Few people know that using vinegar can solve a very complex medical problem like getting rid of nail fungus. With the availability of table vinegar (9% acid solution) and even vinegar essence (70% acid solution), which can be purchased at the hardware store or market, there are many ways to treat athlete's foot using this product.
Of course, self-treatment with vinegar should be carried out only if the disease has not progressed to an advanced form, and it is advisable to combine it with specially prepared drugs. But if there is an urgent need to treat nail fungus and there is no money or time to visit a doctor or drug therapy, you can use vinegar yourself, the main thing is to follow the appropriate safety rules.
Features of the use of vinegar for the treatment of fungus
The main effect of using vinegar is to create an acidic environment that prevents the growth of hyphae and the spread of spores in the area of fungal infection. Gradually, without access to new food sources, the fungus dies, and the absence of hardier spores prevents the possibility of disease recurrence.
At first glance, everything is very simple - how to destroy bacteria with an antiseptic. But in fact, the fungus is very strong, because its body is not on the surface of the nail or skin, but goes deep into the tissue. In this regard, a positive result from the treatment of oncomycosis should be expected only with strict regularity of procedures, which will not leave the parasite time for rehabilitation and penetration under the skin.
Before treating nail fungus, make sure that the concentration of acetic acid used corresponds to the concentration indicated in the recipe. If the recipe mentions vinegar essence, it means a 70% solution that should be dissolved or applied to the spot. Cooking or table vinegar contains 6 and 9% acid, respectively. Ignoring this information can result in the treatment ending with a chemical burn.
Apart from this point, there are no specific contraindications for vinegar treatment. Individual intolerance is very rare, but vinegar is such a common substance that patients are usually aware of this feature of the body. A burning sensation may occur during the first procedures, but this is normal and will subside over time. Otherwise, vinegar does not pose any health risks if safety rules are followed.
Vinegar baths
Hot foot baths are considered an effective remedy against fungi, regular use allows to get rid of onychomycosis at an early stage without additional drugs. Also, vinegar baths are an excellent prevention of fungal infections. The procedure requires warm, approximately 50 ° C, water and a glass of table vinegar with a concentration of 9%. The water level in the basin should not be high, but up to the ankles. The feet are immersed in the solution and kept there for 15 minutes.
Before the vinegar bath, it is advisable to carry out a complete pedicure procedure, including removing the affected areas of the nail plate and dead layers of the skin, calluses and corns on the feet, but without applying a decorative coating on the nails. If you cut your nails yourself, you should do it very carefully, because the micro-damage of the skin can contribute to the spread of the fungal infection.
Immediately after the vinegar bath, dry your feet with a towel and put on cotton socks. Repeat three times a week.
Vinegar lotions
After vinegar baths, it is good to apply lotions to the areas affected by the fungus. For this, both pharmaceutical products and pure 9% vinegar are suitable, where a cotton pad is moistened and applied to the nail for fifteen minutes.
A more complex recipe: vodka or forty proof medical alcohol, a mixture of glycerin and acetic acid in equal proportions of 70%, mix until smooth. A cotton swab moistened with the solution is kept on the affected areas for fifteen minutes, then cotton socks are put on. The course of treatment is one week, if necessary, it can be repeated after a few days.
Vinegar-based ointments are stored for a long time, it is more convenient to use products with a liquid consistency. To prepare vinegar ointment, you need to take 70% acetic acid, dimethyl phthalate, glycerin and olive oil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1, respectively. After all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, the ointment is ready for use.
To prevent the spread of a fungal infection and to destroy its pathogens, the ointment should be applied to the affected areas with a cotton swab every day, left for 8-10 hours, and then washed with laundry soap. This recipe can be used not only to treat onychomycosis of the toenails, but also on the affected nails.
Preventive measures against fungi consist in observing hygiene rules, especially in public places - in the bath, swimming pool, bowling club. Choose comfortable shoes and socks made of natural materials, because poor circulation in the legs together with high humidity creates the initial conditions for the development of onychomycosis (read also: onychomycosis - causes and prevention). Gymnastics exercises, moderate physical activity and running can improve blood circulation and strengthen the immune defense, which makes the body immune to fungi and other infections.
Treatment of nail fungus with tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an effective remedy against onychomycosis, it directly affects the cause of the disease - dermatophyte fungi. Tea tree essential oil contains alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene, limonene, sabinene, cineole and other substances that provide its antiseptic properties and anti-inflammatory effect.
