How to cure nail fungus at home

Fungal diseases of the toenails (onychomycosis) are quite common. This disease is infectious in nature and is caused by pathogenic bacteria (epidermophytes). Almost from the moment of infection, a person begins to experience severe itching in the finger area, which even proven methods do not help to cope with. The disease is difficult to treat, so you need to be patient and decidehow to properly treat toenail fungus.

Every fifth person in the world contracts the fungus at least once, so it is not difficult to determine its presence by external signs.

Why is the fungus dangerous?

Nail fungus cannot be ignored, as the disease is contagious and can ruin the life of the patient and those around them.

In addition to the constant desire to scratch the affected area, the nail plates begin to change their structure, peel off, infecting the entire surrounding area with fungi. It's unpleasant to look at, so you can't ignore the wound. In addition, it will not be possible to forget it, as it will constantly remind you of yourself with itching.

Currently, people are very reluctant to go to the clinic, so the question always remains relevant: how to cure nail fungus at home?

Treating nail fungus with folk remedies is becoming common. How to treat nail fungus at home?

People are used to thinking that fungus is not a serious disease and that you can get rid of it yourself. Only when they have been unsuccessfully struggling with a problem for several weeks and see no results do they turn to professionals for help.

During this period, the disease moves to the next stage, when the urge to scratch the leg becomes irresistible, causing a state of panic and stress.

You need to know that nail fungus visually affects only a separate area of the human body, although in fact it changes the functioning of the entire body for the worse. Toxins that arise during the growth and reproduction of pathogenic fungi settle in it.

Blood flow promotes its distribution throughout the body, which leads to disruption of metabolic functions, increases sensitivity to various negative factors, causing all kinds of complications.

Externally, the affected nail is painted in different colors. It depends on the pathogen, as the fungus can be mold, yeast or dermatophyte.

Over time, keratinization of the nail makes even cutting it a problem, and how can you cure nail fungus at home in this case? Traditional methods of treating toenail fungus are the first thing victims turn to.

Causes of the fungus:

• open wounds on the feet (scratches, ulcers, abrasions, calluses);
• violation of hygiene rules;
• weak immunity;
• antibiotics or other medicines used to treat any diseases;
• excessive sweating of the feet.

But all these reasons are secondary, as the main reason is still the infection contracted by the patient. About a third of sufferers became infected with a fungal infection while visiting saunas, swimming pools, nail salons and other crowded places.

The presence of moisture only activates the infectious process and provides favorable conditions for the spread of bacteria. Simply walking barefoot in a public shower or wearing someone else's slippers will cause the patient's skin scales to affect your skin.

You can often get infected by using cloths, rugs and other similar common items. But even at home, no one is immune from fungal infections.

All it takes is for one family member to go to the beach or pool and they can become a carrier of bacteria, and if you share flip-flops or a sponge with them, the whole family can become infected.

The lack of humidity also does not hinder the function of the fungus. For example, visiting a store fitting room can become a place for infection. People in fitting rooms often take off their shoes and stand on the same carpet.

Shoe stores, where people try on shoes without socks, are a real breeding ground for many diseases, including fungal diseases.

Fungal spores are able to resist low and high temperatures, which extends their life for several months, which is why even on the beach, in the most extreme heat, they live peacefully in the sand.

Whereas beach sand or pebbles are a natural exfoliation for the feet, infected skin particles are found in large quantities and adhere to those with open wounds on their feet.

Used shoes are another carrier of fungal spores. Of course, stores that sell these products are obliged to put them on sale only after they have undergone appropriate chemical treatment, but this is not always done.

The first manifestations of the fungus

The fungus manifests itself in different ways all the time. If a person is healthy and has no damage to the legs, this can manifest itself in the form of peeling. If there is damage between the toes or heel, symptoms may be more severe.

The disease begins with peeling of the skin near the nails, slight redness and itching. This may not be important at all, as the cause may be uncomfortable or poorly breathable shoes. Furthermore, the redness between the fingers is quite difficult to notice immediately.

Clear signs of fungus are most visible in areas where the skin on the feet sweats. There, diaper rash appears and, in later stages, blisters appear.

The color of the nails changes from transparent to yellowish, the plate becomes cloudy and bulges. As bacteria begin to attack the nail, streaks and yellow spots appear and the nail begins to crack and peel.

The subungual space will be filled with a crumb mixture and will alternate with empty pits. But the biggest problem will come from increased itching and putrid foot odor, which will intensify if the foot sweats.

The advanced stage may be accompanied by fever and movement problems. Treating toe fungus in this case will require urgent medical attention. It will determine which species caused the disease and what measures should be taken to combat it.

At the initial stage, you can treat nail fungus with folk remedies or using pharmaceutical antifungal ointments and gels.

