Nail fungus on the hands and feet - folk remedies

Hands are the second face of a person. Every day people have to show off their palms and fingers. Often no attention is paid to this. However, everything changes when pathology arises. Most often people have to deal with a disease called onychomycosis. Treatment of nail fungus on the hands and feet has a fairly simple scheme. This applies only to the very initial stages of the disease. This article will discuss exactly how to treat fingernail fungus correctly.

Fungal infection

To begin with, it is worth saying that this disease can occur in any person. The risk group includes people who visit saunas and swimming pools, use public transport, and often come into contact with people (service personnel). An important role in the acquisition of the disease is played by the body’s immune defense and the presence of injuries on the arms and legs.

The development of pathology begins very slowly and almost imperceptibly. A person may notice slight itching and peeling around the nail plate. Then there is a deterioration and change in the appearance of the roller. If treatment for nail fungus on the hands and feet is not started at this stage, the pathology will develop into a more severe form. In this case, the person already notices thickening and splitting of the nails, coloring them in an unusual color and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

Prevention

To prevent fungal infection of the nail plates on the hands and feet, you should follow certain preventive rules.

These include:

1. Monitoring the condition of nails with frequent visits to nail salons. For preventive purposes, after a manicure, you can treat your nails with antimycotic cream. However, you shouldn’t get carried away with it often, because... it violates the natural protective layer. It is better to visit a trusted nail salon, where due attention is paid to the measures for processing tools;
2. Moderate hand hygiene to preserve the protective lipid layer of the skin, which provides natural antifungal protection;
3. Prevention of re-infection is carried out by treating the patient’s gloves, disinfecting nail files, washcloths, and towels. It is advisable to wash the latter at high temperatures and, if possible, iron them.

Prevention of familial infection consists of timely identification and treatment of fungus, especially foot fungus in the elderly, as well as the use of individual towels, nail scissors and other personal hygiene products;

Treatment of fingernail fungus

If a disease occurs, correction should be started as early as possible. Only in this case the effect will be quick and long-lasting. If the pathology is advanced, the patient may need surgical correction methods. It is worth saying that folk treatment for fingernail fungus can be quite long. No one promises you a positive result in just a few days. In advanced stages, it may take years before recovery begins.

Treatment of fungal disease of the nail plate can be carried out in several ways. All of them are divided into conservative, surgical and folk. Let's look at them in more detail.

Additional methods

Folk remedies for fungus using vodka are very popular.

First you need to prepare a medicinal mixture consisting of ¼ glass of vodka, half a spoon of potassium permanganate and 1 spoon of squeezed lemon juice. Mix the resulting homogeneous mixture with a small amount of boiled water. Place the resulting mass in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can wipe your fingernails with the prepared tincture 2 times a day. After a fairly short period of time, positive results will appear.

Another well-known folk remedy for fungus involves the use of ordinary iodine. For 20 days, apply a few drops of 5% iodine to diseased nail plates. As practice shows, after about 5 days of such treatment, an unpleasant burning sensation appears in the treated areas. Do not worry, as it indicates that the healing process has begun. If unpleasant sensations interfere with a normal lifestyle, then you can take a short break or use iodine less often, for example, once every 2 days.

If the marigolds are not severely affected, then they can be healed with tea tree oil. This product should be lubricated on the affected areas of the fingers 2 times a day, morning and evening.

It should be understood that although folk remedies for fungus on the hands can boast of being highly effective, they should not be used uncontrollably. Often, homemade recipes cause unexpected complications and allergic reactions.

Treatment with medications

This method is the most common. Most often, doctors prescribe the following drugs to treat fingernail fungus:

• "Exoderil". The drug is available in liquid form. You need to apply one drop to the affected areas several times a day.
• "Loceril." The solution from the ampoules should be lubricated on nails that have external changes.
• "Lamisil." The product has several forms of release. So, you can choose a solution to be applied to the nail plate or a gel that is used to lubricate the area between the fingers.

In addition to these topical agents, doctors recommend taking medications internally. Among such tablets the following can be noted: “Nystatin”, “Orungal”, “Terbizil” and so on. Drug treatment can be carried out at home, but it is worth getting a doctor's prescription.

