How to cure toenail 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 feel severe itching in the finger area, which even proven methods do not help to cope. The disease is difficult to treat, so you have to be patient and decidehow to properly treat fungus on toenails.

One in five people in the world contracts the fungus at least once, so it is not difficult to determine its presence by external signs.

Why are mushrooms dangerous?

Fungus on the nails cannot be ignored, as this disease is contagious and can ruin the life of the patient and those around him.

In addition to the constant desire to scratch the affected area, the nails 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 plague. Moreover, it will not be possible to forget about it, as it will constantly remind you of itself 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?

Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is becoming commonplace. How to treat nail fungus at home?

People are accustomed to thinking that the fungus is not a serious disease and that it is possible to get rid of it on their own. Only when they struggle unsuccessfully with a problem for several weeks and see no results, they turn to professionals for help.

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

You should know that toenail fungus visually affects only a separate area of the human body, although in reality it changes the functioning of the entire body for the worse. Toxins that are formed during the growth and reproduction of pathogenic fungi are deposited inside it.

Blood flow promotes their distribution throughout the body, which leads to disruption of metabolic functions, increases sensitivity to many 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 leads to the fact that even cutting it becomes a problem, and how to cure nail fungus at home in this case? Traditional methods of treating fungus on toenails are the first thing victims resort to.

Causes of Fungi:

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

But all these reasons are secondary, since the main thing is still the infection contracted in a sick person. About a third of sufferers were infected with a fungal infection while visiting saunas, swimming pools, beauty salons and other crowded places.

The presence of moisture only activates the infection process and provides favorable conditions for the spread of bacteria. It is enough to walk barefoot in a public shower or use someone else's flip-flops for the patient's skin scales to have an effect on your skin.

You can often get the infection by using washcloths, carpets, and other similar common objects. But even at home, no one is safe from fungal infections.

It is enough for one of the family members to go to the seaside or swimming pool, and he can become a carrier of bacteria, and if he shares slippers or a sponge with him, the whole family can become infected.

Even the lack of humidity does not interfere with the functioning of the mushroom. For example, visiting a store changing room can become a site of infection. People in dressing rooms often take off their shoes and stand on the same mat.

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 withstand low and high temperatures, which extends their life by several months, so even on the beach in the most extreme heat they live calmly in the sand.

Whereas sand or small pebbles on the beach are a natural exfoliant for the feet, particles of infected skin are found there in large quantities and stick to those who have open sores on their feet.

Second-hand shoes are another carrier of fungal spores. Of course, shops selling such goods are obliged to put them on sale only after they have undergone appropriate chemical treatment, but this does not always happen.

The first manifestations of the fungus

The fungus always manifests itself in different ways. If a person is healthy and does not have any damage to the legs, it can manifest itself in the form of peeling. If there is damage between the toes or on the heel, the symptoms may be more severe.

The disease begins with peeling of the skin near the nails, slight redness and itching. No importance should be given to this, as the cause could be uncomfortable or poorly breathable shoes. In addition, redness between the fingers is quite difficult to notice right away.

Obvious 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 plaque becomes cloudy and lumpy. When bacteria begin to attack the nail, streaks, yellowish spots will appear, and the nail will begin to crack and peel.

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

The advanced stage may be accompanied by fever and movement problems. Treatment of fungus on the toes 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.

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

Options for traditional methods of treating foot fungus

1. Using detergent has always been considered effective as it contains alkali that can kill any type of fungus. Half a glass of powder should be poured into a warm bath and the 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. In the fight against mushrooms 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 must 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 of time. 5-7 minutes is 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, immerse a natural fabric that will retain moisture well in the solution and wrap your leg.
4. Smear the foot with a paste of soda and water for 20 minutes. This will stop the spread of the bacteria.
5. Sprinkle steamed legs with boric acid powder and put on socks.
6. Does iodine cure nail fungus? Treatment of toenail fungus with iodine is not limited to the usual smearing of damaged areas. A product made of iodine, vinegar essence, glycerin and water in a ratio of 1: 2 (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 phase of the disease, is to insert alcohol-soaked pads between the fingers. You can do this overnight or until the alcohol dries completely.
8. Grated onion gruel will also help stop the spread of the infection, for which it must be applied for several hours.
9. How to treat foot and nail fungus with herbs? For this purpose, dried chamomile, mint, sage and nettle are suitable. They can be crushed in equal parts, poured into a sock and worn at night. The same powder cannot be used a second time, just like a sock. In summer you can 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% solution of vinegar. First you need to steam your feet, then pour vinegar into warm water, lower your feet there 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 on the affected nail. Cover the top with gauze and wrap with cling film overnight.

Prevention

To effectively treat toenail 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 visiting the gym, swimming pool, water park, wear rubber slippers;
• use an antifungal paint that has a fungicidal effect;
• purchase comfortable types of fabric or leather shoes;
• 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 a 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 of diseases such as diabetes, bronchial asthma or allergies. It becomes a channel 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 only with folk remedies. How to treat advanced toenail fungus? This will require a course of drugs under the supervision of a dermatologist, and folk remedies should be used as a supplement.

The causes of advanced fungus can be a late visit to the doctor, an incorrectly prescribed course of treatment or the ineffectiveness of the drugs used.

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

A doctor can make a diagnosis only after analyzing a scraping from the damaged area, after which he will prescribe antifungal drugs. It is necessary to pay attention to some drugs: they may be contraindicated during pregnancy.

In parallel with the compresses, creams and ointments are used that 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 gruel applied to the affected area helps fight the fungus. It is applied for several hours a day.
3. Every day, an ointment consisting of 100 grams of butter, shelled eggs and 50 mg of 70% acetic acid is used. All ingredients are placed in one jar and do not mix. The ointment should be stored in the refrigerator for a week until the shells are completely dissolved. The ingredients can then be mixed until smooth.
4. 15 grams of calamus root are poured with boiling water and left for 30 minutes. The infusion should be drunk a quarter of a glass 4 times.
5. At night, you need to apply an ointment from the ashes of 3 cigarettes with 1/2 teaspoon on the nails. toothpaste with fluoride.

What is the best way to treat toenail 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 older stages it will be necessary to use complex treatment with drugs in combination with home medicine methods.