Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is a disease of the feet and toenails caused by dermatophytes. Pathology is contagious in nature, a pathogenic parasite - the infectious pathogen spreads throughout the body through the lymphatic, circulatory system.
Nail fungus, like many diseases, can be effectively cured by folk methods. The advantages of treatment with this approach are obvious - availability, safety, efficacy. Apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus is as effective as any antiseptic for parasites:
- Vinegar creates an acidic environment in the thickness of the nail.
- High acidity is harmful to fungal spores, stopping the growth and reproduction process.
treatment solutions
Depending on the stage and type of disease, there are different treatment options for nail fungus:
- In the early stages, although there is a change in the color of the nails, the initial destruction of the structure, adequate treatment is provided through the use of folk methods: lotions, baths, ointments.
- If the fungus develops for a long time, is diagnosed as a neglected form, and the plate has turned dirty yellow, gray, bumpy, and chipped along the cut of the nail, oral antifungal medication must be used.
Basic rules for using drugs
Such a simple mechanism makes apple cider vinegar effective in treating fungal diseases, subject to the following rules:
- Carefully selected flavors: the raw material - apple cider vinegar - must be all natural, free of impurities and chemical additives. Apple essence is easy to make at home.
- Take the necessary precautions: prevent the risk of fungal transmission by strengthening hygiene requirements, using personal items (towels, slippers), washing towels and socks after use.
- Strictly follow the recipes and options for using the medication.
Method 1: Take a bath
A bath filled with ingredients that are harmful to the fungus is a proven cure for the disease. Apple cider vinegar is highly damaging to fungi.
Training
The healing baths that are being prepared to treat the fungus are as follows:
- We take vinegar (400-800ml) and pour it into a container for surgery.
- Thoroughly wash your feet, steam the damaged nails first, and cut off the seal.
program
- Soak your feet in a filled container, soak in the bath for 10-15 minutes, dry your feet with a towel, and put on socks made of natural materials (preferably cotton).
- For the treatment to be effective, bathe in the morning and evening for the first 7 days, then every 3 days.
- If there are cuts, cracks in the legs, the surgery can be painful. To reduce the burning sensation, dilute apple cider vinegar (2: 1) with water.
After using the towel, it must be washed thoroughly to prevent the spread of infection.
Method 2: Compression
Compressed with apple cider vinegar and combined with other ingredients, it is effective in inhibiting fungal growth.
Compression options
There are several ways to treat an infection with lotion:
- Wet a cotton swab (gauze) with apple cider vinegar and apply to the damaged nail.
- You can cure an infection with a mixture that has a paste-like consistency. In its composition, apple cider vinegar (two tablespoons) is mixed with soda water (until the desired density is obtained).
- Mix glycerin and apple cider vinegar in equal proportions (you can use vegetable oil instead). Treatment with this fungal mixture is recommended, not only for nail damage, but also for skin damage.
- A tincture of iodine (3 drops) mixed with apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon) helps very well.
- Treat the fungus with an iodine lotion and a mixture of lemon, soda, and water for good results.
Application Features
Compression is recommended at night, fixed on damaged areas. You can apply lotion during the day - in this case, leave it on for at least three hours.
- The toe deck becomes soft due to compression and can be removed with scissors.
- Lotion is effective if there is an initial form of nail disease.
- Because vinegar has a drying effect, it's important to moisturise the skin of your legs with a cream after lotions and other procedures.
Method 3: Ointment and Mixture
When treating fungus, using an apple cider vinegar-based ointment is effective. Like other folk remedies, treatment with vinegar ointment requires adherence to the instructions.
Ointment selection
Empirically tested ointment against fungi, the main ingredient of which is apple cider vinegar:
- Chop kohlrabi leaves (100g), add vinegar (1 tsp), honey (10g), eucalyptus oil (30g). Store the mixture in a dark place for 3 days before starting to treat the fungus. Treat by lubricating the affected nail.
- To get rid of onychomycosis, use the following ointment: Dimethyl phthalate, olive oil, glycerin, and vinegar in equal proportions. Apply the ointment at night and wash off with laundry soap in the morning.
vinegar mixture
With the help of these recipes, our ancient ancestors managed to fight nail infections and beat the fungus.
- A mixture of vinegar and honey. You can mix equal parts honey and vinegar and apply to the affected area for 20 minutes. Then wash off with warm water.
- Alternate baths with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (2 parts 2% hydrogen peroxide to 1 part water).
- Mixture of Vinegar with Colloidal Silver - To enhance the effect on fungi, apply a suspension containing metal particles to dry feet after a vinegar bath and leave until the mixture is dry.
To heal the fungus, it is recommended to use the ointment twice a day. Treatment is more effective if the legs are thoroughly steamed and the thickened part of the nail is removed before applying the ointment.
prevention
Treating onychomycosis is difficult, it is a painstaking process that requires a lot of time and patience. Complicating the fight against the disease is the difficulty of early diagnosis and the ability of the fungus to survive.
Consequences of Undertreated Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is not a cosmetic problem, the consequences of the fungus for the patient are as follows:
- Nail infections can cause many complications: allergic skin diseases, bronchial asthma, various rashes.
- Research conducted by the Mycological Society has proven that fungi can negatively affect the quality of life of patients. This is due to psychological issues, not the aesthetic appearance of the affected nail.
- If you don't fight the disease at the first sign of the fungus, your immune system can suffer.
- Risk of erysipelas.
- Fungi complicate the course of chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease).
- If treatment of this nail infection is not started in time, there is a high chance of spreading the fungus to the skin of the hands, infecting family members, and those around the patient.
How to avoid relapse
To prevent infection or recurrence of mycosis of the legs, it is important to take the following precautions:
- Refuse to wear tight friction shoes. Keep your shoes dry - in wet conditions, the risk of developing sick fungus increases.
- Wear rubber slippers when going to public saunas, swimming pools, beaches, and disinfect your shoes and feet with a vinegar bath when you get home.
- If your feet are sweaty - wear socks made of natural materials and use makeup.
- Socks, tights, stockings must be changed daily.
- Pay close attention to immunity - this is a common cause of fungal diseases. Take a regular multivitamin course: twice a year, antibiotics when you're sick, and when you're weak.