Cinnamon in the fight against onychomycosis

Cinnamon is an ingredient in many remedies for treating fingernail fungus at home. At the initial stages, it is not inferior in its effectiveness even to medications. The essence of its action is to reduce blood sugar levels, which makes the environment unfavorable for the fungus to live. Over time, the spores stop reproducing and die off completely. If you apply cinnamon oil to a damaged nail, you may feel slight discomfort. It indicates the penetration of active substances deep into the lesion.

This tool should be used as follows:

• Prepare your nail in advance: clean it of accumulated dirt, do a manicure, and remove as much of the affected tissue as possible. To do this, you can also contact a specialized center.
• When the plates are ready for action, begin preparing the remedy: mix cinnamon oil with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. After this, apply the resulting product to the plate in a thin layer. Do not worry about the appearance of a burning sensation - this indicates the beginning of recovery and the death of fungal spores.
• To achieve the best effect from treating onychomycosis at home, you can take baths regularly. To do this, add a few drops of cinnamon oil to a small bowl. Soak your hands in the water for at least 10-15 minutes. In order to speed up the restoration process of the plate, add a little sea salt to the bath. You need to repeat such procedures 2-3 times a week.

Treatment with folk remedies

If you have recently developed fingernail fungus, folk remedies may well help you. Also, this type of correction is chosen when the patient cannot take appropriate medications (during pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergic reactions and other contraindications). Remember that onychomycosis is afraid of acidic and alkaline solutions. These components are the most effective in carrying out treatment. Let's look at some recipes that allow you to remove fingernail fungus - folk remedies.

How to cure fungus on the skin?

Infection of the skin with a fungus occurs in the same way as nails - from infected particles of the skin of a sick person. When a person tries to cure a foot fungus, it can infect other parts of the body. Most often, the infection first spreads to the working hand (the one with which the ointment is applied), and from there it spreads to other parts of the body. As a result, you have to think about how to cure fungus in the ears, on the back, etc. The entry point for infection is skin trauma. A fungal infection especially “clings” when immunity is reduced, or when the upper layer of skin, softened in a bathhouse or pool, has temporarily lost some of its protective properties.

Figure 5 — The doctor will tell you how quickly the fungus can be cured

The treatment regimen depends on the type of fungal infection. Complex treatment includes:

• local antimycotic drugs. In the acute stage - Clotrimazole, after eliminating skin wetting - Mikosalon, Esulan, Mikoseptin. For small lesions - Lamisil, Ifenek, Exifin.
• systemic therapy. Tablets Nizoral, Lamisil, Fluconazole, Terbinafine (this drug is most often used to treat arms, legs, and body). If a secondary infection develops, you will have to undergo a course of antibacterial therapy.
• drugs that alleviate the patient’s condition - relieve irritation, itching, pain. You need to understand that these medications only treat symptoms to improve your quality of life. To combat fungal infection, special means are needed.
• folk remedies. This category includes antimicrobial substances and mixtures: tea tree oil, a mixture of garlic and butter, soda (baths), onion juice.

Please note: to cure fungus on the hands, folk remedies must be used as part of complex therapy. They will not be able to cope with skin fungus on their own.

To effectively cure fungus on the skin, it will take 8-12 months. Treatment can last in courses (taking medications - a break, taking medications - a break). Fungal diseases worsen the quality of life and create psychological problems. Therefore, do not be surprised if your doctor offers help from a psychologist.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

This method allows you not only to influence the fungal formation, but also to soften the damaged nail. For treatment you will need a small piece of sterile cotton wool. Roll it into a small roll. After this, soak cotton wool in the peroxide solution and carefully place it under the affected nail. Next, you need to apply a few drops of the solution to the nail and seal it with a thick bandage. This procedure is best done before bedtime.

In the morning, remove the pads and remove the softened nail. For the next few days you need to refrain from any processing. As soon as the plate grows back, repeat the manipulation.

Using bleach

This remedy is very effective in the early stages of the disease. Also, for a special type of disease, when spores of blue and green mold appear under the nail, this method will be one of the most effective.

Take any chlorine-containing solution. It is better if it is the most ordinary “Whiteness”. Dilute a small amount of the product with water in a ratio of one to four. Treat the affected area with this mixture twice a day. You will notice an improvement in just one week.

Iodine for treating fungus

Iodine solutions are often used to remove mold spores. However, remember that this method may not be very aesthetic. The solution turns the affected plate a red color, which is quite difficult to wash off.

