If onychomycosis has begun to develop very recently, then the treatment of toenail fungus with apple cider vinegar with baking soda, egg and other folk remedies will help you deal with it. In advanced cases, such solutions, ointments and compresses can be used only as auxiliary components.
Acetic acid has a good penetrating ability, so it easily enters the internal structure of the nail and creates an acidic environment there. The treatment is most effective when it starts at the first signs of a change in the color and structure of the nails.
Types of vinegar and its effects
Apple cider vinegar is used to fight onychomycosis, as well as mass essence and vinegar. The reproduction of the fungus takes place in an alkaline environment, the mushrooms do not tolerate acid, and vinegar creates an acidic environment.
Vinegar has the following effects on the affected nails:
- Antiseptic. Helps prevent further infection and prevents the spread of the fungus to healthy nails and skin.
- fungistatic. The growth of fungi stops due to the fact that there is no nutrient medium for them.
- Fungicidal action. Death of pathogenic microorganisms - fungi.
- Tightening. Prevents cracking of nails.
- Preventive. Treating shoes and socks with a solution containing acetic acid will help prevent onychomycosis.
- Bleaching. Return the nail to its natural color, remove 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 the types of vinegar such as:
- apple (based on apple juice);
- wine (of red and white wine);
- rice (from rice wine);
- cane (based on sugar syrup);
- malt (the main component is beer must);
- balsamic (made from grape must).
Essence is used very rarely due to the risk of developing tissue burns.
In what cases can he help?
Vinegar is usually used as an adjunct to basic therapy. It is not recommended to self-medicate, as only a doctor can determine which specific pathogen has affected the nails based on the results of tests and examinations.
To start the treatment of nail fungus with apple cider vinegar, you can use 9% solution or essence, strictly following the recommendations. Mushrooms have a strong sensitivity to acidic environments, so regular use of vinegar makes the environment for the multiplication of fungal infections unfavorable, as a result of which they stop multiplying and die.
The disadvantages of such a procedure include the possibility of recurrence, therefore, in order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to take preventive measures and carry out competent treatment.
Baths and compresses can also be used in the early stages of the disease. And if the process is going on, the ointments will be more effective.
Methods of application
At the beginning of the disease, when you can still deal with folk remedies, in any case will need to consult a doctor. Only a medical professional will be able to assess the severity of the situation and confirm that drug therapy is not yet necessary.
There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar:
- baths (help not only to treat fungus, but also have a positive effect on the skin of the feet);
- compresses;
- ointments;
- solutions;
- lotions.
Preliminary procedures
You should not treat nail fungus with vinegar if there are wounds 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 pumice.
- The nails are trimmed and polished with a nail file.
- Wipe your feet well so that each toe is dry.
- The skin around the nails is lubricated with a cream (oily, for example for children) to avoid 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 baking soda and vinegar. The feet are kept in the solution for 20 minutes, after which the solution is washed with water and the feet are dried well.
- Soda in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. pour in 1 liter of water, add 50 ml of vinegar. The feet are in such a bath for 25 minutes, then wipe, but do not wash for several hours.
- Celandine is part of foot baths in the treatment of advanced cases of onychomycosis. You need to crush the packet of dried celandine and add to 1 liter of vinegar. The treatment solution will be ready for use in a month. The resulting tincture should be filtered, pour 5 tbsp. l. salt and stir. Add 100 ml of solution to 3 liters of water, take a bath for 10 minutes. After the procedure you do not need to wipe your feet, you have to wait until they dry. It is better to carry out the treatment both in the morning and in the evening.
- A bath with essential oils (such as tea tree oil, cinnamon, oregano, cloves, lavender) has an excellent antifungal effect, but first you need to make sure that you are not allergic to the oil. In a bath with apple cider vinegar is enough to add only 3 drops of essential oil to 2 liters of water.
- Sea salt helps strengthen nails. You will need a glass of sea salt and vinegar. Add 7 liters of hot water. The tool is suitable only for those people who do not have damage to the skin of the feet.
