Treatment of nail and foot fungus, if the disease is not advanced, can be carried out at home and with home remedies.There are recipes tested by time and traditional medicine that are simple and easy to prepare.If you methodically and carefully follow the instructions for them, then it is quite possible to get rid of an unpleasant disease.
Fungal infection on the skin and toenails is not just an aesthetic problem.If this problem is not solved in time, it can lead to serious problems in human health.That is why various types of toenail fungus treatment with folk remedies are so popular today.We will look at the simplest and safest recipes that can be made at home.
Manifestations of fungal diseases of the feet
Fungi often affect the skin of the legs, feet and interdigital spaces - this is the so-called athlete's foot.But in most cases, fungal infections are established on the nail plates and this is called in the scientific world - onychomycosis.
How to recognize nail fungus
Nail fungus is characterized by localization mainly on two fingers - the big toe and the little toe.The nails of these fingers become uneven, lumpy and have dull white or yellowish spots.The nail plate, with a long course of the disease, can separate from the bed in the area of spots.It is completely deformed and prone to ingrowth.
Manifestations of fungus on the feet
Redness appears on the leg, followed by peeling, itching (from mild to severe), purulent rashes, hyperhidrosis, and an unpleasant odor may appear.Heels also often crack and peel.
Risk factors for the development of fungi
- disturbed metabolism;
- increased body weight, diabetes mellitus;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- thyroid and adrenal gland problems;
- skin diseases (psoriasis);
- insufficient blood flow to the extremities;
- diseases related to the immune system;
- increased sweating (including feet);
- family medical history;
- age.
Before you start treating fungus at home
For the treatment to be effective, the following must be done:
- Before any action, you should first steam your feet in hot water with soap and sparkling water (50°C).The bath lasts from 15 minutes to an hour (if the nails are very hard).
- Treat the tools you will use with alcohol and the area of the procedure with a chlorine product or bleach.
- If the nail plates are affected by fungus, cut or file the affected nails.
- Exfoliate dead skin on feet.
Remember:areas affected by fungus should not be smeared with moisturizing creams!
Toenail fungus: treatment with folk remedies
Undoubtedly, the most effective treatment will be prescribed to you by a mycologist.But if the condition of the feet is not very advanced, the disease has not gone far, then you can try the following folk recipes.
1 recipe with apple cider vinegar
We're going to need apple cider vinegar.Wet a cotton swab with it and apply it to the nail affected by the fungus.Wrap the compress in cling film and walk for 3 hours every day.We continue to do these procedures until we notice that a new, clean plate is growing.
Recipe 2 – a mixture of essential and olive oils
We will need:
- tea tree oil or oregano oil (1 tsp);
- olive oil (½ teaspoon).
Mix the two ingredients and apply on the nails affected by fungus.Let them dry naturally.The procedure should be carried out in the morning and evening until the symptoms disappear.
Recipe 3 – Jaundice treatment
Another folk remedy against toenail fungus is celandine.This plant is poisonous, so it should be used in doses.But it is believed to help well even with advanced nail fungus.We're going to need celandine juice.
How to make juice from yellow flowers
Freshly picked, washed and dried celandine is passed through a meat grinder.The pulp is transferred to gauze folded in 3-4 layers and squeezed.We need 200 ml of juice, which is mixed with 200 ml of 70% alcohol.The liquid is infused for a day.
The resulting tincture should be used to wipe the affected nails after evaporation.Do the procedure 3-4 times a day every day until a healthy nail grows.
Fungus on the feet: treatment at home
Now let's look at some time-tested recipes that will help you deal with foot fungus.
1 recipe with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
We will need:
- baking soda (2-5 tsp);
- 3% hydrogen peroxide - you need enough to make a liquid paste.
Apply the paste to a cotton pad and apply it to the affected areas of the skin (including the heel).We wrap everything with a bag or stretch film, and a sock on top.The more advanced the disease, the longer you should keep the compress - at least up to 30 minutes.After removing the compress, the feet should be washed, dried well, smeared with oil (vegetable, olive oil, coconut) and put on the sock again - until the morning.
Recipe 2 – ointment for fungus
We will need:
- 9% vinegar (½ half liter jar) or vinegar essence;
- butter - 30-40 g;
- egg with shells - 1 pc.
Place a plain shell egg in a jar of vinegar.If it is very dirty, it should be washed first.It is left in vinegar for 3-5 days.After 5 days it will become soft, the shell will dissolve completely.The only thing that won't dissolve is the film from the egg, which can, for example, wrap around the affected nail.But we don't need it for the ointment.
- Remove the egg to a plate.The yolk should be almost runny.If we use the essence, the yolk will be like a rubber ball.
- Rub it in well.
- Add oil.If we have essence, then we will need more oil - 150g.Mix everything well until smooth.
- Add a few drops of vinegar to the porridge.
- Apply to the entire leg, wrap with film and put on a sock.
The ointment should be applied daily, walking with it for 1-2 hours in the morning or evening.The course of procedures continues until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
Both recipes are also suitable for treating nail fungus.
3 recipes with garlic
You can also cure toenail fungus at home with the help of garlic.
The garlic is finely grated and the feet affected by fungus are smeared, then the feet are wrapped in cellophane and put on a sock.
This procedure may not be very comfortable and some may experience throbbing pain and cramping.Therefore, it is recommended to make a compress at night.If the sensations are completely unpleasant, then you can use onions instead of garlic.By the way, together they "work" even better.
Tips for faster recovery from fungus
Before using any prescription or treatment method, you should:
- go through bedding, underwear, socks with a hot iron;
- treat the inside of the shoes with a 40% solution of acetic acid, then place them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight.
These manipulations should be carried out at the beginning and at the end of the treatment.If the treatment is prolonged, this should be done every month.
Prevention of fungal infections
These rules will help you avoid getting a yeast infection, so they should be followed for life.
- Do not wear other people's shoes.
- Do not use foreign manicure tools.
- Wash your feet every day and thoroughly dry the nails and the spaces between the toes.
- Wear clean socks and tights every day.
When things are bad
Treatment of foot fungus at home and the use of folk remedies is the most convenient, safe, non-toxic way, but it is not always the most effective.You must remember that if there is no relief, the disease progresses, then you should seek help from a specialist.In most cases, drug antifungal therapy is necessary, which consists of taking drugs by mouth and using local antifungal agents (ointments, creams).