Before using essential oil, it is necessary to conduct an allergy test - apply a little product to the skin of the wrist, if there is no irritation, redness of the rash or other reactions within 12 hours, then the product can be used for medicinal purposes. . Otherwise, it should be diluted to a safe concentration or the technique should be abandoned altogether.
Ways to use tea tree oil:
Foot baths with tea tree oil. Warm water is poured into the basin up to the level of the ankles, 15-20 drops of essential oil are added and the feet are kept there for twenty minutes, maintaining a high temperature of the water (45-50 °C). The course of treatment is two months, you need to take a bath every day. During the treatment procedure, it is necessary to remove the affected areas of the nail plate using a file, nail clippers or scissors.
Apply oil to the nail plate. If you do not have a reaction to undiluted tea tree oil, it is applied to the affected areas of the nail in its pure form to increase the effectiveness of the effect. First, the feet are steamed in hot water, soap is added (it can be grated for better dissolution). The oil is applied to the nail plate twice a day with a cotton swab, it is not necessary to rinse the product.
How to cure nail fungus quickly?
The internal and external use of hydrogen peroxide for the treatment of infectious and other diseases is described in a book written by Professor Neumyvakin based on personal experience. He mentions hydrogen peroxide as a prophylactic with antibacterial properties.
The external use of hydrogen peroxide to treat fungal infections is carried out after steaming the feet in hot water with baking soda dissolved in a ratio of one teaspoon per liter. When the nail plates are softened, squeeze a small part of the affected area of the nail using nail scissors and apply it to the nail plate after soaking it with a 3% peroxide solution. Leave on for 10-15 minutes on nails or 40 minutes to an hour on toes. Do the procedure twice a day until the symptoms of fungal infection disappear.
To reduce the evaporation of peroxide and increase the intensity of the effect, the nail plate with lotion is wrapped in a plastic film. After the exposure period is over, wash your toes and hands thoroughly under running water.
For therapeutic and preventive purposes, it is recommended to drip hydrogen peroxide into the nail cavity three times a day.
Hand and foot baths with hydrogen peroxide (depending on the location of onychomycosis) give good results. Dilute 3% hydrogen peroxide in water at a temperature of 40-50 ° C at the rate of two tablespoons per liter of water. The duration of the procedure is fifteen minutes, the frequency is twice a day for a week.
Instead of hydrogen peroxide in this recipe, you can use dead water with a negative redox potential, also called anolyte water. Anolyte water is safe for use on sensitive skin, but has antiseptic properties that reduce fungal growth.
Effective treatment of advanced nail fungus
This extreme method of treating fungal infections is used for serious damage to the nail plate, and should be used with caution to avoid damaging the skin.
To get rid of the fungus, the nail is treated with a rust neutralizer (which can be purchased at an auto parts store). This product contains phosphoric acid, which effectively destroys fungi, but can damage skin tissue if used carelessly. Therefore, it is necessary to observe safety measures when using - work in a well-ventilated area, wear protective glasses and rubber gloves, avoid contact of the product with skin and mucous membranes.
A safer way would be to use kerosene, which has a high penetrating power and a very strong effect on fungi.
Other folk remedies for toenail fungus
Complex treatment of toenail fungus using folk recipes based on hydrogen peroxide allows to destroy the fungus and permanently get rid of the unpleasant smell and other accompanying symptoms.
Two effective folk remedies against fungal infections:
Peroxide recipe 1. To prepare a healing mixture, you need baking soda (0. 5 cups), hot water (4 cups), 3% hydrogen peroxide (0. 25 cups) and half a cup of magnesium sulfate or Epsom salts. Mix all the ingredients well and pour another quarter cup of vinegar. Soak a cotton swab with the resulting solution and attach it to the nail plate affected by the fungus using a plaster. The bandage needs to be renewed every ten hours, the course of treatment is one month.
Recipe with peroxide 2. According to this recipe, the fungus treatment procedure consists of three stages. First, you need to prepare a solution for the treatment of nail and skin surfaces affected by the fungus - mix 3% vinegar and peroxide in a 1: 1 ratio at a concentration of 3%. This mixture is applied to the legs when it sizzles. The second stage is to soak the fingers with a fungal nail infection in a weak solution of bleach in water for half a minute, after which they are thoroughly washed under running water and dried with a towel. Finally, tea tree oil mixed with Vaseline in equal proportions is applied to the nail plate. Wear warm socks or gloves (if this method was used to treat onychomycosis of the nails). The course of treatment is one week.
Novocaine lotion. A very simple but effective folk remedy for the treatment of fungus is novocaine lotion. Just soak a piece of cotton wool with novocaine and apply it to the fungus overnight. Only two of these lotions are enough to get rid of the fungus forever.
