Nail fungus is a very common disease, which, according to statistics, affects at least 10% of the entire population of the planet. In pharmacies you can find a large number of drugs aimed at treating fungus at any stage. However, alternative medicine is still used much more often. And it is important to know effective recipes that are guaranteed to get rid of fungus. How to Treat Nail Fungus with Apple Cider VinegarTo ensure that you never encounter a relapse of the pathology, you can find out by finding out the principle of action of the remedy and reliable recipes.
Effect of apple cider vinegar on fungus
Vinegar for nail fungus
The fungus is afraid of an acidic environment, so apple cider vinegar not only kills these microorganisms, but also prevents their reproduction. This is an excellent antiseptic that can quickly reduce symptoms of onychomycosis such as itching, irritation, and inflammation. In addition, the fruit acids contained in this product have a good effect on the structure of the nails.
Thus, apple cider vinegar:
- acts against fungi of nails of hands and feet;
- kills germs, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms;
- strengthens the nail plate
- relieves unpleasant symptoms of mycosis
- fights inflammation
However, apple cider vinegar alone will not help if you do not maintain hygiene:
- Wash your feet and hands regularly;
- Change socks and clothes on time;
- Take a shower at least once a day;
- Do not use other people's hygiene items;
- Avoid weakening the immune system due to vitamin deficiency.
- Do not walk barefoot in the bathhouse, sauna, or swimming pool.
Moreover, this home remedy may not help in all cases.
When to use apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar will not always help treat nail fungus. In some cases it will provide little or no benefit. We are talking about advanced stages of the disease. If more than a fifth of your nail is damaged, vinegar can only be used as an aid. But a doctor needs to deal with such a fungus. Don’t be shy or afraid of dermatologists - no one will think that you are sick because you don’t pay attention to your hygiene. Anyone can get a fungus - it is a very contagious disease. But it is the doctor who must prescribe medications that will really help.
Another case where vinegar should not be used is open wounds. With fungus, a situation where part of the nail peels off and falls off in pieces is not uncommon. The result may be painful sores. Naturally, if acid gets into them, you will not only get increased inflammation, but also severe pain as a result of a chemical burn.
How to choose a product
Apple cider vinegar as an antimycotic composition is quite easy to use, is effective and has minimal side effects. An important feature is the correct use and compliance with proportions during treatment.
To carry out a course of eliminating a fungal disease, you must choose the highest quality apple cider vinegar or glacial acetic acid for onychomycosis.
In stores, you should carefully inspect the bottle, which must meet certain requirements:
- this product is sold only in glass containers;
- its strength does not exceed 6%;
- the composition should not contain flavors or dyes;
- may have a slight sediment.
During treatment, apple cider vinegar for onychomycosis should be stored in a dark place, but avoid the refrigerator. The optimal temperature for it is room temperature and a tightly closed container, which will help avoid evaporation.
Methods of use
Vinegar can be used in a variety of ways to treat nail fungus. Choose the appropriate option depending on your preferences and ease of preparation.
Baths
Vinegar baths are a great option for those who have 30 minutes of free time. After them, not only do your nails become healthier, but your skin also softens, your feet stop sweating a lot, and the unpleasant odor and itching disappear.
The simplest bath with vinegar is done like this: pour 150 ml of 5% apple cider vinegar into 5 liters of hot water. Keep your nails in this solution for about 20 minutes. Wipe dry, trim the affected nails at the root, and put on clean socks or gloves.
Baths with vinegar and other ingredients have also proven themselves to be excellent:
- Bath with vinegar and essential oils. They help remarkably not only against nail fungus, but also against other dermatological problems. When adding essential oils, you should remember that they are not suitable for everyone, as they are a fairly allergenic product. If you experience itching, red spots or a rash, immediately wash your skin with plain water and apply an allergy cream - for example, Allergosan. Add no more than 3-4 drops to the bath - this will be enough for a therapeutic effect.
