When a fungal infection appears on the nails, you need to pay attention to their restoration in order to prevent the progression of the disease and its spread to the sensitive skin of the hands or feet.
For treatment, you can use medications for external or internal use, and to increase the effectiveness of manipulations, it is recommended to use folk remedies for nail fungus.
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies
If an infection of the sensitive surface of the skin of the hands or feet is detected, or damage to the nail plate, treatment should be started immediately, since the initial stages of the fungus can be cured quickly without resorting to the use of medications.
There are three stages of fungal development: initial, active, advanced.During all three stages, the girl can use folk remedies against nail fungus, as they have a disinfectant effect that ensures the gradual elimination and destruction of pathogenic bacteria.However, with an active form of the fungus, drug treatment is prescribed, which includes two types of drugs:
- External (creams, ointments, sprays);
- Internal (tablets).
Regardless of the medications you take to restore a natural manicure, you need to accompany the treatment with the use of traditional recipes.
If you treat nail fungus with folk remedies, the most effective of them usually have three directions of effect:
- Preventing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
- Destruction of microorganisms, which is associated with the destruction of their cell membrane.
- Normalization of surface microflora and restoration of its condition.
As a standard, natural components have a caring effect, therefore, simultaneously with the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, their use helps to moisturize and nourish the matrix.
What determines the effectiveness of treatment?
To increase the effectiveness of nail treatment, it is recommended to use traditional recipes.However, they do not always lead to a positive outcome.
Please keep in mind in advance that even when carrying out home technologies for restoring the health of the coating, you need to pay attention to contraindications.The main one is individual intolerance.If you are allergic to a component, its use in the fight against fungus will not lead to a good result.
In addition, the effect after manipulation depends on the initial state of the natural manicure.If the girl had an advanced stage of damage, which implies the prescription of internal and external medications, home remedies will not bring results.
The result also depends on the type of fungus, since some pathogenic organisms lead to the appearance of inflammatory processes in the body, which can only be eliminated by taking antifungals.
How to properly organize the treatment process
To ensure quick elimination of the fungus, you must first pay attention to the treatment regimen.It is recommended to consult with your doctor to choose medications that are right for you based on the type of fungus.
However, regardless of the form of damage, it is important to consider that treatment must be comprehensive.It should not have one method aimed at eliminating the fungus.
As a standard, several techniques are used simultaneously:
- Preliminary preparation of the skin for manipulation by using a steam bath.
- Application of external medications (varnishes, ointments, serums).
- Using medicinal compresses, lotions or masks for nails.
- Using a file to remove the overgrown part of the free edge and polish the upper stratum corneum.
Also, during treatment, you need to pay attention to the hygiene of your hands or feet, as this often leads to nail plate fungus.
To increase local immunity by speeding up metabolism and the removal of fungus, you should apply essential oils to the cuticle and, when applying ointments, do a light massage on your fingers.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
In addition to drug treatment, it is recommended to influence the fungus through the use of folk recipes.Their main advantage is that they are safe, so there are usually no side effects.
However, keep in mind that in order to prevent irritation or inflammation in the treated area, make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components you use.
Iodine
Iodine is a natural antiseptic, so it should be used daily on your nails.When applied to the nail, the solution envelops it and gradually penetrates the matrix, ensuring the destruction of pathogenic bacteria and normalization of the nail microflora.
It is allowed to be used in its pure form.To do this, use a brush or a cotton swab to spread the solution over your nail every day in a thin layer and let it dry a little.In the morning the color will become paler as most of the liquid is absorbed.
Iodine is often added to baths to enhance the effect of antifungal treatments.To do this, add 5-7 drops per liter.
Hydrogen peroxide
In addition to iodine, hydrogen peroxide is also used as a disinfectant solution.It has a gentle effect, so it is recommended to treat it not only nails, but also the skin, distributing the medicine several times a day, as it is quickly absorbed.
You can use peroxide for a quick compress:
- Apply the liquid to the surface of the skin of your feet or hands.
- Wrap the area to be treated on top with a cotton cloth previously soaked in the solution.
- Cover the compress with a plastic bag or cling film.
- After 15 minutes, remove the auxiliary elements and wait until the solution is completely absorbed.
Since hydrogen peroxide is gentle, it can be used several times a day.However, it is not recommended to leave it as a compress overnight.
Potassium permanganate solution
It is not easy to get potassium permanganate now because it is banned, but it is a good disinfectant that quickly stops the proliferation of microorganisms on the surface.
Potassium permanganate is used, as is iodine, as an additional component when performing steam baths.You need to add a little so that the water is slightly pink.
You can make lotions for which three ingredients are mixed:
- 1 tablespoon propolis;
- 2 tablespoons alcohol;
- 3-4 drops of potassium permanganate.
The mixture is thoroughly mixed and distributed over fungus-infected nails for 20-25 minutes.
Soda and propolis
The components can be used separately, as they have strong disinfecting properties, or in one recipe.
To do this, they are mixed in equal proportions, applied to the damaged area of the skin or nails, and wrapped with cling film on top.Leave the compress on for 15 minutes and then wash off with cool water.
Propolis is separately distributed over the nails at night, touching the area of the side ridges and cuticles, as it additionally has moisturizing and nourishing properties, increasing local immunity.
Herbs
Despite their availability and gentle effect on tissue, herbs are often used to eliminate fungus.The more herbs you mix, the more effective the solution will be.
Most pharmaceutical herbs are allowed to be used:
- Calendula;
- Chamomile;
- Celandine;
- Propolis;
- Burdock;
- Lilac.