To treat, you need to take a manicure brush and apply iodine to your nails. It is better to do this in the evening (before bedtime) after all water procedures. Leave the solution on the nail plate and just wash your hands in the morning. This manipulation should be carried out every evening for one week.

Vinegar essence

Since fungal spores are very afraid of acid, it would be logical to treat the disease with ordinary vinegar. Remember that the solution may have different acidity. Give 70% preference to the product.

Dip a small cloth in the liquid and apply it to your nail. Be careful not to let the solution come into contact with your skin. Otherwise you may damage it. If during the procedure a few drops get on healthy tissue, then rinse it with clean water. Secure the compress with a thick film and leave it overnight. Repeat the procedure every other day for one month.

Treatment tips and advice

Any correction method requires adherence to certain rules. Here are the basic requirements and recommendations:

• If you decide to remove fingernail fungus, treatment at home should begin by completely cutting off the free edge of the plate. It doesn't matter which method you use. As the nail grows, you need to remove its edge. The more you can cut off, the better.
• Many patients, especially the fair sex, feel sorry for their affected nails. Women hide the pathology under an artificial plate created using gel or tips, as well as by applying colored varnish. All this is a direct path to worsening the disease.
• Any fungal spores love water. Try to limit your water treatments. Use gloves when doing wet work around the house.
• Change towels regularly and disinfect common areas. This will help protect your family members from illness.

Other folk methods of combating fungus on fingernails

At home, you can get rid of fungus using kombucha. Every day, a small piece of kombucha should be kneaded in your hand and applied to the affected areas. This procedure must be repeated at least 2-3 times a day. At night, it is recommended to make compresses from the medicinal tincture. The longer the mushroom is infused, the faster positive results will appear. The optimal period is 2-3 months.

Before starting the procedure, your fingers need to be thoroughly steamed in water with a small amount of potassium permanganate. After this, lubricate the sore nails with medicinal tincture and secure everything with a bandage. It is better to remove such a compress only in the morning. The course of treatment should not last less than 4 weeks.

Traditional recipes for fungus involve the use of apple cider vinegar. Cotton swabs should be soaked in this liquid and applied to the affected areas. For 2-3 hours it is better not to do any business, but simply lie down with moistened swabs, allowing the product to be well absorbed into the nail plate. It should be noted that positive results after such manipulations will not appear soon. You need to be patient.

You can use products such as potassium permanganate and garlic. To begin, steam your hands in hot water with potassium permanganate. After this, rub garlic juice into the sore fingers. As practice shows, after a few weeks the unpleasant symptoms completely disappear. If desired, garlic juice can be replaced with hot pepper or onion juice.

Many people who have encountered this unpleasant disease prefer to combat its symptoms with the help of a very effective remedy made from eggs and vinegar. Place the egg in a deep bowl and pour vinegar over it. After this, the bowl should be placed in a dark place and kept there until the egg shell is completely dissolved. Mix the contents of the egg and vinegar with a small amount of butter. Lubricate your fingers with the resulting mixture in the morning and evening. After the fungus disappears, the medicinal mixture can be used for preventive purposes.

Summarizing

Now you know the basic ways to eliminate a disease called onychomycosis (fingernail fungus). Treatment reviews vary depending on the result. Some patients note that medication methods are more effective. But there are also many opinions about the fact that folk remedies also help a lot. If none of the methods help, then surgery may be necessary. In this case, the entire nail plate is cut off. Only timely treatment will help you avoid this intervention. Keep your nails healthy and don’t get sick!

Clinical picture

Clinical manifestations of onychomycosis on the hands and feet depend on the degree of damage to the nail plate and the type of pathogen. Most often, patients experience the following symptoms:

• itching and burning;
• redness of the periungual fold;
• yellowing of the nail plate;
• change in the shape and thickness of the nail (it can become flattened, convex, thickened, or vice versa, thin);
• Cracks, dents, and inclusions appear on the nail.

Over time, all these symptoms intensify. And if you do not treat your fingers and toes for fungus, at least with folk remedies, in the future the nail will move away from the soft tissues and be destroyed. If such symptoms are present, only surgical removal of the nail followed by the use of antifungal therapy will help get rid of the disease.