- Baths with vinegar and soda. Add 1 tablespoon of soda and 50 ml of vinegar to 1 liter of water. While the reaction takes place, keep your nails in the bath for 25 minutes. Dry them thoroughly and do not wash them for at least 3 hours.
- Bath with vinegar and celandine. To prepare this bath, you need to purchase a collection of celandine at the pharmacy and pour 1 spoon of the herb into a glass of boiling water. Let it brew and pour in 4 liters of hot water. Add 100-150 ml of natural apple cider vinegar. Do these baths for 2 weeks every day for 30 minutes, and the result will not be long in coming.
- Baths with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of peroxide to hot water per 1 liter of water. Leave your nails on for 20-30 minutes. Wipe dry and apply antifungal cream.
Lotions
The lotion is a wet compress that is applied for a short time. For the vinegar lotion, you will need a medical cotton swab or a regular cosmetic cotton pad. Dip it in vinegar and apply it to the nail plate damaged by the fungus. Keep it this way for as long as possible - at least 1-2 hours until the vinegar evaporates. This option is good because it allows you to achieve faster results due to pure vinegar. For a better effect, you can add onion juice, peroxide or a little soda.
Applying vinegar to nails
Treatment of nail fungus with vinegar
Lubrication is a quick way to stop the development of nail fungus, but the effect of this treatment should not be expected quickly. The purpose of lubrication is to briefly apply vinegar to the damaged nail. Unfortunately, the effect of such treatment will be noticeable if you perform the procedure at least 10 times a day for 2-3 weeks.
However, you should not immediately dismiss this method of using vinegar. Lubricate healthy nails and you will stop the development of the disease.
Preliminary procedures
You should not treat nail fungus with vinegar if there are wounds or cracks on your 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.
- Nails are trimmed and polished using a nail file.
- Wipe your feet thoroughly so that every toe is dry.
- The skin around the nails is lubricated with cream (oily, for example, baby cream) to avoid excessive dryness and irritation.
You can find information about symptoms, treatment and photos of diaper rash in newborns using this link.
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Instructions for using Lipobase cream can be found here.
Recipes with apple cider vinegar against nail fungus
In folk medicine, there are several dozen recipes for nail fungus, and many of them contain natural apple cider vinegar. Let's look at the most famous recipes.
Vinegar and baking soda compress
Apple cider vinegar compress for fungus
Take a small piece of gauze or a handkerchief, wet it generously with vinegar, and sprinkle baking soda on top fairly thickly. Apply the compress to the sore nails and cover with a bandage. Wrap the top with cling film or put on a bag. Secure the compress again. It must be done every other day for several hours. Pay attention to how you feel - you should not have any unpleasant feelings. If there is burning, pain or itching, remove the compress and wash the skin with water.
Compress with celandine
Brew a strong solution of celandine, for which take 1 tablespoon with the top of the herb and pour half a glass of boiling water over it. Leave for 30 minutes, then dip a cotton pad into the solution. Place the disc on your nail and pour a little pure vinegar directly into the compress on top so that excess liquid does not drain off. Bandage the compress and keep it on for 2-5 hours without removing it. You can leave it overnight. Also, a solution with celandine is good for a preparatory or preventive bath against fungus.
With sea salt
Sea salt perfectly strengthens nails, provoking their growth and strengthening the nail plate itself. To prepare a bath with sea salt and vinegar, you will need about a glass of sea salt per 5-7 liters of water and a glass of vinegar. The bath should be hot. If there are scratches or other damage to your feet, you will feel it immediately. If unpleasant or painful sensations appear, the bath should be stopped. A solution of salt and vinegar can also be used for compresses that are placed on the nail overnight.
Vinegar and baking soda are an ideal remedy for nail fungus
Shoe processing
You can use apple cider vinegar to treat shoes to reduce re-infection with a fungal infection.
A characteristic feature of onychomycosis and foot fungus is a high risk of re-infection. This occurs because fungal spores remain on shoes and socks, which penetrate the skin when items are worn repeatedly. Vinegar, which can be used to treat shoes, will help cope with this problem.
