If onychomycosis has developed recently, treating toenail fungus with apple cider vinegar with baking soda, an egg and other folk remedies will help to cope with it. In advanced cases, such solutions, ointments and compresses can only be used as auxiliary components.
Acetic acid has good penetrating ability, so it easily penetrates the internal structure of the nail, creating an acidic environment there. Treatment is most effective when started at the first sign of a change in nail color and texture.
Types of vinegar and their effects
To combat onychomycosis, apple cider vinegar is used, as well as table and vinegar essence. The fungus reproduces in an alkaline environment, fungi do not tolerate acid and vinegar creates an acidic environment.
Vinegar has the following effects on affected nails:
- Antiseptic. Helps prevent further infection and prevents the fungus from spreading to healthy nails and skin.
- fungistatic. The growth of fungi stops because there is no breeding ground for them.
- Fungicide. There is a death of pathogenic microorganisms - fungi.
- firming. Prevents nails from chipping.
- preventive. Treating shoes and socks with a solution containing acetic acid helps prevent onychomycosis.
- brightening. Bring the nail back to its natural color and remove yellowing.
Synthetic vinegar has a low cost, but it is undesirable to use it for medicinal purposes. Onychomycosis can be cured with the help of natural fermentation products. These are such types of vinegar as:
- apple (based on apple juice);
- wine (from red and white wine);
- rice (from rice wine);
- sugar cane (based on sugar syrup);
- malt (main ingredient is beer wort);
- Balsamic (from grape must).
Essence is used very rarely because of the risk of tissue burns.
In which cases can he help?
Usually vinegar is used as an adjunct to the main therapy. Self-medication is not recommended, since only a doctor, based on the results of tests and examinations, can determine which specific pathogen affected the nails.
To start treating nail fungus with apple cider vinegar, you can use a 9% solution or essence, strictly adhering to the recommendations. Mushrooms have a strong sensitivity to acidic environments, so regular use of vinegar makes the environment unfavorable for fungal infections to multiply, causing them to stop multiplying and die.
The disadvantages of such a procedure include the possibility of relapse. Therefore, in order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to take preventive measures and carry out competent treatment.
At an early stage of the disease, baths and compresses can also be used. And when the process is running, ointments are more effective.
application methods
At the onset of the disease, when you can still get by with folk remedies, a doctor's consultation is necessary in any case. Only a doctor can assess the severity of the situation and confirm that drug therapy is not yet required.
There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar:
- baths (not only help in the treatment of the fungus, but also have a beneficial effect on the skin of the feet);
- compresses;
- Anoint;
- Solutions;
- lotions.
Preliminary Procedures
If you have wounds or cracks on your feet, you should not treat nail fungus with vinegar.
Preparation for treatment is as follows:
- Take a hot bath for 15 minutes to soften the skin.
- Remove the horny layer with a pumice stone.
- Nails are trimmed and polished with a nail file.
- Wipe feet thoroughly so each toe is dry.
- The skin around the nails is lubricated with a cream (for example, oily for children) to prevent excessive dryness and irritation.
How to treat toenail fungus with apple cider vinegar
trays
- A popular recipe is a bath with apple cider vinegar and soda. In warm water with a volume of 4 liters, dissolve 4 tablespoons of soda and vinegar. Feet are kept in the solution for 20 minutes, then the solution is washed off with water and the feet are thoroughly dried.
- Soda in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. poured into 1 liter of water, add 50 ml of vinegar. Feet are in such a bath for 25 minutes, after which they are wiped, but not washed for several hours.
- Celandine is a component of foot baths in the treatment of advanced cases of onychomycosis. It is necessary to crush the pack of dry celandine and add 1 liter of vinegar. The treatment solution is ready to use in a month. The resulting tincture must be filtered, pour 5 tbsp. l. salt and mix. Add 100 ml of solution to 3 liters of water, bathe for 10 minutes. After the procedure, you do not need to wipe your feet, you need to wait for them to dry on their own. It is better to carry out the treatment both in the morning and in the evening.
- A bath with essential oils (e. g. tea tree oil, cinnamon, oregano, clove, lavender) has an excellent antifungal effect, but before doing so you need to make sure that you are not allergic to the oil. For a bath with apple cider vinegar, it is sufficient to add only 3 drops of essential oil to 2 liters of water.
