Baking soda is a universal and affordable product, often used in cosmetology and medicine.
One of the main advantages of sodium bicarbonate is its destructive effect on pathogenic microorganisms, which makes it possible to use soda to prepare medicinal solutions designed to combat fungus.
Antifungal baths , which can be done at home without the need to purchase potent medications, prevent the appearance of mycosis and quickly get rid of the disease at the initial stage of its development
How does baking soda work for nail fungus?
Baking soda is a time-tested method from the arsenal of traditional medicine for the treatment of fungal infections
To find out why a pathogenic fungus is treated with soda, you first need to familiarize yourself with the beneficial properties of this product. Sodium bicarbonate is actively used in the fight and prevention of various diseases that are accompanied by inflammatory processes.
Baking soda is used against fungus, as it is capable of creating and maintaining unfavorable conditions for the normal functioning of the infectious pathogen. This is one of the main advantages of the product.
Soda, which is usually used for nail fungus on the toes and hands, is characterized by the following beneficial properties:
- Antimicrobial. This product disinfects infected areas and prevents the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms in them;
- Emollient. It softens the nail and the skin around it well. Due to this, tissue permeability increases, which means that it becomes easier for the active components of drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the plate;
- Anti-inflammatory. The remedy dries out the problem area and prevents fungal spores from continuing to develop. It eliminates the negative factor that contributes to the appearance of the inflammatory process;
- Antimycotic. Baking soda helps cure toenail fungus as it reduces the acidity level in the infected area. Such changes negatively affect the life processes of disease pathogens.
These properties explain why soda is so actively used against fungus.
Efficacy and mechanism of action
The composition of medicinal solutions includes components with fungicidal and fungistatic activity.
The components penetrate deep into the tissues, due to which the baths help reduce lesions , have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms and have a beneficial effect on the skin, softening and restoring it.
When diagnosing the initial stage of development of the pathological process, it will be possible to completely get rid of the fungus with the help of baths alone, but if there is a severe stage of fungal infection, the effectiveness of home treatment will be low.
Soda baths
Doctors approve of using a baking soda bath for fungus. This procedure helps to soften the skin well and remove the unpleasant odor that is caused by waste products of pathogenic microflora. The bath also removes dead and keratinized tissue particles that prevent the active substances of the drugs from reaching the sites of infection.
After such therapy, it is imperative to wipe the affected limbs dry and additionally treat them with an antifungal agent recommended by the doctor.
pure soda
When preparing baths, anti-fungal soda can be used in its pure form without any additives. This is a classic way to prepare a solution for steaming nails. To make it, just dissolve 1 tbsp in 2 liters of water. l. main product. The temperature of the solution should be within 40 degrees.
Stir the solution for treating foot fungus until all the soda crystals are completely dissolved. Afterwards, the infected limbs are placed in it for 25-30 minutes. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day.
Don’t forget to thoroughly dry your feet with a dry towel after the bath. The free edge of the nail should also be removed.
Soap and soda solution
A soap-soda solution gives good results in the treatment of fungal diseases on the nails
Soda for fungus can be supplemented with other agents with antifungal action. These include laundry soap. Traditional medicine is very easy to prepare. You only need to dissolve 2 tbsp in 3 liters of hot water (40 degrees). l. shavings of laundry soap and 30 g of baking soda. You need to steam your feet in this solution for 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, the softened areas of the plate should be carefully cut off with nail scissors. You also need to treat your feet for toenail fungus.
After the main procedure, an antifungal agent purchased at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription must be applied to the infected areas.
Soda and vinegar
Baking soda will help get rid of fungus much faster if you combine it with salt. Based on these two components, a medicinal solution is prepared that can improve the patient’s condition, even if his illness is in an advanced form. If you use vinegar against fungus at an early stage of the development of the pathological process, you can completely suppress the activity of pathogenic microflora.
To prepare the bath, you need to dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. soda and salt. You need to soak your feet in the solution for about 15 minutes.
Soda and peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide helps destroy mold on nails. It will come in handy when preparing a soda bath to combat fungal pathogens.
The healing solution is made from 1 liter of warm water and 100 g of soda, which is previously quenched with vinegar essence. You need to steam your nails in this solution. Afterwards, apply a compress of 150 ml of vinegar and 200 ml of hydrogen peroxide (the composition requires thoroughly moistening cotton wool or gauze).
This dressing must be kept for about 8 hours. Afterwards, you need to take a medicinal bath with vinegar and soda again, and also apply a new compress.
Soda and herbs
Special combinations of herbal infusions will help eliminate nail fungus
Herbal baths are used according to the same plan as treating nail fungus with vinegar. To carry out the procedure, you need to prepare a decoction based on plant materials. Medicinal chamomile, string or oak bark are suitable for this purpose. Any of these components should be filled with water (2 liters of liquid per 30 g of ingredient). Then you need to add 3 tbsp to the broth. l. soda and the same amount of sea salt.
Infected limbs must be kept in the resulting composition for 30 minutes. Upon completion of the procedure, it is advisable to treat these areas with iodine or hydrogen peroxide.
Features of treatment
When choosing soda baths to treat fungus, it is important to remember that this method has its own characteristics . To ensure that each procedure brings maximum benefit and does not aggravate the situation, you should pay attention to several points:
- Before the procedure, you need to wash your feet well with cleansing gel or antibacterial soap.
- Keep your feet in the healing liquid for no more than 20 minutes - this is enough for the remedy to begin to act.
- A positive result can only be achieved if the procedures are carried out regularly.
- Before starting treatment, it is advisable to undergo examination and consult with a doctor.