Options for traditional methods of treating foot fungus

1. The use of washing powder has always been considered effective, as it contains alkalis that can kill any type of fungus. Half a cup of powder should be placed in a hot bath and your feet should be immersed in it. You should not sit for more than 15 minutes. The procedure must be repeated for 10 days.
2. Everyone knows that garlic kills bacteria. To combat fungi, it is used in its pure form, cutting the cloves into two parts and dipping them in salt. Garlic does not need to be eaten, it should be rubbed into the area of the leg damaged by the fungus. Garlic can cause even more irritation and redness, so it should not be applied for long periods. 5-7 minutes are enough.
3. An ammonia compress at night is also a method of treating foot fungus with folk remedies. Add a spoonful of ammonia to 250 mg of water, soak a natural fabric that retains moisture well in the solution and wrap the leg.
4. Spread the foot with a paste of soda and water for 20 minutes. This will prevent the spread of bacteria.
5. Sprinkle steamed legs with boric acid powder and put on socks.
6. Does iodine cure nail fungus? Treatment of nail fungus with iodine is not limited to the usual stains on damaged areas. A product made with iodine, vinegar essence, glycerin and water in a 1: 2 ratio (2 parts water) helps if you rub it on the affected areas at night. Before that, they need to be steamed so that the pores open and the medicine penetrates better.
7. The simplest method, which can only be used in the first stage of the disease, is to insert tampons soaked in alcohol between the fingers. You can do this overnight or until the alcohol dries completely.
8. Grated onion gruel also helps prevent the spread of infection, for which it must be applied for several hours.
9. How to treat foot and nail fungus with herbs? Dried chamomile, mint, sage and nettle are suitable for this purpose. They can be crushed into equal parts, placed in a sock and worn at night. The same powder cannot be used a second time, just like a sock. In summer it is possible to use fresh inflorescences.
10. Treating foot fungus with vinegar is very effective. How to treat nail fungus with vinegar? To do this, you need to take baths with a 9% vinegar solution. First you need to steam your feet, then add vinegar to warm water, lower your feet for 15 minutes so that the soles of your feet do not touch the bottom. After the procedure, let your feet dry naturally without rinsing with clean water.
11. We treat nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide. The application process is the same as vinegar, only 3% peroxide is used.
12. Cut the lemon into slices and apply to the affected nail. Cover the top with gauze and wrap with film overnight.

Prevention

To effectively treat nail fungus, it is best to prevent the infection in the first place. To get rid of an unpleasant disease, you need to follow the recommendations:

• do not walk barefoot in public places;
• when going to the gym, swimming pool, water park, wear rubber flip-flops;
• use antifungal varnish with a fungicidal effect;
• buy comfortable types of shoes made of fabric or leather;
• make sure that in beauty salons they work with you only with tools that have undergone heat treatment;
• do not use strangers' slippers, towels or socks;
• do not wear the same socks every day;
• wash your feet morning and evening;
• take vitamins;
• At the first signs of fungal disease, use a gel that relieves itching, peeling and erosion.

What is dangerous and how to treat advanced nail fungus at home

An old fungus can cause complications from diseases such as diabetes, bronchial asthma or allergies. It becomes a conduit for other infections that can affect internal organs.

An increased amount of toxins in the body leads to intoxication.

An old fungus cannot be cured with folk remedies alone. How to treat advanced toenail fungus? This will require drug treatment under the supervision of a dermatologist, and folk remedies should be used in addition.

The causes of advanced fungus may be a late visit to the doctor, incorrectly prescribed treatment or the ineffectiveness of the medications used.

Old fungus requires long-term treatment, which can last six months. How to cure old nail fungus?

The doctor will only be able to make the diagnosis after analyzing a scraping of the injured area, after which he will prescribe antifungals. You need to be careful with some medications, as they may be contraindicated during pregnancy.

In parallel with the pills, creams and ointments are used, which are applied to the lesion.

How to cure advanced toenail fungus with folk remedies

1. Cotton swabs are soaked in propolis tincture with 20% alcohol and applied to damaged nails. Propolis helps to quickly destroy the fungus, after which the old nail plate falls off and a healthy one grows back.
2. Kombucha porridge applied to the affected area helps fight the fungus. It is applied several hours daily.
3. An ointment of 100 grams of butter, eggs in shell and 50 mg of 70% acetic acid is used daily. All ingredients are placed in a jar and do not mix. The ointment should be kept in the refrigerator for a week until the peels are completely dissolved. The ingredients can then be mixed until smooth.
4. 15 grams of calamus root is poured with boiling water and left for 30 minutes. The infusion must be drunk in a quarter of a glass 4 times.
5. At night, you need to apply ointment from the ash of 3 cigarettes with 1/2 teaspoon on your nails. toothpaste with fluoride.

What is the best way to treat nail fungus? There are many effective remedies, but they can be used depending on the stage of the disease.

The initial stages can be treated with folk remedies; for more advanced stages, it will be necessary to use complex drug treatment in combination with home medicine methods.