulfate among people, is most often used to accompany the traditional treatment of fungal infections. It occurs in the form of crystals, readily dissolves in water, and is non-toxic. Two forms are applicable for treatment.
- Copper sulfate solution. Can be made at home. One teaspoon of copper sulfate crystals is dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water. The resulting solution is very concentrated, so it should be used in diluted form for treatment: 1 tbsp. l. solution per 1. 5 liters of water. Using this solution, take ten-minute foot baths before treating the affected areas of the skin and nails with medications recommended by the doctor.
- Copper sulfate ointment. Copper sulfate crystals are calcined on a hot surface until the color changes to gray or white. Then mix it with other ingredients: yellow sulfur, tar or goose fat, one teaspoon each. The resulting ointment is used to treat sore nails daily until complete recovery.
Sea and table salt for the treatment of fungal infections
Sea and regular 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 needed to prepare the nails for the subsequent application of medicinal ointments to them.
Salt alone is not able to cure fungus, but it is often used as an integral part of medicinal ointments and mixtures made according to folk recipes.
For example, garlic water is well suited against advanced fungal infections; it is used to treat the feet and affected nails twice a day. This water is easy to prepare at home. The ground clove of garlic is mixed with salt until a paste is obtained. The resulting mixture is dissolved in 200 ml of water. After final cooling, dissolve another 4 tbsp. l. salt.
Unusual uses of ordinary 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 fairly effective recipes.
- Recipe 1. Daily use of soap and soda baths will contribute to better penetration of the medicinal components contained in the medications directly to the lesions. This can often be difficult, since the affected nail is quite thick, grows quickly and acts against penetration, and 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. The feet soar 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.
Treatment process using birch tar
Birch tar is a powerful remedy for treating all kinds of skin diseases. Therefore, you can treat your feet with natural birch tar. However, the feet are pre-prepared. The feet, steamed in soapy hot water, are subjected to subsequent treatment: the rough and affected skin on the feet is exfoliated, and infected nails are trimmed. Then the already dry skin of the feet is lubricated with birch tar applied to a cotton swab using rubbing movements. You should not wear socks or shoes for the next hour and a half. Give the tar time to absorb into the skin.
Tar is no less effective as a treatment in ointments or mixtures. You can prepare your own tar ointment, with a tar content of 5–10% in the first 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, allow it to dry and stick a patch 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 fungal 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 takes 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 daily.
- Ointment. Celandine is part of a medicinal herbal ointment to combat fungal infections. Add 5 drops of fresh celandine juice, 2 drops of oregano and 2 drops of pre-prepared calendula tincture to cooled boiled water (4 tablespoons). Treatment with such an ointment will take about 10 days, but 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 still better to use folk remedies for nail fungus in combination with traditional medicine - the effect will be stronger and the time for treatment until complete recovery will be significantly reduced.