To cure nail fungus at home, you need to use special drugs.Treatment methods differ for 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, as the pathology takes a long 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 the growth of the fungus, you can completely lose your nails.If left untreated, they will disintegrate.It's easy to catch a fungus in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, nail salons and fitness clubs.
What does it come from?
Most cases of infection occur through household items or shoes shared with a sick person.People with excessive foot sweating are more susceptible to nail fungus.More often, foot fungus occurs in adults;it is much less common in children.The reasons for 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 limbs;
- frequent visits to places with high humidity;
- infectious chronic diseases;
- leg deformities;
- vascular diseases.
Types of toenail fungus
There are several types of fungus that can affect toenails.The main ones are considered to be the following:
- Moldy.People weakened by a long illness are more likely to be affected by it.The nail takes on a bluish, yellowish or greenish tint and may even turn black.Toenail fungus can be completely removed in 1-2 months.
- yeast.The nail becomes uneven, covered with furrows and waves and turns yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, the plate lags behind the bed.At the same time, the nail folds fester and thicken.
- dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The edges of the nail extend from the bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowness completely engulfs the nail.
Signs
The disease affects the big toes first.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.In addition, the pathology manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- Change in 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.Increased keratinization occurs, so it becomes thick.In advanced cases, it even interferes with treatment.
- It's falling apart.In the absence of appropriate therapy, the nail plate is destroyed and completely discolored.
Stages
The signs of a fungal infection differ depending on the stage of onychomycosis.The infection occurs quickly and the pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- First stage.It is very difficult to recognize with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor who can see small pale spots with multiple magnification.
- Second stage.The pathology continues to progress.Small stripes and dots develop into entire furrows.This leads to the destruction of the plate.The shine of the nail plate disappears and it begins to turn yellow.
- Third stage.If you ignore the previous symptoms, you can completely lose your nail.The skin around it will be red and scaly.The nail is completely exfoliated.An unpleasant smell is felt against this background
How to diagnose 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.In order 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 a scraping 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.
- Study of bacteria.It involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The causative agent of the infection is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of the colonies.This research allows us to identify the sensitivity of the microorganism to drugs.
- DNA diagnostics.This method reveals areas affected only by dermatophytes and candida fungi.Diagnosis is carried out with special devices, so it is expensive.
How to treat nail fungus
Depending on the clinical form of the disease, the size of the affected area and the degree of change of the nail, the doctor prescribes complex treatment.Therapy may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfecting and treating shoes that help with mild to moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate in case of severe or recurrent infection;
- folk remedies, for example, soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointments, tea tree oil, celandine tincture, propolis, acetic acid.
In the initial stage
For small lesions, local therapy will help to cure onychomycosis.These include peel-off patches, medicated polishes, creams, gels and ointments.Such drugs are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.They are applied directly to the damaged nail and the surrounding tissue for a long time.Sometimes it takes about a year to fully recover.
the neglected fungus
If the disease is already advanced, then external means will be little effective.It is necessary to use drugs for internal use.This includes antifungals in the form of tablets and capsules.They suppress the development of the pathogen and block its spread.In addition, the tablets have a long-lasting effect, which is why they reduce the likelihood of re-infection.
How to treat nail fungus
Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes certain drugs to the patients.The main groups of antifungal drugs are:
-
drugs for systemic use;
- products for topical application.
The last group of drugs includes various drugs that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnishes;
- sprays;
- solutions;
- cream
Special varnishes
In the initial stages of the disease, antifungal varnishes can be used.They help to soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of the healing 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, since 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 drugs, 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 procedures.
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies
Ways to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies should be used along with the use of medications.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 a tincture of vinegar, iodine, kombucha and celandine.
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used to remove 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.Your feet should then be allowed to dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily for 2 weeks.During this time, you can notice how a new nail that is 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 constantly remove the tip of the nail that has grown.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 with the help of kombucha.To do this, a plate of this product should be applied to the sick nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You should wear socks on top.It is better to do the procedure at night, and in the morning rinse your feet with warm water, then remove the affected areas and lubricate them with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you can quickly heal from the fungus.
yellow flowers
Fresh celandine should be passed through a meat grinder and the juice should be squeezed out of the resulting pulp using 3-4 layers of cheesecloth.You need to take enough herb to make 200 ml of liquid.200 ml of 70% alcohol is added to it and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the finished product to the affected areas after steaming your feet for 10 minutes and letting them dry completely.The course of treatment is at least 10-12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.