Fungal nail infections are very common, affecting up to 20% of the population.This is not a life-threatening illness.However, it causes many problems in the form of itching, deformation of the nail plate and discoloration.Pathogenic fungi release toxins that spread throughout the body, increasing its sensitivity to external adverse influences.Knowing how to treat toenail fungus at home, you can deal with the problem yourself.
How does the infection occur?
Factors that provoke the disease include cuts, wounds, abrasions on the feet and damage caused by wearing tight shoes.Insufficient foot care, especially with excessive sweating, as well as the use of antibiotics and reduced immunity contribute to the appearance of mycoses.
Contagion is possible through contact with a sick person, using someone else's shoes, towels or carpet in the room.
Therefore, the greatest chance of fungal infection exists when one of the family members suffers from this disease.Flakes from the skin of a person infected with the fungus can fly into the surrounding space, infecting another.
This often happens in crowded places in conditions of high humidity - in a bath, sauna, swimming pool.Fungal infection can occur even in manicure and pedicure salons where sanitary standards are not sufficiently followed.Adults are more susceptible to the disease, but sometimes a child's foot can also suffer from fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The manifestation of mycosis begins with increased dryness and peeling of the heels and feet.Redness is sometimes observed, accompanied by severe itching, blistering and calluses.People who suffer from excessive sweating experience diaper rash.The nail changes its structure and color, turns yellow and cracks.When the spores penetrate deep into the plate, voids are formed under it, filled with a decaying mixture and an unpleasant rotten smell appears.
In an advanced stage, toenail fungus makes it difficult to walk and can cause fever.In such cases, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.Complications associated with mycosis can manifest in the form of psoriasis and eczema.
There are three types of toenail fungal infection, the symptoms of which differ:
- Vesicular.In this case, the lower part of the foot suffers, on which small bubbles filled with liquid are formed.
- Membrane.It appears between the toes in the form of cracks.
- Type of moccasins.Thickening of the skin with the formation of cracks appears on the heels and soles.Capturing the nails, the fungal pathogen causes disruption of their structure.The body may react with an allergy.
In order not to have to resort to surgical methods to remove the affected nail, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner.He will choose the appropriate drugs and tell you how to treat toenail fungus at home.
Why are fungi dangerous?
The disease is not harmless and can cause serious damage to the human body.Nail fungus is the cause of diseases that are difficult to treat.Corroding the nail plate, it spreads to nearby tissues, becoming a conduit for any other infection.Weakened immunity allows the fungus to penetrate the internal organs.
Mycosis can also be associated with general intoxication of the body.Toxins released by some types of fungi accumulate inside and lead to poisoning.The disease also causes serious psychological discomfort, causing negative emotions about its development.
Treatment options
Mycosis can be successfully treated at home with the help of drugs and traditional medicine.It is important to start treatment on time.The method of pulse therapy is very popular today, when the fungus is eliminated in a short period of time as a result of the use of antifungal agents prescribed in large doses.It is important to take long breaks between courses.
You can cure nail fungus at home using products intended for external use (ointments, gels, varnishes).Created on the basis of fungicidal drugs, they have an effective antifungal effect.The success of treatment depends on how accurately the type of pathogen and the degree of pathology are determined.Each affected area of the foot may require different medications.
To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, it is recommended to combine local means with systemic ones.An additional way is to use recipes from traditional medicine to speed up the healing process.You can treat nail fungus with the most common products - garlic, vinegar, lemon.
Drug therapy
There is a large selection of drugs that are effective against fungal infections.It is used both orally and externally.This question of how to treat toenail fungus should be dealt with by a specialist.He chooses the appropriate medicine.
Local remedies
At the very beginning of the disease, when the area of nail damage does not exceed 50%, solve the problem with the help of ointments and sprays.
Most come in different forms and help kill many types of fungus.The ointment is used 2 times a day, after cleaning and drying the affected area.The lack of result when using the ointment for more than two weeks makes it necessary to replace the drug with another to prevent the development of resistance of the fungus.
In case of mild symptoms, treatment at home can be carried out with the help of special medical varnishes and serums.
Oral medications
When local means for the treatment of nail fungus do not have a positive effect, the attending physician prescribes oral drugs that block the ability of microorganisms to reproduce and destroy them.
The combination of oral medications with ointments and sprays helps to get rid of toenail fungus quickly.
Traditional medicine
Our grandmothers knew well how to treat toenail fungus at home.Since ancient times, all kinds of recipes with garlic, soda, vinegar and other ingredients available in the kitchen of every housewife have been used to solve this problem.Common funds are:
- garlic.It is used to eliminate various types of fungi.Not only on the feet, but also helps to treat nail fungus at home, this product is known for its healing properties.To prepare a garlic tincture, crush a few cloves into a paste, mix them evenly with alcohol and dilute the resulting mixture with a small amount of water.Apply the tincture to the affected nail.You can also use garlic in its pure form;simply lubricate the nail plate with finely chopped garlic.
- Treatment of nail fungus with vinegar.First, your feet should be well steamed.Then a vinegar bath is prepared.A 9% warm solution of essence is prepared in a small basin.Put your feet in it for 15 minutes.Then wipe without rinsing with water.It is recommended to take vinegar baths for foot treatment at home up to twice a week.
- iodine.Thanks to the antiseptic and disinfecting effect of the alcohol tincture, the fungus is destroyed.A drop of 5% iodine solution is applied to the nail twice a day during the first week.After that, the number of treatments is gradually reduced.The course lasts one month.
- onion.Applying crushed onion on the nails helps to deal with the fungal infection.
- A lemon.The fruit, cut into thin slices, is placed on the sick nail, wrapped with plastic wrap and secured with a bandage on top.The procedure is carried out for 12 days.
- propolis- a kosher product, famous for its medicinal effect.It helps relieve unpleasant symptoms, relieve itching and inflammation.After moistening the swab in 20% propolis tincture, apply it to the affected area, securing it with a bandage.Propolis supports the renewal of the nail plate.
Prevention
You can protect yourself from fungal nail infections by taking certain preventive measures.To do this, you must follow the basic rule - avoid going barefoot in the pool, bath or hostel.It is also important: do not use other people's shoes;wash your feet morning and night;take measures to strengthen the immune system (do sports, walk in the fresh air, follow a proper diet, take vitamins);pay attention to diseases related to mycosis (diabetes mellitus, gastritis, varicose veins);treat shoes with formaldehyde or vinegar.
At the first signs of suspected fungal infection, appropriate measures should be taken.In the initial stage, it is much easier to get rid of nail fungus at home than with severe damage.