Ringworms can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's fingernails and feet are the most preferred place for their location. The virus is very easily transmitted and spreads, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and drugs that are used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies for nail fungus remains high.
What is a mushroom?
In nature, there are many types of fungal pathogens that can affect the human body. Mushrooms are always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in various ways: in public places, through shared shoes, by direct contact.
The most common localization site is the legs, namely the feet and nails. This placement is due to several reasons:
- increased leg sweating caused by individual characteristics;
- tight and uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent leg injuries, microcracks, scratches, corns;
- stress;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- hypothermia of the legs of a permanent nature.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then unpleasant symptoms begin to actively appear:
- unpleasant pungent odor from the feet;
- the nail plate turns white and lamination may appear;
- itching and sometimes burning sensation;
- wounds form on the skin around the nails, erosion appears.
Treatment depends on the stage of nail fungus, the earlier the problem is noticed, the easier it is to resolve. But it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can last for several months or even years. The disappearance of signs does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This can only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will resume.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last for several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them give a 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise using various methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Benefits of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- have practically no contraindications and side effects;
- when used correctly, fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods of getting rid of the fungus can be advised by experts. The main thing is to use new tools very carefully. Also, do not forget about the age of the patient, it is not recommended to use products that have not been tested for children. Patients under 16 are seen during an appointment with a mycologist, but people over 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a proven remedy
To date, iodine remains an effective remedy for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive use of iodine can cause burns, so the dosage must be strictly observed when applying it.
This method is very effective if used from the very beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to damage the nail plate and the skin during treatment, you must follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at the pharmacy and check its expiry date.
- Wash your feet thoroughly and dry them. It is very important that the patient only uses their own towel, this reduces the risk of transmitting infection.
- On each affected nail and the one next to it, place a drop of iodine and rub well.
- Let the iodine dry out a little, and for some time after that do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The complete treatment lasts about a month. It has such a method and a number of side effects. The skin around the fingers turns yellow, which creates aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity can be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning when rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against fungal infections
Another popular recipe for getting rid of yeast infection at home is acetic compresses. To do this, use the usual 9% table vinegar and baths are prepared from it.
The recipe is simple: you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix well. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing the concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for the bath is 2: 1.
The water must be cold, otherwise the vinegar will lose its properties. In addition, you need to prepare a bath with hot water, the legs are lowered into it for steaming. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be done every other day, the full treatment lasts 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has a strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic property, so it is used to fight bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in its pure form at the pharmacy, but you need to use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend using propolis infusion over alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use it for mycoses.
To combat this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- moisten a cotton ball in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night, a slightly melted piece of the substance is placed on the affected nails, but such a compress can be kept for no more than 2 hours.
It is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use it very carefully.
tea mushroom
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim that it can lead to the activation of the process, while others claim that it can completely eliminate mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this the fungus is soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, then it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effects.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess liquid, then gently rub into the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, made before bedtime. Feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Soak one part in lukewarm water, return the other to the syrup. Take a mushroom out of the water and tie it to your fingernails, tie cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. The compress can cause tingling, slight pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are considered quite justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless substance is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, so it is advisable to use it to quickly get rid of nail fungus at home. It is birch tar, a processing product of birch bark, which is actively used. It can be purchased at a specialty pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis of ointments, but in case of mycosis, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Different types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular due to their effect.
First you need to spray your legs. It is best to do this in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead parts of the nail and coat the fresh places with tar and rub well. Then it is not necessary to dress for several hours, the tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day; after this period, you can take a cold bath for your feet. To maximize the effectiveness of treatment, you should wear socks made of natural fabrics and treat shoes with a light tar solution.
Foot baths using tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half a bar of soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add soda. Perform the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean coarse fabrics and let the feet dry.
Herbal decoctions
It's no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in folk medicine. For the treatment of mycosis, decoctions of such plants are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- mugwort;
- marigold;
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile.
For the preparation of decoctions, it is the dry flowers of these plants that are used. It is very important to respect the proportions and maintain sufficient torque time. For the treatment of the fungus, only decoctions on water are used, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Experts in decoctions recommend using them only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not cope with advanced stages. In addition, some of the presented plants can cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you need to be patient. For the best effect, sometimes you need to use several recipes. Full treatment can take years. It is better to consult a specialist before choosing a method of treatment. And in no case do not start the process, severe stages are extremely difficult to treat.