Boric acid from nail fungus: reviews, instructions for use

Boric acid, used for nail fungus, is an affordable and effective remedy at the initial stage of the disease. By following certain recommendations and treatment regimens, it can help get rid of the infection and restore a healthy appearance to the legs.

Release form

Boric acid is found in many medicines, as it is a powerful antiseptic. It has fungicidal, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

The drug can be purchased at the pharmacy in several forms. Let's consider them in a small table.

Release form	Description
SEMI-TRANSPARENT CRYSTALLINE POWDER	White powder, packaged in 10 mg sachets. It is used in the form of a powder for treating the gaps between fingers, making compresses and disinfecting shoes. Price in Russia from 55 rubles, in Ukraine - from 8 hryvnia.
OINTMENT 5%	A thick boric acid-based substance available in 25 ml glass jars or aluminum tubes. Apply directly to the treated surface - the foci of onychomycosis. The cost in Russia is from 42 rubles, in Ukraine - from 9 hryvnia.
Boron alcohol 3%	An alcoholic solution of boric acid, packaged in 50 ml dark glass bottles. It is used for the preparation of baths, compresses and applications to combat nail fungus. The price in Russia is from 17 rubles, in Ukraine - from 2 hryvnia.

Are boric alcohol and boric acid the same?

These are two identical drugs in a different state of aggregation - dry and liquid, based on a single active substance.

The difference in the release form determines their convenience in therapeutic manipulations - boric acid powder can be used as powder, alcohol solution - to enhance the effectiveness of recipes based on it, to get a quick disinfecting the effect. At the same time, the drugs do not lose their antiseptic, disinfecting and antifungal qualities.

pharmachologic effect

As mentioned above, boric acid is, first of all, a strong antiseptic aimed at destroying the pathogenic flora. The death of pathogenic microorganisms occurs as a result of denaturation and coagulation of proteins.

Boric acid products are used exclusively locally in the lesion. Partially, its components penetrate the human systemic circulation, and therefore there is a possibility of side effects.

Instructions for use

To achieve the desired therapeutic effect, it is important to start the use of boric acid with preparatory procedures and recommendations. Let's list them:

• In order for the drug to better penetrate the nail plates and skin of the hands and feet, the extremities should be steamed in hot water with the addition of softening components - soda, soap, herbs. After that, the hardened tissue is cleaned off with a pumice stone, and the nails are filed and cut along the edge with nail scissors.
• Boric acid, like other folk and pharmaceutical remedies, must be used regularly, according to the recommended scheme. Otherwise, the therapeutic effect will be minimal, followed by a relapse of the infection.
• The fungus on the nails tends to multiply and spread rapidly, so it can dwell everywhere - on shoes, wardrobe items, bed linen of the patient. This fact is taken into account by few, but it is he who prevents a person from being cured, even when using expensive means. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the disinfection of household items - boric alcohol and powder are perfect for this.

And now we will find out how the treatment of nail fungus with boric acid is carried out.

Ointment

The drug is applied to the steamed and cleaned from the excess stratum corneum of the nail plate 2 times a day for 28 days. Elimination of the pronounced symptoms of mycosis and candidiasis is observed within a week after the start of using the product. If after a month the disease does not recede, most likely, we are talking about its neglected form, in which systemic drugs must be connected to the treatment - capsules and tablets for internal administration.

Powder

BATHROOMS. Add 40 g or 4 sachets of 10 g of boric acid powder to a bowl with water heated to 60 degrees. The liquid is mixed properly and the legs or hands are lowered into it, depending on the localization of the fungal infection. Baths are done once every 1-3 days.

COMPRESSES. Shortly before sleep, a small amount of boric powder is poured onto the prepared dry nail plates, the product is fixed with a plaster, and socks (gloves) are put on top. Go to bed. In the morning, the compress is removed by washing off the powder from the nails. Perform the procedure every evening until the signs of onychomycosis disappear.

Boric alcohol

Quite a simple option for treating nail fungus. The agent is applied to the affected plates 1-2 times a day, leaving it until absorbed. The procedure is performed until recovery.

Use for children, pregnant women

Boric acid treatment is contraindicated in children under 15 years old, expectant and lactating mothers. This is due to the fact that there is a theory about the possibility of drug accumulation in the body and subsequent human poisoning.

Contraindications

Boric acid is recommended to be used only after medical advice. If there is no opportunity to visit a specialist, you must familiarize yourself with the annotation to the drug.

For this reason, the drug has the following contraindications:

• skin problems of an inflammatory nature with a violation of the integrity of the epithelium;
• pregnancy, breastfeeding;

• children under 15;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the product;
• chronic pathologies of the liver and kidneys.

Side effects

Adverse reactions to treatment with boric acid are due to its direct absorption into the systemic circulation and accumulation in the body. That is, they may not appear immediately. Let's list them:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain;
• dizziness, convulsions, discoordination of movements;
• hypotension, tachycardia;
• decrease in daily urine output.

Sometimes local side effects develop in the area of ​​treatment with the drug, in the form of irritation and peeling of the skin. Less commonly, boric acid allergies develop in the form of itching, rash and hives.

Analogs

Pharmaceutical substitutes for boric acid for nail fungus include the following drugs:

SALICYLIC ACID. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and disinfecting effect. In addition to destroying pathogenic microflora, including fungi, the agent has a keratolytic effect. - the ability to exfoliate the excess stratum corneum and soften the tissues of the treated surface. Copes with onychomycosis at an early stage. The cost in a pharmacy is from 18 rubles.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. One of the best antiseptics with antibacterial and disinfectant properties. Destroys the structure of cell membranes of pathogenic microorganisms, causing their death in the lesion focus. For nail fungus, hydrogen peroxide is used in the form of trays and lotions. The cost of the drug in the pharmacy is from 20 rubles.

Reviews

Madina, 24 years old. “I went to the doctor with nail fungus, but after learning how much the drugs would cost, I decided to use simpler methods. Mom said that boric acid can help with my problem - powder treatment at night. In addition, I bought an ointment that I applied to my nails in the morning before work. After 4 days, the symptoms of itching and burning were gone, and after 2 months I completely got rid of the disease. "

Rimma, 28 years old. “I never thought that boric acid could help with onychomycosis. On one leg, I had several affected nails that are just unpleasant to look at. First, I steamed the feet in an "acid" bath, then applied the powder in the form of a powder and sealed it with a regular plaster, from calluses, at night. I did the procedures every day, and after about a month and a half, the result was obvious - sick nails could not be distinguished from healthy ones. "

Anton, 34 years old. “On the advice of a friend, I treated the itchy areas on the legs and the nails themselves with boric alcohol 3 times a day. The tool, for all its ease of use, really helps against fungus. The disease receded after a month, but after that he applied about so much alcohol for the purpose of prophylaxis, but once a day. Recommend.".

Boric acid is an effective and popular remedy for nail fungus in folk medicine. It can be used as an ointment, powder, and alcohol solution. It is important to follow the treatment regimen and monitor the dosage of the drug, as unwanted reactions from the body may develop. In this case, further use of boron should be discarded.