Tincture of apricot resin: pour 1 tablespoon of resin extracted from the tree with a glass of vodka, leave for three days. Lubricate the skin of the feet and nails with this solution. Shake before each use. It took a month for treatment, the damaged nails were cut off as they cooled and new, healthy ones grew. After the examination, the doctor confirmed the fact of recovery. In this case, I can also recommend using old, condensed sunflower oil.
Garlic applications: I took a clove of garlic, pressed it with a garlic press, applied the mixture to the nail, covered it with cellophane and wrapped it in a bandage, or applied it to the tip of the finger. I kept the bandage on until the morning, the first days I felt a throbbing pain like an abscess, but I had to bear it. I repeated the procedures every day and new nails grew.
Strong coffee. Few people know that regular but strong coffee is a very good folk remedy for the treatment of fungus. Make yourself a stronger cup of coffee and just dip your hands or feet into the cup, depending on where you are mushrooming. This procedure is best done in the evening, before going to bed. After several such evening procedures, the fungus disappears completely. At the same time, the skin becomes smooth and the pain disappears quickly.
Nail fungus in adults: symptoms, causes, treatment
In medicine, nail fungus is officially called onychomycosis. This is a fungal disease that affects the nail plates of the fingers or toes. According to the WHO, this is a fairly common disease. It occurs in about 27% of people and is diagnosed 2 times more often in the legs than in the arms. The problem of nail fungus is very subtle, because the unpleasant appearance of the affected plates creates a feeling of discomfort in the patient and hides them from others.
Symptoms and signs of nail fungus
It is very easy to recognize onychomycosis, because its symptoms on the nails cannot be ignored. First, the nail plates become dull and rough, losing their luster. Then the nail becomes dirty yellow, whitish or gray instead of pink. Then other characteristic signs of the fungus appear:
- increasing the plate thickness;
- defects in the form of stripes, bends, irregularities and waves;
- plate delamination and collapse;
- unpleasant odor from nails.
As a result, the nail is completely destroyed and even peels off, exposing the nail bed. The skin near the plaques turns red and causes severe itching.
Only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease. Do not delay consultation - contact a specialist as soon as possible.
Reasons
The main reason for the development of fungal infections is the introduction of the pathogen into or inside the human body. As a rule, these are microsporums, trichophytons and epidermophytons. These are the fungi that most often cause onychomycosis.
When entering the body, such fungi are localized in keratinized skin derivatives, i. e. nails and hair. This is explained by the feeding of parasites, for which they use the fibrillar protein keratin, which is found in nails and hair.
The main cause of mycosis is infection with a pathogenic fungus. At the same time, many types of fungi are constantly present in the body, and their growth is usually inhibited by the immune system. As control decreases, the fungus begins to grow on the skin or in the tissues of internal organs. This often causes:
- a chronic disease that weakens the body;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- insufficient or unbalanced nutrition;
- smoking and alcohol abuse;
- exposure to external factors that weaken the body - hypothermia, excessive ultraviolet radiation, poisoning, radiation damage, etc. ;
- long-term use of antibiotics or certain other drugs.
The only exception here is the so-called mycosis fungoides, which is not a fungal disease. This is an oncological tumor pathology based on the degeneration of T-lymphocytes in a malignant form.
Ways of infection
The risk of fungal infection is especially high in public places with high humidity. These are saunas, swimming pools, gyms, baths, etc. The most common ways of infection:
- direct contact with an infected person. Here, the fungus moves from the habitat to healthy areas, thereby causing infection;
- household road. In this case, the infection occurs when using the patient's personal items: shoes, personal hygiene items, etc.
There are many ways to get infected with fungal diseases. Often this happens:
- in direct contact with the affected areas of the skin of another person;
- when sharing towels, slippers, personal hygiene items;
- through a contaminated manicure tool;
- through contaminated clothes and shoes;
- through soil, especially with the presence of skin microtraumas;
- in contact with domestic animals.
Most often, skin mycoses are exposed to swimming pools, saunas, showers in sports clubs, etc. thrives in the people who visit. The possibility of infection worsens a person's immune system.
Risk factors
The frequency of onychomycosis increases up to 60 years of age. At this time, the probability of developing such an infection is 60%, which is explained by the slowing down of metabolism, especially in the distal (distant) parts of the body, such as the fingers and toes.
