Apple cider vinegar for nail fungus is an inexpensive but effective treatment for treating infections, even in the most advanced cases. But on the basis of apple cider vinegar, a wide variety of compounds are prepared that have a detrimental effect on fungal colonies. To get a quick replacement of the affected nail plate with a new one, you need to take into account all the features of the application of the folk method.
Effects of apple cider vinegar on mushrooms
Nail fungus or onychomycosis is a difficult disease to treat. Fungal spores can be infected in any public place where humidity is always high and heat is maintained. The microorganism easily enters the subcutaneous layers through skin cracks, abrasions and scratches. Usually the fungus begins its activity on the skin, causing itching, redness, burning and peeling.
Mycosis causes a decrease in local immunity, which leads to the rapid spread of the fungus along the foot and its penetration into the thickness of the nail bed. Onychomycosis develops gradually, and the manifestations of the disease are largely determined by the type of fungus.
The affected nail first becomes dull, grayish, then gradually it begins to thicken, widen. Over time, the nail plate begins to crumble and break, pain appears around the bed, an unpleasant smell.
Any changes in onychomycosis can affect both the entire nail and its edges or the area in the growth zone. In advanced cases, a fungal infection from one nail spreads to neighbors and passes to the other leg. The easiest way to treat nail fungus is at the very beginning of the pathology. If the disease is detected in time, you can use only external antifungal agents, and traditional methods at an early stage of onychomycosis are no less effective than pharmaceutical preparations.
Applying apple cider vinegar for nail fungus can kill the parasites. The use of apple cider vinegar recipes leads to the creation of an acidic environment in the thickness of the nail and under the plaque itself, which has a detrimental effect on the spores of the parasite. An increase in acidity provokes the interruption of the reproductive process and subsequent growth of the fungus.
Apple cider vinegar also has antiseptic and disinfectant properties, which makes it useful in preventing fungal infections. Prevention of the disease is necessary in cases where nail fungus is found in a family member.
External use of apple cider vinegar in pure form or in combination with additional components will allow relatives not to get infected during the period when the main "source" of fungal spores is being processed.
Options for treating mushrooms with apple cider vinegar
How to treat identified onychomycosis depends on the stage of infection? In advanced cases, external agents should be combined with oral administration of antifungal drugs prescribed by a dermatologist. Using only ointments, lotions or traditional methods will not bring any benefit, especially if changes in the nail bed on the legs have been observed for several years.
To cure fungal infection with apple cider vinegar, you can use various remedies prepared on the basis of this product. It can be lotions, ointments of different composition, foot baths. It is imperative to strictly adhere to the proposed recipe, since an increase in the amount of vinegar or additional components can cause irritation of the skin around the nail, pain and burning.
Apple cider vinegar bath
Trays with the addition of various components with antifungal activity are widely used against nail fungus. Apple cider vinegar is also one of them.
The bath is easy to prepare. It is necessary to heat two to four glasses of apple cider vinegar and pour it into a basin, after which the thighs are immersed in the liquid. The effectiveness of the treatment increases when several conditions are met:
- Before the procedure, the legs should be rinsed, all dead cells should be removed. Affected nails should be steamed, and part of the nail plate should be cut.
- The duration of the bath is 10 to 15 minutes.
- The first week of treatment, the baths should be done twice a day. Then the procedure is carried out once every three days.
- Do not rinse your feet after the vinegar bath. They can only be dried with a towel and put over cotton socks.
Pure apple cider vinegar can cause severe burns. Especially if there are injuries to the feet. To reduce sensitivity, you can dilute it with water in a 2: 1 ratio.
Compresses
Apple cider vinegar for nail fungus is also used as a base for compresses. The simplest compress is to moisten a cotton ball in vinegar and then fix it on the affected nail. There are other options for lotions:
- Apple cider vinegar at the rate of two tablespoons should be mixed with regular soda in order to get a pasty mixture. It is applied to the nail, covered with a tampon on top and fixed with a finger or cling film.
- Apple cider vinegar is mixed in equal proportions with glycerin or vegetable oil. In the resulting solution, the disc is moistened and placed on the affected nails. It is better to fix the compress with cling film, and you can put a sock on it. The apple glycerin blend is also great for lubricating the entire foot. This application of the solution softens rough skin, kills all germs, promotes softening of corns and can be used when onychomycosis is associated with yeast infection, that is, with a fungus affecting the surface of the skin. .
- Vinegar with iodine. Three drops of alcoholic tincture of iodine should be poured over a tablespoon of apple essence. The resulting drug is applied to the entire surface of the nail, then the finger is wrapped with polyethylene, and the compress is fixed with a bandage. You can also use iodine as a separate ingredient to fight fungus.
Compresses with apple cider vinegar on the nail should be kept for at least three hours, and it is better to do the procedure at night and remove the bandage in the morning. The nail bed becomes softer under the influence of the components of the lotion, so it can be easily cut.
Ointments
For nail fungus, it is recommended to use ointments with apple cider vinegar as the main ingredient.
- One hundred grams of crushed Kalanchoe leaves should be combined with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 10 grams of liquid honey and 30 grams of eucalyptus oil. The prepared mixture is stored in a dark place for three days, after which it can be used to lubricate the nail affected by the fungus.
- Two tablespoons of apple essence should be mixed with equal amounts of dimethyl phthalate, glycerin and olive oil. The resulting ointment is applied to the nail; to enhance the effect, the finger can be covered with cling film. In the morning, the foot and nails are washed well with water and laundry soap.
Nail ointment can be applied twice a day. Treating nail fungus with apple cider vinegar will be effective if the nails are steamed before the procedures and their thickened large part is cut off. But it should be remembered that in advanced cases, even pharmaceutical preparations with high antifungal activity for topical application will be of no use if their use is not combined with systemic antimycotic drugs.
Treating nail fungus is a long process that takes several weeks to one and a half to two years. And the complete destruction of the fungus can be achieved if the administration of drugs and their external treatment of the nails are used for the entire duration of treatment without interruption.