- Sea salt helps make nails stronger. You will need a jar of sea salt and vinegar. Add 7 liters of hot water. The tool is only suitable for people who do not have skin damage on their feet.
compressed
- Moisten socks made of natural fabrics (cotton) with vinegar and put them on for several hours in the evening. Take off your socks before you go to bed.
- Plentifully soak a cotton pad in vinegar (regular or apple), stick it on the damaged nail and stick it on the finger with a band-aid. You need to walk with such a compress for 3 hours.
- Add iodine (3 drops) to 1 tbsp. l. Vinegar. Apply the product to the nails and secure with a bandage. Hold the compress for an hour 1 time per day. It is not necessary to carry out the procedure for longer than 14-21 days in order to avoid negative effects on the thyroid gland.
ointment
To prepare the ointment you will need:
- Take a chicken egg and pour 100 ml of vinegar essence into it.
- When the shell dissolves, remove the film.
- Melt 200 g butter and add to the mixture.
- Apply ointment to damaged nails.
- Wrap the foil over it and walk on the nails with ointment for 8 hours.
You can also make your own ointment based on dimethyl phthalate. To do this, mix 1 tsp. of this solution with 1 raw chicken egg, 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil and 2 tbsp. l. vinegar essence. After applying the ointment to the nails, they are tightly wrapped with a film, woolen socks are put on top. With the drug on your nails, you need to sleep all night and wash off the product only in the morning.
solution
The antifungal solution consists of 3 components - 3 raw egg whites, 2 tbsp. l. Vodka and vinegar essence. The solution is first applied to a gauze bandage and this bandage is then left on the nails for 10-15 minutes. It is impossible to keep such a solution for more than a quarter of an hour, since it contains concentrated vinegar essence.
lotions
- Mix 2 tbsp. l. spoons of vinegar with 3 egg whites (raw) and 2 tbsp. l. Vodka. The mixture must be stored in the refrigerator. The medicine is applied to the prepared nails (gauze is moistened in it) and left for 15 minutes. The process is repeated three times. Egg with vinegar has good effect in treating toenail fungus.
- Lotions with glycerin are also made for 15 minutes. You need to mix equal amounts of glycerin, alcohol, and vinegar.
The procedure is carried out daily for 7 days, after which there is a week break and the cycle is repeated. Treatment is carried out until a full-fledged healthy nail grows.
contraindications
Treatment with vinegar is prohibited in case of allergic reactions to it. If edema and rashes appear, you should immediately stop the procedure. To check if you have an allergy to vinegar, you need to dilute it in half with water and apply it to the inner surface of the elbow.
With wounds and inflammatory processes on the skin, baths should not be carried out. An acidic environment will only increase inflammation. Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are also a contraindication.
Children under the age of 12 should not be treated with apple cider vinegar to treat nail fungus.
Vinegar is contraindicated during lactation. It is also undesirable to use vinegar-based products during pregnancy. If the attending physician allows the expectant mother to use such drugs, then vinegar is diluted in water twice as much as usual, which will make the concentration of the substance minimal.
reviews
- First review, female, 32 years old: "As soon as I noticed that the nail on my big toe was discoloring, turning yellow, I started taking action. My husband suffers from nail fungus and I know how long and difficult it can be to treat. Therefore, at the first sign of the disease, she began to bathe with apple cider vinegar. After 2 weeks I noticed an improvement. A month later, the disease was completely gone. It is necessary to carefully monitor the nails, especially those who have a fungus from relatives.
- The second review, man, 46 years old: "After I went to the swimming pool, a fungus appeared on my nails. In addition, for some time I did not pay attention to him, I thought that only the color of the nails had changed. When the nails began to break, became thicker and dark spots appeared on them, I realized that the situation was serious and went to the doctor. I regret not doing it right away. Now it is necessary to observe at the mycologist. They said I would be treated for about a year. In addition to the basic medicines, the doctor said that you can make an ointment based on vinegar and eggs at home. My wife cooked it for me and I do indeed see a positive effect.
- The third review, a woman, 67 years old: "I often go to the country and work in the garden in rubber boots when it rains. For many years everything was fine, and last year a fungus suddenly appeared. A neighbor advised me to make apple cider vinegar compresses, which she used to cure nail fungus. I did this for 2 weeks but it didn't get better and I went to the clinic. The doctor looked at my nails, ordered tests, and then prescribed an ointment. And he said that apple cider vinegar is a good remedy, but it's just that my case is already running, it couldn't do without medication.