Other risk factors for developing nail fungus include:
- diabetes;
- varicose veins;
- damage to nails and adjacent tissues;
- HIV and other immunodeficiency conditions;
- long-term use of antibiotics;
- weakened immune system;
- vascular and skin diseases, dermatitis, diaper rash;
- violation of blood supply to the extremities;
- insufficient hygiene.
Complications
In an uncomplicated course, the disease causes traditional symptoms for a fungus, causing only severe discomfort in a person. However, without treatment, onychomycosis can cause complications. Often, they manifest themselves in the addition of a bacterial infection.
Sometimes onychomycosis is very acute with the appearance of blisters, ulcers and weeping areas on the skin near the nail. In severe cases, the disease takes a generalized form. This means that the nail fungus spreads to internal organs and systems, and then the patient will require urgent hospitalization.
When to consult a doctor
Many people who experience onychomycosis know that the disease develops slowly and is incredibly difficult to treat. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear. A dermatologist treats nail onychomycosis in the clinic. The specialist will provide competent assistance and guide you until complete recovery.
He is about to go to the doctor
Before visiting the dermatologist, it is important not to treat the affected areas of the nails with anything, i. e. Do not use drugs including iodine and bright green. Antifungal creams and ointments should also be avoided. During the appointment, you must pass all the previously obtained tests, including those for other diseases. Affected nails should not be cut 3-4 days before the consultation.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
First, the patient is sent for microscopy, which allows to determine the presence of the pathogen. In order to choose the right treatment for nail fungus in the future, it is necessary to determine its type. In a professional clinic, the most modern and common methods are used to diagnose onychomycosis:
- cultural examination of a biological sample of the affected tissue. For this purpose, it is placed in an artificial food medium where the pathogen is grown to determine its type;
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect pathogenic DNA in an affected tissue sample.
As part of the diagnosis of mycoses, depending on the type and location of the lesion, studies can be carried out on scraps of skin and nail formations, sputum, blood, hair, scraps of mucous membranes, feces and other biomaterials. For skin diseases, the following is usually done:
- dermatoscopy - examination of the affected areas of the skin, hair or nails to determine the characteristic signs;
- microscopic examination of scraps to detect fungal mycelium;
- bacterial culture in the food medium allows to determine not only the type of fungus, but also the optimal drug for treatment;
- serological blood test;
- PCR test to detect fungal genome.
Some types of fungi are easily diagnosed using UV radiation produced using a Wood's lamp.
At the same time as determining the type of fungus, the patient undergoes a general examination to determine the cause of the weakened immunity that caused the infection.
Treatment
In the early stage of the disease, local therapy consisting of the use of creams and ointments with antifungal effect is usually prescribed.
Antiseptic solutions are also used as external remedies for nail fungus. In addition to effective remedies for onychomycosis of the nails, antihistamines and desensitizing drugs are prescribed to relieve swelling, inflammation and sensitivity.
If the nail is completely affected by the fungus and drug treatment does not give a positive result, then the plate is subjected to surgical removal. Also, in the general form of onychomycosis, antimycotic drugs are prescribed orally in the form of tablets that have a systemic effect on the body.
When choosing drugs, the dermatologist should take into account the individual sensitivity of the pathogen to a particular drug. Independent use of certain drugs often does not bring the desired result, because before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine the type of the causative agent of the disease. For some fungal infections, the patient's diet is important. Thus, during the treatment of yeast and mold fungi, it is necessary to exclude foods containing fast carbohydrates (sweets, flour products), fermented foods, alcohol and potatoes.
Home treatment
You should consult your doctor before using home remedies. With his permission, you can use the following recipes:
- iodine. Before use, the feet should be steamed, washed with laundry soap, and then the affected areas of the nail plates should be removed. Then treat the nails and skin between the fingers with iodine, soak in a bath with soda solution for 20-30 minutes and dry well;
- vinegar. Take 1 tablespoon for 3 liters of water. add apple cider vinegar and a little potassium permanganate. Keep your feet in the bath for 20-30 minutes, then dry them well;
- hydrogen peroxide. After thoroughly steaming your feet, remove the affected areas of the nail plates. Put cotton pads soaked in hydrogen peroxide on them, wrap with a bandage and leave for half an hour.
Prevention
To prevent the development of onychomycosis, it is necessary to exclude the negative effects of risk factors on the body:
- timely treatment of systemic diseases;
- don't wear someone else's shoes;
- wearing slate in the pool and sauna;
- change socks daily and follow the rules of personal hygiene;
- do not wear wet shoes - dry them thoroughly;
- Avoid direct contact with potential carriers of the fungus.