Compresses
- Wet socks made of natural fabrics (cotton) with vinegar and put them on for a few hours in the evening. Take off your socks before bed.
- Soak a cotton swab in vinegar (plain or apple), attach to the damaged nail and stick on the finger with adhesive tape. You need to walk with such a compress for 3 hours.
- Add iodine (3 drops) to 1 tbsp. l. vinegar. Apply the product on the nails and secure with a bandage. Hold the compress for one hour once a day. For more than 14-21 days the procedure does not need to be performed to avoid adverse effects on the thyroid gland.
Ointment
To prepare the ointment, you need:
- Take a chicken egg and pour in 100 ml of vinegar essence.
- When the shell dissolves, remove the film.
- Melt 200 g of butter and add to the mixture.
- Apply ointment on damaged nails.
- Wrap the film on top and walk with ointment on the nails for 8 hours.
You can also prepare your own ointment based on dimethyl phthalate. To do this, mix 1 teaspoon of this solution with 1 raw chicken egg, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of vinegar essence. After applying the ointment on the nails, they are wrapped tightly with film, wool socks are placed on top. With the medicine on the nails you should sleep all night and wash the product only in the morning.
Answer
The antifungal solution consists of 3 components - 3 crude proteins, 2 tablespoons vodka and vinegar essence. The solution is applied first on a gauze bandage and 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, as it contains concentrated vinegar essence.
Lotions
- Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 3 egg whites (raw) and 2 tablespoons of vodka. The mixture should be stored in the refrigerator. The drug is applied to the prepared nails (it is moistened with gauze) and kept for 15 minutes. The procedure is repeated three times. Egg with vinegar gives a good effect in the treatment of toenail fungus.
- Glycerin lotions are also made in 15 minutes. You need to mix equal amounts of glycerin, alcohol and vinegar.
The procedure is performed daily for 7 days, after which a weekly rest is made and the cycle is repeated. The treatment is performed until a full healthy nail grows.
Contraindications
Vinegar treatment is prohibited in case of allergic reactions to it. With the appearance of swelling and rash on the skin, you should immediately stop the procedure. To check if you are allergic to vinegar, you need to dilute it in half with water and apply it on the inner surface of the elbow.
If there are wounds and any inflammatory processes on the skin, baths should not be done. The acidic environment will only increase the inflammation. Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are also contraindications.
Children under 12 should not be treated with apple cider vinegar to treat nail fungus.
Vinegar is contraindicated during breastfeeding. It is also undesirable to use vinegar-based products during pregnancy. If the attending physician allows the use of such drugs for the expectant mother, the vinegar is diluted in water 2 times more than usual, which makes the concentration of the substance minimal.
Reviews
- First examination, a 32-year-old woman: "As soon as I noticed that the toenail began to change color, turn yellow, I began to take action. 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 completely disappeared. It is necessary to carefully monitor the nails, especially those that have fungus from relatives.
- The second examination, a 46-year-old man: "After I went to the pool, a fungus appeared on my nails. Besides, I didn't pay attention to him for a while, I thought only the color of my nails had changed. When the nails began to break, thicken, dark spots appear on them, I realized that the situation was serious and went to the doctor. I'm sorry I didn't do it right away. Now it is necessary to see a mycologist. They said I would be treated for about a year. In addition to basic medicines, the doctor said that you can make an ointment based on vinegar and eggs at home. My wife prepared it for me and I really see a positive effect.
- The third examination, a 67-year-old woman: "I often go to the countryside and work in the garden in rubber boots in rainy weather. For many years, everything was fine, and last year a fungus suddenly appeared. A neighbor advised me to make compresses of apple cider vinegar, she herself cures nail fungus in this way. I did this for 2 weeks, but it didn't get any better and I went to the clinic. The doctor examined my nails, ordered tests, and then prescribed me an ointment. And he said that apple cider vinegar is a good medicine, but just my case is already underway, it could not be done without medicine.