Fungal nail infections are a very common phenomenon, affecting up to 20% of the population.It is not a fatal disease.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 susceptibility to adverse external influences.Knowing how to cure toenail fungus at home, you can deal with the problem on your own.
How does the infection happen?
Factors that provoke the disease include cuts, wounds, abrasions on the legs and damage caused by wearing tight shoes.Insufficient foot care, especially in case of excessive sweating, as well as taking antibiotics and decreased immunity contribute to the appearance of mycosis.
Infection is possible through contact with a sick person, using someone else's shoes, wipes or carpet.
Therefore, the greatest chance of contracting a fungus exists when one of the family members suffers from this disease.Flakes of skin from a person infected with a fungus can fly into the surrounding space, infecting another.
This often happens in crowded places in conditions of high humidity: in a bathhouse, in a sauna, in a swimming pool.Fungal infection can also occur in salons offering manicure and pedicure services, where sanitary standards are not sufficiently monitored.Adults are most often susceptible to the disease, but sometimes even a child's leg can be affected by the fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The manifestation of mycosis begins with increased dryness and flaking of the heels and feet.Sometimes redness is observed, accompanied by severe itching, the formation of blisters and calluses.People who suffer from excessive sweating suffer from diaper rash.The nail changes structure and color, becoming yellow and cracking.When the spores penetrate deep into the plate, voids form under it, filled with a crumbling mixture, and an unpleasant putrefactive smell occurs.
In its advanced stage, toenail fungus makes walking difficult and can cause fever.In such cases, you should contact a dermatologist immediately.Complications associated with mycosis can manifest themselves in the form of psoriasis and eczema.
There are three types of fungal toenail infection, the symptoms of which differ:
- Vesicular.In this case, the lower part of the foot suffers, on which small blisters filled with fluid form.
- Membrane.It appears between the fingers in the form of cracks.
- Moccasin type.A thickening of the skin with the formation of cracks appears on the heels and soles of the feet.Capturing nails, the fungal pathogen causes the destruction of their structure.The body can react with an allergy.
To avoid having to resort to surgical methods to remove the affected nail, you should promptly consult a doctor.He will select the appropriate drugs and tell you how to treat toenail fungus at home.
Why are mushrooms 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 cure.Corroding the nail plate, it spreads to nearby tissues, becoming a conductor of 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 mushrooms accumulate inside and lead to poisoning.The disease also causes severe psychological distress, causing negative emotions regarding its development.
Treatment options
Mycosis can be successfully treated at home with the help of medications and traditional medicine.It is important to start treatment on time.Today, the method of pulse therapy is very popular, 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 treatment, it is recommended to combine local agents with systemic agents.An additional way is to use traditional medicine recipes 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 effective drugs against fungal infections.Used both orally and externally.The question of how to treat nail fungus on the hands and feet should be addressed by a specialist.Select the appropriate remedy.
Local remedies
At the beginning of the disease, when the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe nail 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 fungi.The ointment is used 2 times a day, after cleansing and drying the affected area.Lack of results when using the ointment for more than two weeks requires replacing the drug with another to prevent the fungus from developing resistance.
For mild symptoms, home treatment can be carried out using special medical varnishes and serums.
Oral medications
When topical remedies for nail fungus do not have a positive effect, the treating doctor prescribes oral medications that block the ability of microorganisms to reproduce and destroy them.
Combining oral medications with ointments and sprays helps quickly remove fungus from toenails.
Traditional medicine
Our grandmothers knew well how to cure toenail fungus at home.Since ancient times, to solve this problem, all kinds of recipes with garlic, soda, vinegar and other ingredients available in the kitchen of any housewife have been used.The common means are:
- Garlic.Used to eliminate different types of fungi.Not only on the feet, but also helps cure nail fungus at home, this product is known for its healing properties.To prepare garlic tincture, several cloves of garlic are crushed into a paste, mixed equally with alcohol, and the resulting mixture is diluted with a small amount of water.Apply the dye to the affected nail.You can also use garlic in its pure form;just lubricate the nail plate with finely chopped garlic.
- Nail fungus treatment with vinegar.First, your feet should be thoroughly steamed.Then a vinegar bath is prepared.A hot solution of 9% essence is prepared in a basin.Put your feet in for 15 minutes.Then dry without rinsing with water.It is recommended to take vinegar baths for foot care at home up to two times a week.
- Iodine.Thanks to the antiseptic and disinfectant effect of the alcoholic tincture, the fungus is destroyed.One drop of 5% iodine solution is applied to the nail twice a day during the first week.Then the number of treatments is gradually reduced.The course lasts one month.
- Onion.Applying chopped onion on the nail helps to cope with the fungal infection.
- Lemon.The fruit, cut into thin slices, is placed on the sore nail, wrapped in cling film and fixed with a bandage on top.The procedure is performed in 12 days.
- Propolis- a product of the hive, famous for its healing effects.Helps relieve unpleasant symptoms, relieving itching and inflammation.After moistening the swab with 20% propolis tincture, apply it to the affected area, securing it with a bandage.Propolis helps renew the nail plate.
Prevention
You can protect yourself from fungal nail infections by taking some preventative measures.To do this, you should follow the basic rule: avoid walking barefoot in the pool, bathhouse or hostel.Also, it is important: do not use someone else's shoes;wash your feet morning and evening;take measures to strengthen the immune system (do sports, take walks in the fresh air, adhere to proper nutrition, take vitamins);pay attention to diseases associated with mycosis (diabetes mellitus, gastritis, varicose veins);treat shoes with formaldehyde or vinegar.
At the first signs of suspicion of a fungal infection it is necessary to take appropriate measures.At the initial stage, it is much easier to get rid of nail fungus at home than in case of serious damage.