To cure nail fungus at home, you need to use special medications.Treatment methods differ in the initial and advanced stages of the disease.Each of them can be recognized by certain symptoms.The disease itself is called onychomycosis.It cannot be left to chance, because the pathology takes a lot of time and is difficult to treat.A specific remedy for toenail fungus 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 yeasts and molds.Due to their rapid spread, the nail plates begin to turn yellow, crack, crumble and thicken.As a result of fungal growth, you can completely lose your nails.If left untreated, they will crumble.It is easy to get infected with fungus in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, nail salons and fitness clubs.
Where do you come from?
Most cases of infection occur through household items or shoes shared with a sick person.People with excessively sweaty feet are more prone to nail fungus.Most often, athlete's foot appears in adults;in children it happens much less often.The causes of the development of the disease are:
- wearing tight shoes;
- insufficient hygiene;
- endocrine and nervous system disorders;
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- frequent visits 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 a long illness are more likely to be affected by it.The nail takes on a bluish, yellow or green tint, and can even turn black.Nail fungus can be completely removed in 1-2 months.
- Maya.The nail becomes uneven, covered with grooves and waves and turns yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, plaque remains behind the bed.At the same time, the nail folds become irritated and thicken.
- Dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The ends of the nail extend away from the bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowing completely consumes the nail.
The signs
The disease first affects the big toes.Over time, it destroys the nail.When the fungus spreads, other fingers are also affected.The person feels strong itching between them.The skin begins to peel and crack.Further, the pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Changing the color of the nail plate.In its normal state it is translucent and has a pink tint.After a fungal infection, the color of the nail changes to yellow, brown or black.
- Thickening of the nail plate.Its increased keratinization occurs, so it becomes thick.In advanced cases, this even hinders treatment.
- Crumbling.In the absence of proper therapy, the nail plate is destroyed and completely whitened.
stages
Signs of fungal infection vary depending on the stage of onychomycosis.The infection occurs quickly and the pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- The first stage.It is very difficult to recognize with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor who, with multiple magnifications, is able to see small faint dots.
- The second stage.The pathology continues to progress.Small lines and dots develop into entire grooves.This leads to the destruction of the plate.The shine of the nail plate disappears and it begins to turn yellow.
- The third stage.If you ignore the previous symptoms, you can completely lose your nails.The skin around it will be red and cracked.Thoi is completely exfoliated.Against this background, there is an unpleasant smell
How to diagnose a fungus
The 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 therapy, onychomycosis is differentiated from psoriasis, lichen planus, etc.If there are signs, you should consult a mycologist or dermatologist.The diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microsporia.It is an itch from the nail plate.To collect the material, the nail is treated with a special substance that destroys keratin.In this form, the material is easier to study.
- Bacteria research.It involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The causative agent of infection is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of the colonies.This study allows us to identify the sensitivity of a microorganism to drugs.
- DNA diagnostics.This method detects areas affected only by dermatophytes and candida fungi.Diagnostics is carried out with special equipment, so they are expensive.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the clinical form of the disease, the size of the affected area and the degree of change in the nail, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment.Therapy may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfecting and treating shoes, which help with mild or moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease passes into a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate for severe or recurrent infection;
- folk remedies, for example, soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointment, tea tree oil, celandine solution, propolis, acetic acid.
In the initial stage
For small lesions, topical therapy will help cure onychomycosis.These include exfoliating patches, medicated ointments, creams, gels and ointments.Such drugs are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.They are applied directly to the damaged nail and weave around for a long time.Sometimes it takes about a year for full recovery.
neglected mushrooms
If the disease is already advanced, then external remedies will have little effectiveness.It is necessary to use medications for internal use.These include antifungals in the form of tablets and capsules.They inhibit the development of the pathogen and block its spread.In addition, the tablets have a prolonged effect, thus reducing the possibility of re-infection.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes several medicines to the patients.The main groups of antifungal drugs are:
-
drugs for systemic use;
- products for current use.
The last group of drugs includes a variety of drugs that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnish;
- spray;
- solution;
- cream
Special varnishes
In the initial stages of the disease, antifungal varnishes can be used.They help soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of the medicinal substance in them.
Ointments and creams
The effectiveness of local drugs is due to the direct contact of the drug with the lesion.In the first stage of the disease, only such drugs are prescribed, because tablets have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If the signs of nail fungus indicate an advanced stage of the disease, then the doctor will prescribe more serious antifungal drugs in the form of tablets.
Laser therapy
If the toenail fungus is in an advanced stage and cannot be treated with medications, then more radical methods are used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, the fungal spores die.In addition, the laser does not damage the surrounding tissue.Even an advanced stage of onychomycosis can be cured in 3-4 treatment procedures.
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies
Along with the use of medicines, ways to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies should be used.This is especially true for the advanced stage of the disease.In this case, using only folk recipes will not help.At the first signs of onychomycosis, you can use vinegar, iodine, kombucha and celandine solution.
vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used to get rid of fungus.It should be mixed with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.You should soak your feet in this solution for about 15-20 minutes.After that, your feet should be allowed to dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure every day for 2 weeks.During this time, you can notice how a new nail, not damaged 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.Every day it is necessary to treat the affected nail plates with iodine.It is important to regularly remove the tip of the ingrown nail.This remedy for athlete's foot gets 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
Compresses are made using kombucha.To do this, a plate of this product should be applied to the injured nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You must wear socks over it.It is better to do the procedure at night, and in the morning rinse your feet under warm water, then remove the affected areas and smear them with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you can quickly recover from the fungus.
Celandine
Fresh celandine should be passed through a meat grinder and juice extracted from the resulting pulp using 3-4 layers of gauze.You should get enough herbs to make 200ml of juice.200 ml of 70% alcohol are added and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the prepared product to the affected areas after steaming your feet for 10 minutes and let them dry completely.The course of treatment is at least 10-12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.