To do this, soak a cotton pad in vinegar and thoroughly rub the inside of the shoes. There is no need to rinse off the product; it evaporates quickly in the air. Another disinfection option is a mixture of vinegar and soap solution. To prepare, you need to dissolve two large spoons of laundry soap shavings and the same amount of vinegar essence in a glass of water. The solution should be poured into the shoes and left for half an hour. Then the product is poured out, the shoes are washed with water and dried naturally.
It is recommended to use vinegar to wipe shower trays, bathtubs and any surfaces that a person has come into contact with bare feet, as fungal spores may remain on them.
Vinegar can be used to disinfect socks. They should be washed as usual, then placed in a mixture of vinegar and water for 5 minutes and rinsed with water.
Contraindications
Vinegar is a food product that every person consumes, so there are no contraindications for its use. The only point worth paying attention to is the possibility of irritating sensitive or damaged skin. In this case, limit the use of vinegar and avoid getting it on your skin.
It should also not be used on young children. Such patients should be examined by a doctor and prescribed special medications appropriate for their age.
When using this product, remember - this is not a panacea for nail fungus, but an auxiliary remedy. Under no circumstances should you refuse treatment with traditional medications or ignore the dermatologist’s prescriptions.
In what cases can it help?
Typically, vinegar is used as an adjuvant to the main therapy. Self-medication is not recommended, because only a doctor can identify which specific pathogen has affected the nails based on the results of tests and examination. Read about which doctor treats toenail fungus here.
At an early stage of the disease, you can use baths and make compresses. And if the process is advanced, ointments will be more effective. We talked about how to treat toenail fungus when the fungus is very advanced in this article.
Pros and cons of treatment
Like all other traditional medicines, vinegar has its pros and cons. For some it will help to quickly get rid of mycosis, but for others it will not be suitable at all. Still, before using this technique it is useful to know the pros and cons:
- Cheap remedy.
- Always available at home.
- Has no contraindications.
- Destroys fungus and accelerates nail growth.
- Ideal for complex therapy.
- Can be used as prophylaxis.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the small therapeutic effect and visible results only at the initial stage of the fungus.
Forecasts at different stages of the disease
Any disease develops in at least three stages: initial, moderate and advanced. When using vinegar at the initial stage of nail fungus, the probability of complete cure reaches 70%. Almost all patients during the experiment by the end of the second week noted a noticeable improvement in the condition of the nail plate.
Bath for nail fungus with vinegar
In the middle stage, the method of using vinegar played a big role. Compresses and lotions brought the greatest results; baths improved the general condition of the nails, but did not cure the fungus. Lubrication did not give any visible result.
In advanced stages of the fungus, vinegar improved the general condition of the nails in 10% of patients, but recovery did not occur within a month. We can conclude that with a strong fungus and a large lesion, this method does not give results. The disease at this stage requires an integrated approach and the use of special antimycotic drugs.
Prevention with vinegar
After you have undergone treatment and seemingly defeated the fungus, there is always a risk of relapse. Unfortunately, the situation when symptoms return after a month or two is not uncommon. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures for 2-4 weeks. They include:
- More frequent changes of underwear and socks.
- Shower regularly.
- During active physical activity, it is necessary to maintain hygiene.
- Do not wear underwear and socks made of artificial materials.
- Maintain temperature conditions in clothing.
- If there is a lack of vitamins, take a general strengthening course.
- Take a bath with vinegar every day for 2 weeks, then every 3 days.
Following these rules will help defeat the disease and prevent its return.
Basic rules for using the medicine
This simple mechanism makes the treatment of mycosis with apple cider vinegar effective if the following rules are followed:
- Careful selection of essence: the raw material – apple vinegar – must be natural, without impurities or chemical additives. Apple essence is easy to make at home.
- Take the necessary precautions: prevent the risk of spreading the fungus by increasing hygiene requirements, use personal items (towels, slippers), wash towels and socks after use.
- Strictly follow the recipe and options for using the medicine.
