Toenail fungus: how to treat it

Fungal diseases of the skin and nails are of the infectious nature of the infection, due to which the infection of a healthy person occurs through the way of home contact with the patient. Nail and skin fungus is a fairly common disease, although many are not even aware of the infection.

After all, the disease manifests itself mainly not at the stage of development, but at the stage of exacerbation, when the patient has the symptoms of the disease. The disease is quite serious, so it requires immediate treatment, in the absence of which a general skin infection can occur. What is a nail fungus, what are the symptoms of its manifestation and the features of treatment at home, we learn from the material.

What is the dangerous mushroom

The fungus of the skin and nails causes severe damage to the body, so it is necessary to cure the disease as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences. What are the consequences of a fungus?

The main danger of fungal diseases lies in the fact that parasites cause the development of complications of such severe types of ailments as diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma and allergies. Fungal infections that have fallen on the skin contribute to the defeat of the epidermis and nails (often the big toes). As a result, inflammatory processes on the skin, suppuration, delamination of the nails and discoloration of the skin are observed.

In addition to the fact that the fungus causes complications, it also contributes to a decrease in immunity. Against this background, the penetration of fungal infections into internal organs and their defeat is observed. The release of toxins from most types of parasites leads to the fact that the patient's body is poisoned not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

The fungus also affects a person's well-being. Untimely treatment leads to the fact that the disease spreads throughout the body, reaching vital organs. Physical inconvenience in the patient causes a picky attitude towards himself, so a person does not take care of himself and sometimes even finds a way out in alcohol.

A fungus is a disease in which slow suppuration of the skin occurs, starting mainly from the legs. If you don't fight a dangerous disease, it will gradually kill its "victim". To combat fungal infections, there are many different ways, both from a medical point of view and with the help of folk remedies. Today we will pay attention to the consideration of the main and effective means of treating nail fungus.

Symptoms and signs of appearance

To start treating toenail fungus, you need to make sure that the infection is present on the body. The fungus is dangerous because it is not visible to the human eye, but it can be overcome with the help of special preparations.

It is quite easy to get infected with a fungus. It is enough to visit once a sauna, a bathhouse, a gym, a swimming pool or other institutions of this type, where the probability of infection is 95%. If you don't follow hygiene rules and use third-party things, shoes or a towel, you can be sure that the first signs of illness will soon appear. On the legs, the symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately after infection, as, for example, with a cold.

The fungus after contact with the skin of a person begins its active reproduction and spread. As a rule, the duration of such parasitic actions lasts from several weeks to a month. If the patient's immune system is weakened, the fungus affects the skin and nails quickly enough, and the first symptoms appear within a week. If the body is able to fight the infection, the first symptoms of the disease can appear even after a month.

The first stage of the disease passes without the slightest sign, with the exception of increased sweating of the legs and the appearance of an unpleasant smell. Subsequently, the fungus on the nails manifests itself as the first signs of a change in the color of the nails. At the same time, the feet dry quickly and begin to peel off. Initially, microcracks appear on the heels and then large scar formations. The person begins to complain of constant symptoms of itching and redness of the feet and fingers. Most often, the disease is manifested by peeling of the skin between the toes.

Symptoms in the form of constant diaper rash of the legs lead to the formation of itchy blisters and calluses. Initially, the color of the nails changes, and then their shape. The first fingers are mainly involved, located at the edges, i. e. the thumb or little finger. The fungal spores penetrate deep into the nails and infect them. The nails initially start to turn white, then turn yellow and exfoliate. Nails begin to crack, become brittle and brittle. Gaps are formed under the nails into which dirt enters and infection of the fingers occurs.

If you find the first symptoms of the disease, you should immediately visit a doctor to start the right treatment. In the initial stages, mycosis can be treated with the help of special ointments, creams or traditional medicine, but if the disease has passed to the acute stage, it is not possible to avoid surgical intervention, in which the doctor decides to remove the lamina nail.