They can be used as a regular decoction.To do this, they are poured with boiling water and brewed for 20 minutes, and then filtered.The cooled liquid is applied to a cotton pad, applied to the fingertips and secured with an adhesive plaster for half an hour.
Application of essential oils
In addition to the moisturizing and nourishing effect, oils are also used to gradually break down the cell membrane of pathogenic bacteria, which ensures their death.
Different oils are used:
- Eucalyptus;
- Tea tree;
- Propolis;
- Celandine;
- Rosemary;
- Lavender.
You can also use ordinary edible oils - butter, vegetable, olive.They will also be effective against microorganisms.
It is recommended to apply them separately, spreading a thin layer over the nails at night.To avoid staining your bedding, you can wear cotton gloves or socks on top.
Tar soap
Soap contains tar, so it has an aggressive effect on fungal nail infections.
You need to use soap in its pure form - to do this, wash your feet or hands with it until a thick foam is created, and then wash it off.You can also make a compress, which involves applying a small amount of liquid soap to the nail, and then sprinkling it with sea salt or soda.The tips of the fingers should be bandaged and left in this condition overnight.
Instead of tar soap, you can use laundry soap, but it must have a concentration of active substance of 72%.
Kombucha
Kombucha is often used in the presence of inflammatory processes in the body or externally.It is safe, and an allergic reaction to the component usually does not occur.
For the compress, you need to cut off a thin slice of the ingredient - it should be slightly translucent, and then apply it to the cleaned nail and attach it with an adhesive plaster.After this, cotton gloves are put on your hands, socks on your feet, and the lotion is left in this position overnight.
You can use recipes that involve the use of kombucha every day.
Folk recipes
In addition to the separate use of natural ingredients for baths or compresses, you can make homemade masks, ointments or serums.They take more time, but they help create a strong antibacterial effect, which makes it possible to stop using medications.
Applications with vinegar essence
Typically, table, apple or wine vinegar is used in anti-fungal recipes.However, when treating advanced forms of nail lesions, you can use vinegar essence, which, upon first use, destroys some pathogenic microorganisms.
For the application you need to mix four components:
- 3 tablespoons vinegar;
- 3 tablespoons of vodka (or medical alcohol);
- 2 egg whites;
- A teaspoon of glycerin.
The components are thoroughly mixed, cooled a little and applied to the nails, and wrapped with gauze on top.After 15 minutes, the previous mixture dries out, and a second compress is applied.
The remaining mixture can be stored in the refrigerator, and the procedure is done a maximum of twice a week.
Ointment with o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester, glycerin and vinegar
This recipe also involves the use of vinegar essence, the concentration of which is 70%.Because of this, the recipe is not recommended for use in the initial stages of fungal infection, as well as on sensitive skin around the nails.
The ointment includes four components:
- 1 tablespoon vinegar;
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil;
- 1 teaspoon o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester;
- Chicken egg or a teaspoon of glycerin.
The components are thoroughly mixed, it is advisable to beat them with a blender, and then put them away for a day in a dark, cool place.After this, the ointment is distributed over the affected nails and wrapped in polyethylene for 20 minutes; first, it must be partially rubbed into the epidermis.
Garlic and onion compress
The compress can also be used in the treatment of advanced forms of lesions, as it involves mixing the main ingredients with alcohol, which has a strong antiseptic effect.
The recipe combines 4 components:
- 3 cloves of garlic;
- Half an onion;
- A tablespoon of alcohol 90%;
- A glass of distilled water.
Garlic and onion need to be grated on a fine grater, and then squeeze out the juice using cheesecloth.Then the mass is mixed with alcohol and water.After preparation, you can store the product in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator.
Cotton pads are soaked in the liquid, then applied to the nail and secured with an adhesive plaster for 25-30 minutes.
Celandine decoction
It is recommended to use a mixture of herbs against fungus, and celandine is one of the most effective types that ensure the restoration of nail microflora.
To make a decoction of celandine, you need to pour boiling water in a ratio of 1:5 for half an hour, then strain and cool.Cotton pads are soaked in the decoction and applied to the fungus-infected areas for several hours or overnight.
You can use the recipe every day, as it is absolutely safe.
Ointment based on copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is a chemical substance that is used for cosmetic purposes to nourish natural manicure and prevent the re-formation of fungus.
However, keep in mind that you cannot use it often, since the plant is poisonous, so exceeding the dosage can lead to destruction of the nails and irritation on the skin.
You need to use vitriol carefully:
- Clean the surface, preparing it for work.
- Apply the concentrate to the coating and wait until it hardens.
- Grate the onion on a fine grater and spread the pulp over your nails.
- Wrap your fingertips in cellophane and secure.
- After 6-7 hours, wash off the solution.
You should not use vitriol more than 2 times a week to ensure the safety of its effects.
Baths with sea salt and essential oils
Before almost every antifungal treatment, it is recommended to do steaming baths so that the applied product penetrates the structure faster, leading to a positive result.
You can add auxiliary components to the baths that will increase their effectiveness.Salt and oils are often used for this:
- Add a tablespoon of sea salt to a glass of boiling water and dissolve it.
- After the liquid has cooled to the optimal temperature, add 5-6 drops of essential oils (several types can be added).
- Soak your feet or hands in the solution for 20 minutes.
- After performing the bath, dry your skin with dry towels and apply antifungal ointment.
Baths are allowed every day to quickly eliminate the fungus.
Conclusions
To remove the fungus, doctors prescribe standard drug treatment, which includes the use of ointments, creams, and pills.However, some lesions can be eliminated with folk remedies, while at the same time increasing local immunity.However, be careful when using homemade solutions, as they also have health and dosage restrictions.