To treat nail fungus at home, you need to use special medications.Treatment varies depending on the early and advanced stages of the disease.Each of them can be recognized by certain symptoms.The disease itself is called onychomycosis.We cannot leave it to chance, because the disease is long-term and difficult to treat.A specific toenail fungus treatment is chosen based on the severity of the symptoms.
What is nail fungus?
Onychomycosis is one of the most common infectious diseases caused by microorganisms in the form of yeast and mold.Due to their rapid spread, the nail plates begin to turn yellow, crack, crumble and thicken.Due to the growth of fungus, you can completely lose your nails.If left untreated, they will crumble.It is very easy to get a fungal infection in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, nail salons and fitness clubs.
Where does it come from?
Most infections occur through household utensils or shoes shared with an infected person.People with excessively sweaty feet are more susceptible to nail fungus.More often, athlete's foot appears in adults;In children it occurs less often.The causes of the development of the disease are:
- wear tight shoes;
- insufficient hygiene;
- endocrine and nervous system disorders;
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower limbs;
- often go to places with high humidity;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- foot deformities;
- vascular diseases.
Types of toenail fungus
There are several types of fungus that can affect toenails.The main ones are considered as follows:
- Moldy.People weakened by prolonged illness are more likely to be affected by it.Nails are bluish, yellowish or greenish, and can even turn black.Toenail fungus can be completely cured after 1-2 months.
- Yeast.Nails become uneven, have many grooves and waves, and are yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, the disc falls behind the bed.At the same time, the nail festers and thickens.
- Dermatological cells.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The edges of the nails extend away from the bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowness will completely erode the nail.
Token
The disease first affects the big toe.Over time, it will destroy the nails.As the fungus spreads, other fingers are also affected.The person feels intense itching between them.The skin begins to peel and crack.Furthermore, pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Change the color of the nail plate.In its normal state, it is translucent and has a pinkish tint.After a fungal infection, the nail color turns yellow, brown or black.
- Thickens the nail plate.Its increased keratinization occurs, so it becomes thick.In severe cases, this even hinders treatment.
- Fall.Without proper treatment, the nail plate will be completely destroyed and discolored.
Stage
Signs of fungal infection vary depending on the stage of onychomycosis.Infection occurs quickly and pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- First stage.It is very difficult to detect with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor, who has the ability to magnify many times to see the small pale spots.
- Second stage.The disease continues to progress.Small stripes and dots develop into entire grooves.This leads to destruction of the plate.The shine of the nail plate disappears and begins to turn yellow.
- Third stage.If you ignore the previous symptoms, you can completely lose your nails.The surrounding skin will be red and peeling.Nails are completely exfoliated.Against this background, there was an unpleasant smell
How to diagnose fungus
External manifestations of the disease only confirm that the toenails are affected by a fungal infection.The cause of the disease can only be determined through laboratory tests.To prescribe adequate treatment, onychomycosis is distinguished from psoriasis, lichen planus, etc.If there are signs, you should consult a mycologist or dermatologist.Diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microsporia.It was a scratch from the nail plate.To collect the material, the nail is treated with a special substance that destroys keratin.In this form, the material will be easier to study.
- Research on bacteria.It involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The infectious agent is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of the colony.This study allows us to determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to the drug.
- DNA diagnosis.This method shows areas affected only by ringworm and candida.Diagnosis is performed using special equipment, which is expensive.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the clinical form of the disease, the size of the affected area and the degree of nail changes, the doctor prescribes comprehensive treatment.Treatment may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfecting and treating shoes, help treat mild or moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate in case of severe or recurrent infection;
- folk remedies, for example, soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointment, tea tree oil, celandine tincture, propolis, acetic acid.
In the early stages
For small lesions, topical treatment will help cure nail fungus.These include peeling patches, medicated varnishes, creams, gels and ointments.Such drugs are effective only in the early stages of onychomycosis.They are applied directly to the damaged nail and surrounding tissues for long periods of time.Sometimes it takes about a year to fully recover.
forgotten mushrooms
If the disease is severe, external treatments will be less effective.It is necessary to use the drug for internal use.This includes antifungals in tablet and capsule form.They inhibit the growth of pathogens and prevent its spread.In addition, the drug also has a long-lasting effect, reducing the possibility of reinfection.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctor will prescribe certain medications to the patient.The main groups of antifungal drugs are:
-
drugs for systemic use;
- products for topical use.
The final group of medications includes many medications that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnish;
- sprays;
- solution;
- cream
Special paint
In the early stages of the disease, antifungal varnish can be used.They help soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of medicinal substances in it.
Ointments and creams
The effectiveness of topical medications is due to direct contact of the medication with the lesion.In the early stages of the disease, only such drugs are prescribed because they have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If signs of toenail fungus indicate that the disease is in an advanced stage, the doctor will prescribe a more serious antifungal medication in tablet form.
Laser therapy
If toenail fungus is in a severe stage and cannot be treated with medication, more radical methods will be used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, fungal spores die.In addition, the laser does not damage surrounding tissues.Even advanced stages of onychomycosis can be cured after 3-4 courses of treatment.
Treat toenail fungus with folk remedies
How to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies should be applied in parallel with the use of medication.This is especially true of advanced stages of the disease.In this case, using only folk recipes will not help.At the first signs of nail fungus, you can use tincture of vinegar, iodine, kombucha and celandine.
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used to remove fungus.It must be mixed with warm water in a 1: 1 ratio. You need to soak your feet in this solution for about 15-20 minutes.Your feet should then be left to dry completely.The procedure should be repeated daily for 2 weeks.During this time, you can notice how a new nail, not destroyed by the fungus, begins to grow.
Iodine
Effective treatment of toenail fungus is also carried out with the help of iodine.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.Daily it is necessary to treat the affected nail plates with iodine.It is important to continually remove the tip of the nail that has grown out.This remedy for foot fungus receives many good reviews.Iodine can also be used for hot baths.To do this, dissolve 10 drops of the product in 0.5 liters of water and soak your feet in it for 10 minutes.
Kombucha
Compression is made using kombucha.To do this, a sheet of this product must be applied to the sore nail, wrapped in cellophane and bandaged.You need to wear socks on top.It is better to carry out the procedure at night and in the morning wash your feet under warm water, then remove the affected areas and lubricate them with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you can quickly recover.
celandine
Fresh celandine must be passed through a meat grinder and juice extracted from the resulting pulp using 3-4 layers of gauze.You need to take enough herbs to make 200 ml of liquid.200 ml of 70% alcohol is added and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the prepared product to the affected area after steaming your feet for 10 minutes and let it dry completely.The course of treatment is at least 10-12 days.The nail plate needs to be processed 3-4 times per day.