Onychomycosis is a nail fungus that most commonly affects the toes.Pathogenic microorganisms feed on the organic composition of the nail plate.At risk of this unpleasant disease are those who work in damp premises, neglect personal hygiene, visit public baths and swimming pools.
Under the influence of a fungal infection, the nail plate is deformed, turns yellow and splits.Without proper treatment, the fungus progresses and can lead to nail removal.In the initial stages of the disease, it is not necessary to use medical treatment;you can get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies at home.
What is the mushroom afraid of?
Fungal nail infections take weeks to heal.To speed up the healing process, you should know that the pathogenic microorganism is afraid of:
- acidic environment;
- bleach;
- special antifungal agents and natural antifungals;
- high temperatures - when heated above +75 ̊ C for 20 minutes, mycosis dies.
Therefore, during the treatment of toenail fungus, you should carefully treat indoor and outdoor shoes, wash socks and bed linen at temperatures above 75 ̊ C.
Nail fungus treatment at home
In untreated cases, you can seek help from traditional medicine.Essential oils, inexpensive medicines and medicinal plants are proven remedies that help get rid of toenail fungus quickly.
Birch tar
This safe drug is very effective in the fight against mycosis.The easiest way is to use store-bought tar soap, which consists of 15% birch tar.Twice a day, soap your toes liberally and leave for 5-10 minutes.The course of treatment lasts 10-17 days.
A solution of birch tar works most effectively.80 ml of glycerin and the same amount of birch tar are diluted in 100 ml of ethyl alcohol.The resulting preparation is generously smeared on the nail plates twice a day.
garlic
This plant has pronounced antimicrobial and antifungal properties.It can be used alone, in the form of crushed porridge or in combination with other means.Garlic ointment and tincture work most effectively.
To prepare garlic salve, select a fresh, juicy head of garlic and grind the cloves into a paste.The resulting mass is poured with 2 tbsp.l sunflower oil.The product is spread liberally on the affected and adjacent nails and the skin around the source of infection.Treated toes are wrapped with a bandage and left in this form until the morning.To get a tincture, mix freshly squeezed garlic and ethyl alcohol in equal parts.The composition is infused for 2-3 days, after which it is used to treat the affected nails.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil works fastest in its pure form.Twice a day, generously lubricate the affected nail and the skin around it.As a rule, such procedures do not cause irritation or allergic reactions in adults.For children, it is preferable to make foot baths with the addition of 5-10 drops of tea tree oil.But if in the first case it takes about two weeks to get rid of onychomycosis, foot baths will bring effect only after 1-2 months.
Vinegar
Despite the fact that vinegar is popular in the fight against nail fungus, it helps only in the initial stages, when the fungal spores have not yet penetrated deep into the nail plate.
Before using vinegar, it is recommended to cut the affected areas of the nails so that the acid penetrates deeper into the infection site.6% table vinegar is mixed in equal parts with warm water and the feet are soaked in the resulting bath for about half an hour.The procedure is performed daily for a minimum of two weeks.
Salicylic acid
This inexpensive pharmaceutical product is very effective in the fight against mycosis.To fight nail fungus, it is better to buy a 5% solution of salicylic acid, for skin treatment - 1%.
A cotton swab or disc is abundantly moistened with the product and the affected nail plate is treated.The procedure is repeated twice a day for one week.After that, you should take a seven-day break and, if necessary, repeat the course of treatment.
iodine
Treatment with iodine can be carried out only if there are no mechanical damages or cracks on the toes.Before applying the product, cut the nail as short as possible.A cotton swab is abundantly moistened with iodine and applied to the infected nail plate and adjacent nails.The procedure is repeated twice a day for half a month.When treating nails with iodine, it is important not to forget about the surrounding skin - it is better to disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide.
yellow flowers
Treating nail plates with celandine juice is a dirty but effective way to get rid of nail fungus.Infected areas are smeared with freshly squeezed juice from the plant, wrapped with a bandage and left for 4 hours.The procedure is repeated daily until a therapeutic effect is achieved.
If you cannot cure nail fungus at home, consult a doctor for help.For an accurate diagnosis, you will need to take a test to determine the type of pathogen and the degree of onychomycosis.The doctor will then prescribe a comprehensive drug treatment, including external and internal remedies.In advanced cases, it may be necessary to remove the nail plate.