Treatment of nail fungus and foot fungus, if the disease is not advanced, can be carried out at home and with home remedies.There are time-tested and traditional medicine recipes that are simple and easy to prepare.If you methodically and carefully follow the instructions for them, then getting rid of an unpleasant disease is quite possible.
Fungal infection on the skin and nails of the feet is not only an aesthetic problem.If this problem is not addressed in time, it can lead to serious problems in human health.This is why various types of treatment for toenail fungus with folk remedies are so popular today.We will look at the simplest and safest recipes that can be made at home.
Manifestations of fungal foot diseases
The fungus often affects the skin of the legs, feet and interdigital spaces - this is the so-called athlete's foot.But in overwhelming cases, fungal infections settle on the nail plates, and this is called in the scientific world - onychomycosis.
How to recognize nail fungus
Nail fungus is characterized by localization mainly on two fingers - the big and little fingers.The nails on these fingers become uneven, lumpy, and have dull white or yellowish spots.The nail plate, with a long course of the disease, can separate from the bed in the area of the spots.It is completely deformed and has a tendency to ingrown.
Manifestations of foot fungus
Redness appears on the foot, followed by peeling, itching (from mild to severe), pustular rashes, hyperhidrosis, and an unpleasant odor may appear.Heels also often crack and peel.
Risk factors for developing fungus
- impaired metabolism;
- increased body weight, diabetes mellitus;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- problems with the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- skin diseases (psoriasis);
- insufficient blood flow to the extremities;
- diseases associated with the immune system;
- increased sweating (including feet);
- family medical history;
- age.
Before starting to treat fungus at home
For treatment to be effective, the following must be done:
- Before any action, you should first steam your feet in hot soap and soda water (50°C).The bath lasts from 15 minutes to an hour (if the nails are very hard).
- Treat the instruments you will use with alcohol, and the area of the procedure with a chlorine-containing product or bleach.
- If the nail plates are affected by the fungus, then cut or file off the affected nails.
- Exfoliate dead skin on the feet.
Remember:areas affected by fungus should not be lubricated with moisturizing creams!
Fungus on toenails: treatment with folk remedies
Undoubtedly, the most effective treatment will be prescribed to you by a mycologist.But if the condition of the legs is not very advanced, the disease has not gone far, then you can try the following folk recipes.
1 recipe using apple cider vinegar
We will need apple cider vinegar.We moisten a cotton swab with it and apply it to the nail affected by the fungus.Wrap the compress in cling film and walk for 3 hours every day.We continue to do these procedures until we notice that a new, clean plate is growing.
Recipe 2 – a mixture of essential and olive oils
We will need:
- tea tree oil or oregano oil (1 tsp);
- olive oil (½ tsp).
Mix both ingredients and apply on fungus-affected nails.Let them dry naturally.The procedure should be done in the morning and evening until symptoms subside.
Recipe 3 – treatment with celandine
Another folk remedy against toenail fungus is celandine.This plant is poisonous, so it must be used in doses.But it is believed to help well even in cases of advanced nail fungus.We will need celandine juice.
How to prepare celandine juice
Freshly picked, washed and dried celandine is passed through a meat grinder.The pulp is transferred to gauze, folded in 3-4 layers, and squeezed out.We need 200 ml of juice, which is combined with 200 ml of 70% alcohol.The liquid is infused for a day.
The resulting tincture should be used to wipe the affected nails after steaming them.Do the procedure 3-4 times a day every day until a healthy nail grows.
Foot fungus: treatment at home
Now let's look at a few time-tested recipes that will help cope with foot fungus.
1 recipe with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
We will need:
- baking soda (2-5 tsp);
- 3% hydrogen peroxide - you need enough of it to make a liquid paste.
Apply the paste onto a cotton pad and apply it to the affected areas of the skin (including the heel).We wrap everything with a bag or cling film, and a sock on top.The more advanced the form of the disease, the longer you need to keep the compress - up to 30 minutes at least.After removing the compress, the feet must be washed, dried well, applied oil (vegetable, olive, coconut) on top and put on the sock again - until the morning.
Recipe 2 – ointment for fungus
We will need:
- 9% vinegar (½ half-liter jar) or vinegar essence;
- butter - 30-40 g;
- egg with shell - 1 pc.
Place a simple egg with shell in a jar of vinegar.If it is very dirty, it should be washed first.Leave it in vinegar for 3-5 days.After 5 days it will become soft, the shell will completely dissolve.The only thing that will not dissolve is the film from the egg, which can, for example, be wrapped around the affected nail.However, we don’t need it for the ointment.
- Take the egg out onto a plate.The yolk should be almost soft-boiled.If we use the essence, the yolk will be like a rubber ball.
- Rub it well.
- Add butter.If we have essence, then we will need more oil - 150 g.Stir everything well until smooth.
- Add a few drops of vinegar to the pulp.
- Apply to the entire foot, wrap with film, and put on a sock.
The ointment should be applied daily, walk with it for 1-2 hours in the morning or evening.The course of procedures lasts until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
Both of these recipes are also suitable for treating nail fungus.
3 recipe using garlic
You can also cure foot fungus at home using garlic.
Finely grate the garlic and apply it to the feet affected by the fungus, then wrap the feet in cellophane and put on a sock.
This procedure may not be very comfortable, and some may experience throbbing pain and cramping.Therefore, it is recommended to make a compress at night.If the sensations are completely unpleasant, then you can use onions instead of garlic.By the way, together they “work” even better.
Tips to help you recover from fungus faster
Before using any prescription or treatment method, you must:
- go over bedding, linen, socks with a hot iron;
- treat the inside of the shoes with a 40% acetic acid solution, then place them in a plastic bag and leave them in the freezer overnight.
These manipulations should be performed at the beginning of treatment and at its end.If the treatment is long-term, then this should be done monthly.
Prevention of fungal infections
These rules will help you avoid contracting a fungal infection, so they should be followed for life.
- Don't wear someone else's shoes.
- Do not use other people's manicure devices.
- Wash your feet every day and dry your nails and spaces between your toes thoroughly.
- Wear clean socks and tights every day.
When things are bad
Treating foot fungus at home and using folk remedies is the most convenient, safe, non-toxic way, but not always the most effective.You must remember that if relief does not occur, the disease progresses, then you should seek help from a specialist.In most cases, drug antifungal therapy is required, which consists of taking drugs orally and using local antifungal agents (ointments, creams).