If onychomycosis has started to develop recently, then treating toenail 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 coatings can be used only as auxiliary components.
Acetic acid has a good ability to penetrate, so it easily enters the internal structure of the nail and creates an acidic environment there. The treatment is most effective when it is started at the first sign of a change in the color and structure of the nail.
Types of vinegar and its effects
Apple cider vinegar is used to control onychomycosis, as well as table and vinegar essence. The reproduction of fungi takes place in an alkaline environment, the fungi do not tolerate acid, and vinegar creates an acidic environment.
Vinegar has the following effects on affected nails:
- Antiseptic. It helps prevent further infections and prevents the spread of fungus on healthy nails and skin.
- fungistatic. The growth of fungi is stopped due to the fact that there is no nutrient medium for them.
- Fungicidal. There is the death of pathogenic microorganisms - fungi.
- Fastening. Prevents nail splitting.
- Preventive. Treating shoes and socks with a solution containing acetic acid will help prevent onychomycosis.
- Bleaching. Restoring the nail to its natural color, removing 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 (sugar syrup based);
- malt (the main component is beer malt);
- balsamic (from grape must).
The essence is used very rarely due to the risk of developing tissue burns.
In which cases can it help?
Vinegar is usually used as an adjunct to the main therapy. Self-medication is not recommended, because only a doctor can determine which 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 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 for the reproduction of fungal infections unfavorable, as a result of which they stop multiplying and die.
Disadvantages of such a procedure include the possibility of recurrence, so to prevent the disease it is necessary to take preventive measures and carry out competent treatment.
Baths and compresses can be used in the early stages of the disease. And if the process is going on, the fat will be more efficient.
Methods of application
At the beginning of the disease, when folk remedies can still be endured, in any case a consultation with a doctor will be required. 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 have a positive effect on the skin of the feet);
- compresses;
- fats;
- 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 as follows:
- Take a warm bath for 15 minutes to soften the skin.
- Remove the pink layer with a float.
- Nails are cut and polished with a file.
- Wipe your feet thoroughly 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 nail fungus with apple cider vinegar
That's right
- A popular recipe is a bath with apple cider vinegar and soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda and vinegar in warm water, volume 4 liters. The feet are kept in the solution for 20 minutes, then the solution is washed with water and the feet are well dried.
- 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, after which they are wiped, but not washed for several hours.
- Celandine is part of foot baths in the treatment of advanced cases of onychomycosis. A pack of dry celandine should be crushed and added to 1 liter of vinegar. The treatment solution will be ready for use in a month. The resulting tincture must be filtered, pour 5 tbsp. l. add salt and stir. Add 100 ml of solution in 3 liters of water, bathe for 10 minutes. After the procedure, you do not have to wipe your feet, you have to wait until they dry. It is better to carry out the treatment in the morning and in the evening.
- A bath with essential oils (for example, tea tree oil, cinnamon, oregano, cloves, lavender) has a great antifungal effect, but first you need to make sure you are not allergic to the oil. In the bath with apple cider vinegar, it is enough to add only 3 drops of essential oil in 2 liters of water.
- Sea salt helps make nails stronger. You will need one cup of sea salt and vinegar. Add 7 liters of boiling water. The tool is suitable only for those people who do not have damage to the skin of the feet.
Compresses
- Moisten 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 pad with vinegar (plain or apple), attach it to the damaged nail and stick a band-aid on your finger. You have to walk for 3 hours with such a wrap.
- Add iodine (3 drops) in 1 tbsp. l. vinegar. Apply the product on the nails and secure with a bandage. Hold the compress for an hour once a day. Longer than 14-21 days, the procedure does not need to be performed to avoid negative consequences on the thyroid gland.
Mast
To prepare the fat you need:
- Take a chicken egg and pour 100 ml of vinegar essence into it.
- When the shell melts, remove the film.
- Dissolve 200 g of butter and add to the mixture.
- Apply ointment on damaged nails.
- Wrap the film on top and walk on the nail polish for 8 hours.
You can also prepare dimethyl phthalate-based ointment yourself. 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 on the nails, they are tightly wrapped with film, and woolen socks are placed on top. With the medicine on your nails, you have to sleep through the night and wash off the product only in the morning.
The solution
Antifungal solution consists of 3 components - 3 raw egg whites, 2 tbsp. l. vodka and vinegar essences. The solution is first applied to the 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, because 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 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 for 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 break is made and the cycle is repeated. The treatment is carried out until a completely healthy nail grows.
Contraindications
Vinegar treatment is prohibited for allergic reactions to it. With the appearance of edema and skin rash, the procedure should be stopped immediately. To check if there is an allergy to vinegar, it is necessary to dilute it in half with water and apply to the inner surface of the elbow.
If there are wounds and inflammatory processes on the skin, baths should not be performed. An acidic environment will only increase inflammation. Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are also contraindications.
Children under the age of 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 doctor allows the use of such drugs for the expectant mother, vinegar is diluted in water 2 times more than usual, making the concentration of the substance minimal.
Reviews
- The first review, a 32-year-old woman: "As soon as I noticed that the toenail started to change color, turn yellow, I went into 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 started bathing with apple cider vinegar. After 2 weeks I noticed an improvement. A month later, the disease completely disappeared. It is necessary to carefully follow the nails, especially those that have fungus from relatives.
- Another review, a 46-year-old man: "After going to the pool, I got a nail fungus. Moreover, I didn't pay attention to it for a while, I thought it just changed the color of my nails. When the nails started to break, thicken, dark spots appeared on them, I realized that the situation was serious and I went to the doctor. I'm sorry I didn't do it right away. It is now necessary to be under the supervision of a mycologist. They said I would be treated for about a year. In addition to basic medicines, the doctor said that ointment based on vinegar and eggs can be made at home. My wife cooked it for me and I really see a positive effect.
- Third review, 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 wraps from apple cider vinegar, she cured the fungus on her nails in that way. I did it for 2 weeks, but it didn't get any better and I went to the clinic. The doctor looked at my nails, ordered examinations, and then prescribed the ointment. And he said that apple cider vinegar is a good medicine, but only my case is already ongoing, it was impossible without medicine.