If onychomycosis began to develop quite recently, the treatment of nail fungus with apple cider vinegar with baking soda, egg and other folk remedies will help to cope with it. In advanced cases, such solutions, ointments and compresses can be used only as auxiliary components.
Acetic acid has good penetrating ability, so it easily penetrates the internal structure of the nail and creates an acidic environment there. Treatment is most effective when started at the first sign of a change in nail color and structure.
Types of vinegar and its effects
To combat onychomycosis, apple cider vinegar is used, as well as table essence and vinegar. Reproduction of the fungus occurs in an alkaline environment, mushrooms do not tolerate acid, and vinegar creates an acidic environment.
Vinegar has the following effects on affected nails:
- Antiseptic. Helps prevent further infections and stops the fungus from spreading to healthy nails and skin.
- fungistatic. The growth of fungi stops due to the fact that there is no nutrient medium for them.
- Fungicide. There is a death of pathogenic microorganisms - fungi.
- Firming. Prevents splitting of nails.
- Preventive. Treating shoes and socks with a solution containing acetic acid will help prevent onychomycosis.
- Bleaching. Restore the nail to its natural color, getting rid of yellowness.
Synthetic vinegar has a low cost, but it is undesirable to use it for medical purposes. Onychomycosis can be cured with the help of natural fermentation products. These are such types of vinegar as:
- apple (from apple juice);
- wine (red and white wine);
- rice (made from rice wine);
- cane (made from sugar syrup);
- malt (the main component is beer wort);
- balsamic (based on grape must).
Gasoline is used very rarely due to the risk of developing tissue burns.
In what cases can it help?
Usually vinegar is used as an addition to the main therapy. Self-treatment is not recommended, since only a doctor can determine which specific pathogen has affected the nails based on the results of tests and examinations.
To begin the treatment of nail fungus with apple cider vinegar, you can use a 9% solution or essence, strictly following the recommendations. Fungi have a strong sensitivity to acidic environments, so regular use of vinegar makes the environment unfavorable for the reproduction of fungal infections, as a result of which they stop multiplying and die.
The disadvantages of such a procedure include the possibility of relapse, therefore, 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 if the process is in progress, the ointments will be more effective.
Application methods
At the onset of the disease, when you can still cope with folk remedies, a medical consultation will be required in any case. Only a medical professional can assess the seriousness of the situation and confirm that drug treatment is not yet necessary.
There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar:
- baths (not only help to treat the fungus, but also have a positive effect on the skin of the feet);
- compress;
- ointments;
- solutions;
- lotions.
Preliminary procedures
You should not treat nail fungus with vinegar if there are sores or cracks on the feet.
Preparation for treatment is carried out as follows:
- Take a hot bath for 15 minutes to soften the skin.
- Remove the stratum corneum with a pumice stone.
- The nails are cut and polished with a nail file.
- Wipe the feet thoroughly so that each toe is dry.
- The skin around the nails is lubricated with a cream (oily, for example, for children) to prevent excessive drying and irritation.
How to treat nail 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. The 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. I. poured into 1 liter of water, 50 ml of vinegar is added. The feet are in such a bath for 25 minutes, after which they are wiped off, but not washed for several hours.
- Celandine is part of the foot baths in the treatment of advanced cases of onychomycosis. It is necessary to crush the package of dry celandine and add to 1 liter of vinegar. The treatment solution will be ready for use within a month. The resulting tincture must be strained, pour 5 tbsp. I. 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. It is best to carry out the treatment in the morning and in the evening.
- A bath with essential oils (for example, tea tree oil, cinnamon, oregano, clove, lavender) has an excellent antifungal effect, but first you need to make sure that you are not allergic to it. oil. In an apple cider vinegar bath, just add just 3 drops of essential oil to 2 liters of water.
- Sea salt helps make nails stronger. You will need a glass of sea salt and vinegar. Add 7 liters of hot water. The tool is only suitable for people who have no damage to the skin of the feet.
Compress
- Moisten socks made of natural fabrics (cotton) with vinegar and put them on for several hours in the evening. Take off your socks before going to bed.
- Soak a cotton ball abundantly in vinegar (regular or apple), attach it to the damaged nail and stick it to the finger using a bandage. You need to walk with such a compress for 3 hours.
- Add iodine (3 drops) to 1 tbsp. I. the vinegar. Apply the product to the nails and secure with a bandage. Keep the compress for an hour 1 time per day. For more than 14-21 days, the procedure does not need to be performed in order to avoid negative effects on the thyroid gland.
Ointment
To prepare the ointment you need:
- Take a chicken egg and pour 100 ml of vinegar essence into it.
- When the shell dissolves, remove the film.
- Melt 200 g of butter and add to the mixture.
- Apply ointment to damaged nails.
- Wrap the film on top and walk with ointment on the nails for 8 hours.
You can also prepare your dimethyl phthalate ointment yourself. To do this, mix 1 tbsp. of this solution with 1 raw chicken egg, 1 tbsp. I. vegetable oil and 2 tbsp. I. essence of vinegar. After applying the ointment to the nails, they are tightly wrapped with a film, woolen socks are put on top. With the drug on the nails, you need to sleep all night and wash off the product only in the morning.
The solution
The antifungal solution consists of 3 components - 3 raw egg whites, 2 tbsp. I. vodka and vinegar essence. The solution is first applied to a gauze bandage, then this bandage is 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 essence of vinegar.
lotions
- Mix 2 tbsp. I. spoons of vinegar with 3 egg whites (raw) and 2 tbsp. I. Vodka. The mixture should be stored in the refrigerator. The drug is applied to the prepared nails (gauze is moistened there) and kept for 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated three times. The pickled egg gives a good effect in the treatment of nail fungus.
- Glycerin lotions are also prepared 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 break for a week 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. With the appearance of edema and rash on the skin, you should immediately stop the procedure. To check for an allergy to vinegar, you need to dilute it in half with water and apply it to the inner surface of the elbow.
If there are wounds and inflammatory processes on the skin, then baths should not be done. An acidic environment will only increase inflammation. Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are also a contraindication.
Children under 12 should not be treated with apple cider vinegar to treat nail fungus.
Vinegar is contraindicated during lactation. It is also not recommended to use vinegar-based products during pregnancy. If the attending physician allows the use of such drugs for the future mother, the vinegar is diluted in water 2 times more than usual, which makes the concentration of the substance minimal.
Comments
- First assessment, woman, 32 years old: "As soon as I noticed that the nail of the big toe began to change color, to turn yellow, I began to act. My husband suffers from nail fungus and I know how long and difficult the treatment can be. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, she began to take baths 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 with a family fungus.
- The second assessment, a 46-year-old man: "After going to the swimming pool, a fungus appeared on my nails. Also, for a while I didn't pay attention to him, I thought it was just the color of the nails that had changed. When the nails began to break, thicken, dark spots appeared on them, I realized that the situation was serious and went to the doctor. I regret not having done so immediately. Now it is necessary to be observed 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 prepare an ointment from vinegar and eggs at home. My wife cooked it for me and, indeed, I see a positive effect in it.
- The third assessment, a 67-year-old woman: "I often go to the countryside and in rainy weather I work in the garden in rubber boots. For many years everything was fine, and last year a fungus suddenly appeared. A neighbor advised me to make apple cider vinegar compresses, she herself treated a nail fungus this way. I did this for 2 weeks but it didn't improve and went to the clinic. The doctor examined my nails, ordered some tests, then prescribed an ointment. And he said that apple cider vinegar is a good remedy, but it's just that my case is already in progress, it was impossible to do without medicine.