Toenail fungus apple cider vinegar is an inexpensive but effective treatment for treating infections even in the most advanced cases. However, a wide variety of compounds are made on the basis of apple cider vinegar, which have a detrimental effect on fungal colonies. To achieve 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 the humidity is always high and the heat is maintained. The microorganism easily penetrates the subcutaneous layers through cracks in the skin, 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 becomes dull, greyish at first, then gradually begins to thicken and spread. Over time, the nail plate begins to crumble and break, pain appears around the bed, an unpleasant smell.
All changes in onychomycosis can affect both the entire nail and its edges, or the area in the growth zone. In more advanced cases, a fungal infection spreads from one nail to neighboring ones and spreads to the other leg. The easiest way to treat nail fungus is in the initial stages of the pathology. If the disease is detected in time, you can only use external antifungal drugs, and folk methods at an early stage of onychomycosis are no less effective in comparison with pharmaceutical preparations.
Using apple cider vinegar for toenail fungus can kill parasites. The use of recipes based on apple cider vinegar leads to the fact that an acidic environment is created in the thickness of the nail and under the plate itself, which has a detrimental effect on the spores of the parasite. An increase in acidity leads to the fact that the process of reproduction and further growth of the fungus is interrupted.
Apple cider vinegar also has antiseptic and disinfectant properties, which makes it useful for preventing yeast infections. Prevention of the disease is necessary in cases when nail fungus is found in a family member.
External use of apple cider vinegar in its pure form or in combination with additional components allows loved ones not to get infected during the period when the main source of fungal spores is treated.
Fungal treatment options with apple cider vinegar
How to treat the identified onychomycosis, depends on the stage of the infection? In advanced cases, external agents should be combined with oral administration of antifungal agents prescribed by a dermatologist. The exclusive use of ointments, lotions or folk methods will not bring any benefits, especially if changes in the bed of nails on the legs have been observed for several years.
To cure a fungal infection with apple cider vinegar, you can use various means that are prepared on the basis of this product. It can be lotions, ointments of different compositions, foot baths. It is imperative to adhere to the suggested recipe, since increasing the amount of vinegar or additional components can cause skin irritation around the nail, pain and burns.
Apple cider vinegar bath
Trays with the addition of various components with an antifungal effect are widely used against toenail fungus. Apple cider vinegar is one of them too.
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 legs are immersed in the liquid. The effectiveness of treatment increases if several conditions are met:
- Before the procedure, it is necessary to rinse the legs, remove all dead cells. The affected nails should be steamed and part of the nail plate cut off.
- The duration of the bath is 10 to 15 minutes.
- In the first week of treatment, baths should be carried out twice a day. Then the procedure is carried out once every three days.
- Do not rinse your feet after taking a vinegar bath. They can only be dried with a towel and cotton socks put on over them.
Pure apple cider vinegar can cause severe burns. Especially if there are wounds on the feet. To reduce sensitivity, you can dilute it with water in a ratio of 2: 1.
Compressed
Apple cider vinegar against nail fungus is also used as a pad 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 in the amount of two tablespoons should be mixed with regular soda to make a pasty mixture. It is applied to the nail, covered on top with a tampon and fixed with a fingertip or cling film.
- Apple cider vinegar is mixed in equal parts with glycerin or vegetable oil. In the resulting solution, the disc is moistened and placed on the affected nails. It is best to fix the compress with cling film and pull a sock over it. The apple-glycerin mixture is also great for lubricating the entire foot. This application of the solution softens rough skin, kills all microbes, promotes softening of corns and can be used when combining onychomycosis with mycosis, that is, a fungus that affects the surface of the skin.
- Vinegar with iodine. Three drops of alcoholic tincture of iodine should be placed on a tablespoon of apple essence. The resulting drug is applied to the entire surface of the nail, then the finger is wrapped in polyethylene and the compress is fixed with a plaster. You can also use iodine as a separate ingredient to help fight fungus.
Compresses with apple cider vinegar on the nail must 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 lotion ingredients, so it can be easily cut off.
Anoint
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 kept 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 wrapped with cling film. In the morning, feet 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 is effective if the nails are steamed and their large, thickened part cut off before the procedures. However, it must be remembered that in advanced cases, even pharmaceutical preparations with high antifungal activity for topical use will not help if their use is not combined with systemic antifungal 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 is used without interruption throughout the duration of therapy.