Fungal diseases affecting the nails and feet cause severe discomfort and can significantly impair a person's quality of life. In addition, nail fungus is characterized by a long and complex treatment process, when it is detected in the later stages.
However, it is easier and relatively uncomplicated to deal with it if you start treatment in time when the initial symptoms of a fungal infection first appear.Traditional medicine suggests the adoption of some recipes that can solve the problem of mushroom development.
Iodine protects nail health
Having a protein structure, dermatophyte fungi parasitize the nails, the skin of the feet and between the toes and feed on the horny scales of the skin and the keratin that is part of the nail plate.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the most popular remedy for the treatment of onychomycosis at home is an alcoholic solution of iodine. A solution of iodine has a harmful effect on the structure of protein cells, destroying them; moreover, iodine is a strong antiseptic and has pronounced fungicidal properties (resistance to mold formation).
Remember that iodine is a very active substance and, if handled improperly, can cause some damage, such as chemical burns, etc.
The affordable price of iodine makes this drug attractive to consumers for the treatment of nail fungus, as well as for preventive purposes. It is worth remembering the rules that must be followed when using iodine solutions for medical purposes.
Safety rules when working with iodine
- Treating the skin with iodine solution can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
the reaction. Therefore, before you start using it, examine the reaction of the skin by smearing the area in the bend of the elbow with an iodine solution. - Regular use of iodine solution strongly pigments the nail in a yellow color, which can be removed only with the growth of a new nail.
- If used incorrectly or if the permitted dose is exceeded, a chemical burn or inflammatory skin lesion (dermatitis) may occur.
- Only the nails and affected areas of the skin should be treated and only at the stage of primary symptoms.
Recipes based on iodine solution
- Recipe 1. An alcoholic solution of iodine (5%) is applied one drop to each affected nail twice a day, in the morning and at bedtime, using a cotton swab for convenience. To prevent the disease, as well as for additional strengthening, the same solution, but in a smaller dose, can be lubricated on healthy nail plates.
- Recipe 2. The six-week course of treatment is divided into three phases of fourteen days each. During the course, the infected areas of the skin and nails are treated alternately: Castellani liquid in the first two weeks, iodine solution in the second stage, vinegar solution (9%) in the last two weeks.
- Recipe 3. First, a solution is prepared, consisting of the following ingredients: iodine, chloronitrophenol, vinegar essence, garlic juice, in equal parts, a teaspoon of each ingredient. This solution should be used to treat the infected nail every day before going to bed. Cloves should first be steamed and the softened part removed. Before use, the medicinal mixture must be shaken.
When treating nails with any manicure accessory, you should remember: to avoid infection of healthy nails, the affected areas should be treated with special tools.
Treatment with copper sulfate
Copper sulfate, or copper sulfate in humans, is most often used to accompany the traditional treatment of fungal infections. It appears in the form of crystals, easily dissolves in water and is non-toxic. Two forms are applicable for treatment.
- Copper sulfate solution. It can be done at home. A teaspoon of copper sulfate crystals is dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water. The resulting solution is very concentrated, so it should be used in diluted form for treatment: 1 tbsp. l. solution for 1, 5 liters of water. Using this solution, take a ten-minute foot bath before treating the affected areas of the skin and nails with medications recommended by the doctor.
- Ointment with copper sulfate. Copper sulfate crystals are calcined on a hot surface until the color changes to gray or white. Then mix it with other ingredients: yellow sulfur, tar or goose fat, one teaspoon each. The resulting ointment is used to treat sore nails every day until complete healing.
Sea and table salt for the treatment of fungal infections
Sea and common salt can be added to therapeutic foot baths. At the same time, the affected areas of the foot skin and nails are disinfected. As a rule, such antiseptic procedures are aimed at infections that live in the skin and are needed to prepare the nails for the subsequent application of medicinal ointments to them.
Salt alone is not able to cure fungus, but it is often used as a component of ointments and medical mixtures made according to folk recipes.
For example, garlic water is suitable against advanced fungal infections; used to treat affected feet and nails twice a day. This water is easily prepared at home. The ground garlic clove is mixed with salt until a paste is obtained. The resulting mixture is dissolved in 200 ml of water. After the final cooling, distribute another 4 tbsp. l. salt.
Unusual uses of regular soda
- Recipe 1. Daily use of baths with soap and soda will contribute to better penetration of the medicinal components containing the drugs directly into the lesions. This can often be difficult, as the affected nail is quite thick, grows quickly and acts as an anti-penetration agent, and soap and soda baths soften the nail plate. Mix 3 cups of baking soda and 3 tbsp. l. grated soap, then dissolve the resulting mixture in 7-10 liters of water. Legs fly for 20 minutes a day for 4-5 days.
- Recipe 2. A certain amount of baking soda is diluted with water to form a paste, which is used to cover the infected nail. A few minutes after applying the soda paste to the nails, add some lemon juice. Then the mixture is removed, the nail is washed with soap and treated with antifungal agents. This medicine is also used only as an accompanying treatment.
Treatment process using birch tar
Birch tar is a powerful remedy for treating all kinds of skin diseases. Therefore, you can treat your feet with natural birch tar. However, the legs are pre-prepared. The feet, steamed in hot soapy water, are subjected to subsequent treatment: the rough and affected skin of the feet is exfoliated and the infected nails are cut. Then the already dry skin of the feet is lubricated with birch tar applied to a cotton swab using rubbing movements. You don't have to wear socks or shoes for an hour and a half. Give the tar time to absorb into the skin.
Tar is no less effective as a treatment in ointments or mixtures. You can prepare tar ointment yourself, with 5–10% tar content in the early stages. You will need a rich nourishing cream or some type of fat. Natural tar is added to the cream and everything is mixed well. The ointment is ready for use.
Another effective option for the treatment of fungi is sulfur-tar oil, consisting of tar, powdered sulfur, a base in the form of cream or fat - in the ratio: 3: 2: 10, respectively. Apply a thin layer of oil to the areasaffected, let it dry and stick a patch of earth on it.
The use of tar soap is useful for the prevention of any skin disease, as it contains up to 12% pure tar and has antiseptic properties. You should choose handmade tar soap, the usefulness of whose composition will be without a doubt.
Celandine for clear skin
Celandine is a poisonous plant, the juice of which is successfully used against fungal diseases and other skin diseases.
- Celandine juice. Celandine juice is used to treat diseased skin and nail surfaces. The freshly squeezed juice is mixed with alcohol (70%) in a 1: 1 ratio and injected over the next 24 hours. The treatment process lasts about a week, the treatments are performed regularly 3-4 times a day on previously prepared nails and feet.
- Infusion of celandine. Add 100 g of dry celandine leaves to 1 liter of boiling water. After half an hour, the resulting infusion is added to the foot bath and the feet are steamed for 20 minutes every day.
- Ointment. Celandine is part of a herbal medicinal oil to fight fungal infections. Add 5 drops of fresh celandine juice, 2 drops of oregano and 2 drops of prepared calendula tincture to the cooled boiled water (4 tablespoons). Treatment with such an ointment will last about 10 days, but the damaged areas should be treated at least three times a day.
- Celandine oil. You can use celandine oil, which is sold in any pharmacy, or make it yourself at home, although this process is quite labor intensive.
It is still better to use folk remedies for nail fungus in combination with traditional medicine - the effect will be stronger and the treatment time until full recovery will be significantly reduced.