Often, fungus on the toenails appear in men, in women, the hands are more susceptible to this disease. The medical name for this problem is onychomycosis. It usually starts with the big toe. Just by losing a nail you can not be sure that the infection will not spread. And so you want to strip your feet when you visit or during the summer. Often you have to restrain yourself and, feeling embarrassed, wait for the problem to go away on its own.
Regardless of the type of fungus that causes nail disease, it will exhibit similar symptoms and require the same treatment. Due to the fact that fungal nail infection does not pose a threat to life, most patients are not in a hurry with treatment, considering the problem only cosmetic. This approach is fundamentally wrong, because due to prolonged exposure to fungi, immunity begins to suffer, and this opens the door to many diseases.
When the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, therapy should be started with the use of medications or folk remedies. Both are very effective, and therefore the patient must decide for himself which treatment method to prefer.
How to get rid of the problem?
It is worth noting that the fungus is difficult to treat, so it is extremely important to first determine the extent of the disease and its causes. Most often, the problem lies in the environment. A fungal disease can occur as a result of prolonged wearing of closed shoes in a warm period of time at a time of high humidity. Also, prolonged stay in the pool can lead to nail damage.
There is a high probability of being affected by this attack in people with reduced immunity who have problems with blood circulation. In addition, diabetics and housewives who are in constant contact with water while cleaning the apartment and washing dishes may be at risk.
It is not difficult to understand that the nail is affected by fungal bacteria. You just have to look at its color. It usually takes on a yellow tinge, but in some cases can also be black, brown or gray. The nail becomes denser and stiffer. A progressive infection causes it to stop growing and may fall off. Meanwhile the skin starts to redden, itch and swell.
Before treating the disease, the cause of the disease, the negative impact factors must be eliminated.
Important!You should not walk barefoot in public places where there is a high probability of catching an infection.
You can eliminate the infection in different ways. At present, both drug treatment and traditional medicine are used in practice. It happens that a particular oil may not be suitable for a person, its use may not bring a positive result, but the skin of the feet will respond perfectly to the free herbal treatment. In addition, not all people can use medication. Many medicines have contraindications. Pregnant women, for example, should avoid taking medication.
Sometimes doctors deliberately offer patients to combine traditional medicine with medication.
Use of folk remedies
The most popular and effective traditional medicine in the fight against fungal infection are:
- iodine;
- uthull;
- tea mushrooms;
- sea salt;
- potassium permanganate;
- ammonia;
- boric acid;
- tea tree oil;
- propolis solution.
Home remedies are mainly used in cases where there is a risk of using medications that can cause an allergic reaction and that are not suitable for everyone. The main thing is to know in what proportions to use them.
It is very important not to start the treatment, otherwise the nails will not only be ugly, but will also lead to consequences such as skin diseases, hypersensitivity to allergens, diseases of the mucous membranes and inflammation of internal organs. The thing is that fungi are very toxic and all family members are at risk, especially if the family is in the habit of changing slippers.
Not many people manage to get rid of this problem with folk remedies, but it is enough just to remember about the usual disinfectant tinctures or decoctions.
Use of iodine
Iodine has long been used in self-healing processes. It is also able to relieve skin diseases, including fungal infections. Can be used in its pure form. It is only necessary to pre-clean the skin under the nail and wipe with iodine at the site of infection. After that no bandages are needed. Iodine must evaporate on its own. Typically, this takes a few minutes. So you can wait. Alternatively, you can get a chemical burn.
Important!People with individual iodine intolerance are not recommended to use it in the treatment of any disease.
If one does not know how his body reacts to this substance, then a painless experiment can be performed at home. Apply a few drops of iodine to the bend of the elbow and monitor the skin reaction. Of course, if the hand on the sheep starts to become red or stained, then you should not use iodine at all.
You can prepare a special antifungal mixture, which contains iodine, table vinegar and glycerin. These ingredients should be mixed in equal parts and add proportionally 2 times more boiled water. Now you can start to lift your legs and rub the antifungal mixture on the sore nail. These actions must be repeated for ten days.
Vinegar treatment
Vinegar is the most popular antifungal agent among people. Even for the prevention of such diseases, doctors recommend wiping the inside of the shoe. You just need to soak a cotton swab in vinegar, put it in shoes, which should be folded in a plastic bag and send the shoes in this shape to the wardrobe for a day. You can then pick it up, air it and walk calmly.
Infected areas of the skin can be treated with vinegar. First, the nails should be thoroughly washed and cleaned with a file, then the toes should be wiped with a cloth dipped in vinegar. A sore nail should be covered with a bandage so that the vinegar evaporates freely.
Before using the vinegar, it is necessary to test the personal tolerance of this medicine. You should literally apply a drop of vinegar on the skin area and observe the body's reaction.
How to use propolis tincture?
Traditional medicine prescriptions are gentle on the human body, so people turn to them even before they go to the clinic. Propolis has antiseptic properties and can be purchased as an ointment, oil or solution.
When treating nail fungus, the main thing is to be patient, because this is a long process. You can prepare a special foot bath with the addition of propolis. One tablespoon of the solution in a small container of water will suffice. The feet should be steamed for 10 minutes. Then you need to get rid of keratinized skin and put a propolis cap on the injured finger, which you can form yourself from softened propolis.
Important!In the process of treating nail fungus, you should pay more attention to personal hygiene and use clean socks every day.
Use of boric acid
Boric acid has a disinfecting effect. She has to be as careful as possible. Treatment with this drug should be short-term, as a person can be poisoned with a large accumulation of a substance in the blood. Not suitable for every person. Can be used in both liquid and dry form. There are several ways to treat this substance.
- It is necessary to pour 30 grams of powder in a bowl of water, the temperature of which does not exceed 60 degrees. The feet should be steamed for about 15 minutes, then wiped with a towel. This procedure should be done no more than once in 4 days.
- It is necessary to soak a cotton swab in a 3% solution of this acid and apply it on the sore finger for a few minutes.
- You can sprinkle boric acid powder on your nails and then wear a sock.
Remedies for fungus
Now manufacturers are working on the release of therapeutic ointments for fungi, creams. Also, do not forget to take modern medical pills and varnishes, which are used only once for 3-6 days.
Important!Without consulting a doctor, it is better not to engage in self-medication of the drug, as there are contraindications for certain groups of people.
There are many medicines at the pharmacy counter, but how suitable are they for your problem? There is still work to be done here. If the fungus has appeared recently, then it will be easier to get rid of it.
Disease prevention
In order not to catch such an infection, you just need to keep your feet clean and follow the rules of personal hygiene. You should also listen to the advice of people who advise:
- do not use other people's scissors when doing a manicure;
- do not go to the gym or shower barefoot;
- use cotton socks that allow your feet to breathe;
- do not wear tight shoes;
- do not walk in wet shoes for a long time if you are so "lucky" to get caught in the rain.
In principle, there are no special measures to prevent this disaster. You just have to wash your feet more often, wash your socks.
