How to treat toenail fungus at home? What remedies are better to use: medicines or prescriptions of traditional medicine? Think about all the features of home treatment for this nasty disease.
About nail fungus
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is one of the most common fungal diseases. There are a huge variety of forms of the disease. The fungus affects the nails of both feet and hands. Many begin to treat onychomycosis only when serious complications occur. It is not right. Effective home treatment can be done at the first symptoms of the disease.
Nail fungus is spread by other people. At risk are people who use public transport, often walk barefoot, visit swimming pools, public saunas and baths. All are subject to the disease, without exception. However, not everyone is infected with onychomycosis. There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of the disease. They include:
- reduced immunity;
- wounds on the surface of the skin;
- increased sweating of the feet;
- metabolic disease;
- disorders of the endocrine system.
The spores of the fungus enter the skin, after which they begin to multiply rapidly, affecting healthy areas. The peculiarity of the disease is that there may not be much discomfort and pain for a long time. The development of onychomycosis can last for several months or even years. This is one of the main dangers of the disease.
The symptoms of the fungus are as follows: mild itching, slight flaking of the skin. The lesions are located around the nails. If a humidifier does not help, then you should immediately consider the nature of such deviations. In addition, the lesion passes to the nail. It becomes yellow and uneven, begins to exfoliate. The big toes are affected first.
If such symptoms are found, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as the disease can lead to complications, damage to internal organs.
Drug treatment
Home treatment can be done with medication or with the help of prescriptions from traditional medicine. How to treat toenail fungus using traditional methods? Of the modern means it is worth emphasizing various drugs for external use.
These can be ointments, gels that are used to treat affected nails. You can also find antifungal varnishes in pharmacies, which are applied as a regular varnish. For more effective treatment it is necessary to use not only external means, but also tablets. This method of treatment gives a much better and faster effect.
However, it is recommended to consult a doctor first, as internal drugs have a negative effect on the liver, so their long-term use is undesirable.
Treatment with folk remedies
The treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies at home is quite effective. Today, these methods are often used. This is explained by the fact that modern drugs have strong side effects. How to get rid of fungus on toenails with the help of traditional medicine? Among the most effective methods are the following recipes.
- Every day the affected nails should be treated with grated garlic /
- Lubricate nails and skin with tea tree oil daily /
- Treat nails with iodine.
If such treatment causes pain around the nail roll, then the treatment should not be performed every day, and less often - once every 2-3 days. There are other ways. So propolis compresses, which insist on alcohol, have an excellent effect.
The following home remedy is also very effective. To get it, mix 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and methyl phthalate, 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, it is placed in a cool place. For treatment, the composition is applied to the affected nail, covered with plastic wrap and put on a sock. This procedure should be performed 3 times.
Another very effective formulation is a mixture of vinegar, alcohol and glycerin in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. Lotions are made from the resulting liquid within 14-30 days. Often after treatment, the diseased nail completely peels off, and in its place grows a new, completely healthy.
In the first days after starting treatment, the nail begins to hurt. Over time, the pain disappears. This is considered normal: the body begins to fight the disease, which is expressed by minor pain.
If any means do not help, you should contact a specialist. And the sooner this is done, the more effective the treatment will be and the fewer complications there will be.
Defeat prevention
In order not to think about how to cure toenail fungus, the risk of onychomycosis should be reduced to zero. For this it is necessary to regularly take preventive measures.
- Disinfect all manicure supplies.
- Cleaning the house, you should especially pay attention to washing the floors.
- Disinfect shoes with a solution of 25% formalin and 40% vinegar. The liquids are mixed in equal proportions. A cotton swab is moistened in the resulting solution, which is then used to treat the inner surface of the shoe.
- Disinfect household items by boiling them in soapy water.
In the pool, the bathroom, you need to wear rubber slate. In shoe stores, shoes should be tried on with socks or tights, but in no case should be worn barefoot. If all the recommendations are followed, the risk of nail fungus infection is reduced to a minimum.