World statistics on the infection of the nail plate with fungus give disappointing figures.Every fifth person has nail damage, and every tenth person is a carrier of fungal bacteria.Commonly, nail damage is simply called "fungus";the scientific term for the disease is onychomycosis or dermatophyte onychomycosis.Treatment is carried out at home, without hospitalization.The infection is resistant to external influences, does not disappear for a long time, appears secondarily and gives rise to inflammatory foci.
Symptoms
All fungal diseases have different symptoms and signs of damage.In this way, superficial onychomycosis is immediately felt, after a short period of time after the infection:
- The nail plate thickens.
- The plate becomes torn and brittle from the edge to the cuticle.
- The configuration is distorted, the surface structure changes - it becomes scaly.
- In the initial stage, the natural shine and elasticity of the nail plate is lost.
- Sometimes the nail turns black and digs into the skin.
- In advanced cases, intestinal damage occurs - dysbiosis.General loss of strength, reduced immunity, lethargy and sleepiness.
- An itching sensation appears between the toes and is most pronounced in children.
- The final stage is onycholysis.The tile peels off from the nail bed.A slight unpleasant odor appears.
- The skin on the finger and around the nail cracks to the point of blood or ichor, there are also rashes.
- Depending on the type of fungus, an unpleasant circle of white or yellow mold appears under the nail.The brightness depends on the degree of damage: from weak to bright.
Oddly enough, this fungal infection most often occurs in people leading a healthy lifestyle.Constant visits to public sports complexes, swimming pools and saunas carry an increased risk of infection with toenail fungus.There are many reasons that create a positive environment for fungi:
- The "favorite habitat" of the fungus is moist and relatively warm.The first source is your wet shoes.After each walk, immediately dry it from the inside.The choice of socks plays an important role in prevention.They should consist of more than 70% natural raw materials, and ideally - 100%.This is the only way to ensure optimal air access.
- Reduced overall immunity.It is enough to walk barefoot and immediately get a fungus.Prevention - drink vitamins, preferably complex, containing minerals and amino acids.
- The pursuit of beauty - nail extension.Frequent corrections and procedures contribute to the thinning of the nail plate, which means that it increases the risk of disease.
- Public swimming pools, showers, baths, solariums are sources of active fungal spores.The defeat occurs instantly, and the treatment takes a long time.The spores penetrate deep into the epithelium of the recess between the nail and the fingers.In the initial stage, he simply "falls asleep" and then a sharp "faint" begins.
How to treat onychomycosis
Be patient now.The treatment is prolonged.Also, be prepared to "split" - treatment is expensive.
- Pharmacological drugs:
- External.It is prescribed in the initial stage of nail fungus infection.These are drops, varnishes or oils with antifungal ingredients.Ciclopirox drops are the most popular.Apply to the affected nail once a day.Subsequent application: first remove the old film of the drug, then apply a new one.Effect: the condition of the nail plate improves in one week.And the unpleasant smell disappears after the first or second application.
- Urea-based compounds.It is available in the form of lotions, ointments or creams.They are prescribed in combination with oral medications and act as relapse prevention.
- Complex treatment without oral drugs is impossible.Taking Itraconazole tablets will help to cure acute, advanced forms of fungal infection of the nail plate.
- Surgical method.Fungi that have taken root in the plate are removed together with the nail.
- Modern physiotherapy: cryotherapy, acid disinfection, laser removal of the upper part of the plate.The disadvantage is damage to the epithelium, but the removal of the fungus is 100%.
Traditional methods of combating toenail fungus
- iodine.Its action as an antiseptic has been known for a long time.You should smear the plate and the skin between your fingers with the solution.Active spores are burned and the development of new foci is stopped.Remember that iodine dries the epithelium and nail plate.Take breaks between treatments.
- garlic.The cloves are grated on a fine paste grater.Apply the liquid to the area affected by the fungus.Better for the night.In the morning, rinse the area with an acid solution.Make compresses until improvement appears.
- Rub with apple cider vinegar.Do it twice a day.Grease the skin and plate.Make baths: 10 liters.water with a temperature of 30-32 C, add 200 ml (glass) of vinegar.Hold for 10 minutes.This method is good for getting rid of foot odor.
- Grape vinegar.200 ml.vinegar 9%, half a stick of butter, one raw egg.Mix, shake.Put the resulting suspension in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours.Then use for compresses.
- Fresh jaggery juice.Cut a green bush and immediately burn the affected area with juice.The course is 7 days, after which there is a break of 3 days and it is repeated.Continue treatment until visible improvement.
- Coffee grounds.The natural antioxidant properties help to clean the keratinized layers of the epithelium along with the fungus.
- Onion porridge.Grate the onion.Mix the porridge with a spoonful of honey.Apply to the affected area, covering up to 5 cm. Leave for one hour.A moderate lesion can be healed in a week.
- A recipe for children.Mix chalk and soda.Add some water.Apply the mixture to the skin between the toes.A solution of methyl blue (blue) helps a lot.This method is also suitable for lactating or pregnant women.
- soap.Laundry soap is rubbed with sawdust and a hot bath is made.The legs are steamed, then wiped and smeared with blue.
- Military recipe.Salidol.Apply to washed feet, leave for 2-3 hours, then remove with a dry towel or wash with tar soap.
Measures to prevent onychomycosis
- Protect the skin of your feet from hypothermia and burns.Damaged areas become fertile ground for fungal spores.
- If someone in the family is infected with fungus, immediately disinfect the floors in the rooms and the bathroom.Provide everyone with slippers.Wear special shoe covers or flip flops when showering.Do not use the equipment on the patient.
- Daily baths with mint and chamomile are an excellent prevention of any skin diseases of the feet and nails.
- If one person in the family is sick, everyone should be examined by a doctor and tests should be done.