Mycosis can be complicated by eczema or psoriasis, so you shouldn't live up to such consequences, but take appropriate measures immediately. With the development of complications of mycosis, not only a general deterioration in well-being is observed, but also problems in the legs. It is difficult for the patient to move, and with prolonged walking a person experiences severe pain in the feet. We will learn further how to treat toenail fungus and what medicines exist to combat the disease.

How to treat

Fungal mycosis is often treated at home. On the toenails, the advanced form of mycosis is subject to treatment with the help of surgical intervention, when the procedure for cutting the nail plate is performed under local anesthesia. This method of treatment is rare, but there are people who are in no hurry to cure mycosis.

There are many types of drugs intended for both local and general treatment. Recently, such a method as pulse therapy, which includes the implementation of therapeutic methods in a short time, has become popular. For treatment, types of antifungal drugs are used, which are prescribed in certain dosages depending on the stage of mycosis.

How to cure toenail fungus if the disease is in the early stage? To begin with, you should visit a dermatologist who will make an accurate diagnosis and, based on such factors as the type of fungal pathogen, skin type and degree of pathology, will prescribe the appropriate therapeutic method.

Treatment of the fungus between the toes includes the use of special suspensions. Suspensions are processed not only the affected areas of the skin between the fingers, but also all the gaps. To speed up the effect, the toes are wrapped in a plastic bag.

How to treat mycosis nails? For this, special paints, creams and ointments are mainly used. These funds are applied not to the nail plate, but to the underlying skin. To do this, it is necessary to remove the affected areas of the nail plate, which allows you to process the finger inside. Often, the treatment of toenail fungus at home is carried out with the help of complex therapy in the form of the use of both local and general drugs. This allows you to overcome the disease in the shortest possible time and with greater efficiency.

It is important to know! If the nails have affected areas that do not exceed 50%, you can cope with the disease with the help of special ointments.

If the use of the ointment for a period of two weeks does not bring positive changes, it is necessary to change the ointment or inform the doctor about it. Most likely, the fact is that the fungal parasites have developed resistance to the drug. In order for a new nail to grow in place, the funds are used for a longer period of up to 1 year.

Drug treatment is the main one, so if the doctor prescribes this or that remedy, his recommendations should not be neglected. Treatment with folk remedies is an additional way to combat the fungus, which is also very effective.

Home treatment

Treatment of nail fungus at home is carried out using drugs. Let's consider some of them.

1. A medicine based on the antifungal substance ciclopiroxolamine, presented in the form of nail polish, which must be applied directly to the affected area every other day. Damaged areas must be removed with a blade or nail file. The duration of the use of paint for the treatment of fungi depends on the stage of the disease.
2. Lacquer of medical origin, which is applied according to a certain scheme: once every two days for a month. The following month, the treatment includes the use of paint every three days. The treatment lasts until the complete restoration of the nail plate.
3. The medicine comes in the form of a serum based on rye enzymatic filtrate, intended to fight pathogenic parasites. In addition to effectively fighting parasites, the serum prevents their further development in this area. The serum is intended for long-term treatment of the disease, so the minimum course is at least 28 days. Serum is applied 2 times a day, while preparing the nail plate for procedures.
4. A treatment product with urea, ginkgo biloba extract and beeswax aims to remove the growths and affected nails. The solution includes a whole complex of various additives, as a result of which not only the removal of the nail plate is ensured, but also the growth of a new one. The agent is applied by applying it in a thick layer on a previously prepared plate. Avoid the product coming into contact with the skin, which can cause a slight burn.
5. A drug from the allylamine group, which many people know about. An ointment is used to treat the fungus at various stages of its exacerbation. The ointment is used 2 times a day, after cleaning the nails.
6. Allylamine ointment is used in 2 single applications. Disinfects the skin and nail areas, resulting in healing. The duration of treatment does not exceed 2 weeks.
7. A spray preparation with a wide range of applications, intended for the treatment of mycosis and onychomycosis.
8. Ointment from the group of azoles with fungicidal properties that relieves the symptoms of mycosis. The ointment should be applied twice a day, and the course of treatment lasts up to 4 weeks.
9. An effective drug belonging to the class of allylamines, which helps to overcome not only the symptoms of mycosis, but also pathogens. The cream has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. The duration of treatment can be up to 6 months.

