Folk remedies are good as auxiliary methods of treatment, for example, in cases where they remove a specific symptom.
For example, a decoction of burnet relieves diarrhea, but cannot cure dysentery.
Rinsing the nose with sea water helps eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane and normalize breathing, but cannot relieve allergic rhinitis.
In the same way, a folk remedy for foot fungus can help in treating this unpleasant infection, but only if “heavy artillery” comes into play along with it - special antifungal or antimycotic agents.
Is it dangerous to treat fungus with folk remedies?
It would seem that treating foot fungus with folk remedies, even if it is not effective enough, will still help.
This is true, but there are several pitfalls here:
- As a rule, those who want to quickly cure foot fungus with folk remedies self-medicate and, therefore, do not visit a doctor.In some cases, time may be lost;
- lack of medical consultation can lead to psoriasis or eczema being mistaken for a “fungus”, and treatment will go the wrong way;
- the lack of test results also makes it impossible to understand what kind of mycosis appeared on the legs, and which remedies are more effective;
- using folk remedies, often without effect, and changing them, a person does not notice how time flies, which could be devoted to serious treatment;
- finally, having gotten used to the “penny” costs of vinegar and potassium permanganate, and, faced with the urgent need to buy a special liquid or varnish for a fairly large sum, a person simply turns out to be not ready for such costs and begins to “play for time.”
All these signs are indirect, but they deceive and drag a person into a series of tests.And yet, is it possible, for example, to use only folk remedies for toenail fungus without resorting to the help of medicine?
When you can do it yourself
Such therapy can be understood by doctors only at the very beginning of the development of the disease, for example, when a small spot appears on the very edge of the nail, which does not exceed 5-10% of the nail area.It is then that folk remedies such as creolin, tar and vitriol will quickly get rid of foot fungus.
If there is no positive dynamics within 10 days of treatment, then you need to urgently go to a dermatologist, do tests and begin serious treatment.
The main problem is that often when the toenails are affected, the problem is noticed only when it has become quite large in size, and time has been lost.
However, we list the main groups of folk remedies for fungus between the toes, on the heels and on the nails.
What people love
Pathogenic fungi love to experience “strong feelings.”Therefore, oxidizing agents, acids and aromatic phenols are needed.Therefore, the most commonly used means are:
- potassium permanganate, "potassium permanganate";
- table vinegar, strength 9-10%.It is easily obtained by diluting vinegar essence seven times;
- solution of copper sulfate, diluted 1 teaspoon per liter;
- hydrogen peroxide solution, 3%;
- creolin, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.Carefully!Creolin is intended only for application to the nail!If it comes in contact with skin, it may cause severe burns.
How to apply it?
How to cure foot fungus with folk remedies?With the help of warm baths, applied morning and evening.
First, a regular hot bath with soap and soda solution is used, after which the feet, nails are treated and dead skin is removed.Then the water in the basin is changed and one of the products of your choice is poured.One condition is that if you choose potassium permanganate, then all the crystals should dissolve, and the color should be moderately purple, but not brown.
The duration of the therapeutic bath is 15 minutes, the duration of treatment is until the fungus disappears.Interdigital mycosis disappears most quickly, followed by damage to the feet.But treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies may be ineffective, for example, if the nail is not removed.The fungus that hides under the plate may be invulnerable to these remedies.
You should not experiment and change the composition of the baths daily.It will be enough that you carefully monitor the color and size of the spots, and change the drug only after there are no changes for 3-4 days.As already mentioned, if after 10 days there is no effect, you need to consult a doctor.Don’t forget about the famous joke: “I was being treated for jaundice, but it turned out to be Chinese.”
There are facts when signs of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, trophic foot ulcers in diabetes mellitus were mistaken for a fungus, and they simply wasted time in pursuit of curing the fungus.
About prevention
Both medical and folk remedies must be used, following the rules of daily treatment of the inner surface of shoes with a special antifungal spray.Drying shoes in the sun, freezing them in the freezer, and also using special antifungal ultraviolet electric shoe dryers are very important.
In addition, each sick person must have his own rubber slippers, which are cleaned daily, and his own towels.Socks need to be changed daily, and ironing them and insoles with a steam iron.Needless to say, a person who is treating his own fungi should not wear someone else’s slippers when visiting, or go to a public bathhouse, or to a swimming pool.
Only comprehensive adherence to these simple rules will not only cure mycosis of the nails and feet, but also protect your family members and others from infection.