Important!
At an advanced stage of mycosis, the solution is used in combination with medications prescribed by the attending physician.
Compresses
Homemade compresses help cure onychomycosis. They can be used for a long time. How to cure fungus in this way can be found in the recipe, which describes the process of preparing a compress and its use.
To make a soda compress, you need to dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. food product. In the resulting composition, you need to moisten the gauze well, and then apply it to the infected area. The compress should be secured on top with cling film and left in this form for 4-5 hours.
Soda against fungus in the form of a compress softens the nail plates well. This simplifies the procedure for cutting keratinized and exfoliated parts of the nail. Additionally, the product deprives the infectious agent of conditions for its active reproduction.
Preventive measures
Fungal infection is difficult to treat, so it is better to prevent it. For prevention, doctors advise:
- Use your own rubber slippers when visiting public places: swimming pool, bathhouse, sauna, etc.
- To try on shoes in a store, wear socks or ankle boots.
- Avoid using socks made from synthetic materials. Synthetics cause increased sweating, which is a provoking factor for the proliferation of fungal spores. Socks made of cotton or bamboo would be ideal.
- Buy shoes made from natural materials that allow air to pass through.
- Change socks daily.
- Use special products to treat the skin to prevent excessive sweating.
- Strengthen the immune system by following the principles of a healthy diet, leading an active lifestyle, and giving up bad habits.
- Trim your nails in a timely manner - approximately once every 1-2 weeks.
If signs of fungus appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment. The more advanced the disease, the more difficult it is to cure.
Paste
Medicinal pastes made from soda are used against nail fungus. This is a local method of combating pathology. It must be applied to specific areas that have been affected by the disease. The paste is suitable for treating advanced forms of fungus. This remedy is prepared in several ways:
- 3 tbsp. l. Soda must be poured with a small portion of water. This mixture must be stirred until it acquires the consistency of a paste;
- The steps are repeated as in the previous recipe, only another 1 tsp is added to the total mass. lemon juice or vinegar essence.
It is strongly recommended not to leave the soda paste on the surface of the nail plate and skin for more than 10 minutes. After the allotted time has passed, you need to wash off the medicinal composition with warm water.
Precautionary measures
If you are hypersensitive to soda, you should immediately stop using it.
A patient who decides to fight onychomycosis with home methods should know how to safely treat nail fungus with soda. To avoid possible complications, you must first make sure there are no contraindications. Doctors prohibit treatment with soda for the following conditions:
- Individual intolerance to the product;
- Dermatological diseases that exclude exfoliating and drying procedures;
- Cuts and wounds on the skin.
If you neglect the contraindications, you may encounter side effects from baking soda. Among them are itching, burning and a feeling of discomfort at the site of application of the folk remedy.
In most cases, soda leads to the development of side effects in those patients who are hypersensitive to this product. But sometimes they cannot be avoided even if soda is well tolerated. To ensure the safety of treatment, it is recommended to first do a test on a small area of skin to check your body's reaction to exposure to sodium bicarbonate.
Signs of fungal infection of the feet
The main factor in getting rid of mycosis is timely consultation with a doctor. Therefore, every person needs to know what fungus looks like on the feet and nails.
Symptoms of an infectious disease:
- delamination and destruction of the nail;
- skin redness;
- peeling;
- itching;
- burning;
- thickening of the epidermis and nail plate;
- pain when walking;
- watery blisters;
- unpleasant odor;
- change in nail color.
If treatment is not started on time, the infection quickly spreads to nearby healthy areas.
Important!
At the first manifestations of fungus, you should contact a dermatologist, who will prescribe laboratory tests, make the correct diagnosis and select effective treatment.
Reviews
Vasily, 48 years old Soda baths and laundry soap helped me forget about how unpleasant toenail fungus can be. These two proven remedies helped relieve discomfort and improve the appearance of the affected plate. She continued to be treated with them until healthy nails grew on her fingers. Therapy took me about a month.
Irina, 36 years old I have severe fungus on my toenails. The doctor will prescribe me systemic antifungals. In parallel with this, I decided to use a traditional method of treating onychomycosis - the use of soda baths. Periodically I also made compresses and treated my nails with hydrogen peroxide. These funds turned out to be enough to achieve recovery in a relatively short period of time.
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Principles of the procedure
To effectively treat fungus using baths, you must follow several rules:
- Procedures should be carried out daily, since a cumulative effect is required for greater effectiveness;
- The best time to steam your feet is before bed to allow your skin to rest;
- Boiled water is used for baths to avoid secondary infections;
- The optimal water temperature is from 40 to 45ºС. If you do it lower, the desired effect will not be achieved; if you do it higher, the likelihood of burns increases;
- The duration of the procedure should be 15 minutes or more;
- Before steaming your feet, you need to wash them with soap and running water;
- If the layer of dead cells is too large, it should be removed with a pumice stone or a rough foot file;
- Instruments used to treat affected areas should be disinfected after each use to prevent re-infection;
- After the skin has been steamed, it must be wiped with a clean towel and dried;
- After this, a drug prescribed by a dermatologist is applied to the skin of the feet.
During antifungal therapy, it is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of socks and shoes. Specialized tools are used to process them. This will help prevent the fungus from re-provoking after recovery. All items used for the patient’s hygiene are used only by him. Healthy people are prohibited from using them to prevent infection.
Compliance with the treatment rules will ensure an effective result of therapy, as well as prevent the recurrence of unpleasant symptoms. Vitamin complexes are an additional means to speed up recovery. Taking them is not necessary, but is highly desirable, since with their help the fungus will go away faster.