If the remedies for the treatment of toenail fungus do not have the correct effect, then in the complex the use of oral medications is prescribed, such as:

• A synthetic antifungal drug from the triazole group can treat the symptoms of even older types of fungi. The medicine is used once a week, and the duration of the course does not exceed 30 weeks.
• Derivative of triazole. Great for managing symptoms of advanced disease. The duration of the course of treatment is at least 3 months, for which there is a special scheme for taking capsules, indicated in the instructions.

The fastest way

Treatment of nail fungus at home in the fastest way involves the use of drugs from traditional medicine. Folk methods, although they belong to the secondary types of treatment of fungal infections and onychomycosis, but if you want to overcome the disease not only reliably, but also quickly, then you cannot do without folk medicines. Homemade products and ingredients such as garlic, iodine, vinegar, peroxide and lemon are excellent drugs to fight the disease.

Folk methods treatment of nail fungus on the big toe involves the use of such components:

1. Garlic.For the treatment of mycosis, garlic must be crushed and combined in equal proportions with alcohol. Before use, the mixture must be diluted with distilled water and then applied to the surface of the dish.
2. Iodine.This folk healer has better healing properties than any ointment or cream. For proper use, iodine should be applied one drop 2 times a day to the nail plate. The use of iodine is not only effective, but also safe.
3. Vinegar.Homemade vinegar helps heal the signs of fungus quickly. To do this, you need to bathe with vinegar. A 15-minute bathing session is enough for the symptoms of mycosis to begin to go away within a week.
4. Hydrogen peroxide. At an early stage of the disease, you can use peroxide, for which baths are made. In a solution consisting of water and peroxide, you should soak your feet for 15 minutes. You can repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day.
5. Lemon.Lemon is useful not only for nutrition, but also for the treatment of fungi. It is necessary to cut a slice of lemon and attach it to the affected nail. Then wrap with a bandage and cellophane. Keep for 8-10 hours. The course of treatment lasts up to 12 days. The efficiency has been proven by numerous reviews.

Treatment of interdigital fungus is carried out with the help of aloe or celandine juice. To do this, the affected area, together with the nail, is smeared with the juice of the plant, after which a compress is prepared. You can prepare a solution of celandine, with which to raise the legs.

There are many effective ways to treat fungi, but the safest is to prevent the development of the disease. But even if this happens, measures should be taken immediately, without waiting for the development of complications.

Reviews

So, we analyzed the main symptoms and treatment of nail fungus disease. Now let's pay attention to the feedback from our readers.

• "I discovered nail fungus not long ago, but at first I didn't understand at all that it was a disease. I visited a doctor who prescribed me to take pills and spread the cream on my nail. I started doing it. all this until my mother-in-law discovered the problem. Immediately a new recipe was prescribed, which included various homemade products: honey, alcohol, herbal infusions, lemon, vinegar and much more. In general, she prepared various home remedies and I applied them only to the affected area. A month later, the symptoms of the disease disappeared completely and the nail has already recovered.
• "I tried many different drugs, but as a result I found salvation in ordinary iodine. I smeared the nail with iodine every day, and after 2 months the symptoms of the disease began to fade, like a pencil from a blank sheet. Sometimes there is simply no need to buy expensive products when you can be cured with ordinary iodine.
• "Wearing closed shoes in winter and summer contributed to the fact that I caught the fungus. At first the ailment manifested itself in the fingers, but I did not pay due attention to it, but when the nail began to exfoliate, I took action. The doctor prescribed me several types of ointments, but I chose a cream for myself, which cured me after 2 months.