Fungal infection of the toenails is a rather unpleasant disease. In addition to aesthetic discomfort, it has a negative effect on the immune system of the patient. As treatment practice shows, pharmaceutical drugs do not always contribute to obtaining the desired result. And if we also take into account their 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 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 traditional medicine recipes. The desired effect at home can only be seen after regular daily procedures for a certain period of time. It is also worth noting that nail fungus has a variety of types, so each recipe must be selected only on an individual basis.
Home therapy has the following benefits:
- 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 the 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 allows you to avoid storing them for future use and make the medicine as needed.
Preparatory procedures
During treatment, hygiene must be observed, which does not allow the fungal colony to multiply. It includes daily change of socks, water procedures and the use of items for personal use only. Before using external products, affected nails are subject to the following treatment:
- soaking the nail plate in medicinal baths of soap and soda solution;
- removing affected areas with a nail file, tweezers or scissors;
- application of the drug.
Strengthening the immune system is of no small importance for the successful removal of fungal infections from the body. For this purpose, experts recommend taking special vitamin complexes that increase the body’s protective functions.
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 medicinal drug.
To prepare medicine at home, any type of vinegar is used: table vinegar or apple 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 simplest and most comfortable way to eliminate 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 into a basin. Dip the affected fingers in 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 get rid of fungus well. Heat the mixture to 40° and steam the leg in it;
- Infuse a pack of dried celandine in 1 liter of table vinegar. The infusion period does not matter - the more, the better. Add about 5 tbsp to the strained infusion. l. table salt and stir. 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. The resulting emulsion should resemble mayonnaise. Apply the ointment to the affected nail every evening until the external signs completely disappear. During the treatment, the nail plate will soften and peel off. To remove the affected area more quickly, it can be carefully cut off;
- 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 thoroughly mixed ingredients and the whole 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 flaxseed flour. Knead a stiff dough that resembles plasticine and wrap it in plastic. If necessary, pinch off a piece of dough, form a flat cake and place it on the affected nail, securing it on top with a band-aid. Treatment is carried out for 5 days.
Treatment of nails with iodine
Another available and proven remedy is an alcohol solution of iodine, which is an excellent antiseptic and has tanning and cauterizing properties. Its action is based on the ability to coagulate 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 skin for individual tolerance, as cases of an allergic reaction are known. To do this, just 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 changes are found on the skin, then you can safely begin treatment.
The most famous method is to simply apply one drop of iodine to the nail plate with a cotton swab 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, a slight burning sensation may occur in the treatment area, which indicates the effectiveness of the treatment and is a sign of the destruction of the fungal colony.
Proven recipes with iodine
Other iodine-based recipes are also used at home, including various components:
- Grind well-dried celandine and combine 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, 3-5 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 thoroughly and apply a penicillin bandage. The procedure is carried out about 3 times and an improvement in the condition of the nail plate is observed from the first time;
- Combine the 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 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 tbsp) and soap (grated or liquid in the amount of 1 tbsp). Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Immerse your fingers in the solution for 20-30 minutes, then use a pumice stone or a foot file to remove the softened nail layer. Then dry your toes thoroughly and put a clean sock on your foot. Use until 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. You can add half a cup of Epsom salt if desired. After the solution is well mixed, you can steam your feet. The procedure lasts about half an hour and is carried out 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 homogeneous paste is formed. Apply the resulting composition to the affected nail and immediately squeeze a few drops of juice from the lemon. 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 can be dried.
To make paste, you can use another simple and affordable recipe. To prepare, you will need vegetable oil (can be replaced with tea tree oil or another type) and soda. The two components are mixed together to a paste-like state, 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 one. The secret of this product is its ability to destroy various pathogenic microflora. To get rid of a fungal infection on the surface of the nail, it is enough to apply a cotton pad soaked in this solution to the affected area for 2-3 months. The procedure is carried out twice a day, the duration of which varies within 5 minutes.
You can also take baths with this drug. Hydrogen peroxide is combined with warm water (2 tbsp: 1 l). Steam your legs in several approaches for 30 seconds with a break of 2 minutes.
Despite the apparent simplicity of the recipes, each of them has the amazing ability to get rid of fungus on the nail plate. Therefore, regular implementation of such procedures will help to get rid of this insidious disease for a long time.