Fungal nail infections are a very common phenomenon, affecting up to 20% of the population.It is not a life-threatening disease.However, it causes a lot of trouble 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 external adverse influences.Knowing how to cure toenail fungus at home, you can cope with the problem yourself.
How does infection occur?
Factors that provoke the disease include cuts, wounds, abrasions on the legs, and damage caused by wearing tight shoes.Insufficient foot care, especially with excessive sweating, as well as taking antibiotics and decreased immunity contribute to the appearance of mycoses.
Infection is possible through contact with a sick person, using someone else's shoes, washcloths, or a room rug.
Therefore, the greatest chance of catching a fungus exists when one of the family members suffers from this disease.Flakes of the skin of a person infected with a fungus can fly out into the surrounding space, infecting another.
This often happens in crowded places in high humidity conditions - in a bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool.Fungal infection can occur even in salons providing manicure and pedicure services, where sanitary standards are not sufficiently monitored.Adults are more often susceptible to the disease, but sometimes a child’s leg can also suffer from the fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The manifestation of mycosis begins with increased dryness and flaking on the heels and feet.Sometimes redness is observed, accompanied by severe itching, the formation of blisters and corns.People who suffer from excessive sweating experience diaper rash.The nail changes its structure and color, becoming yellow and cracking.When spores penetrate deeply into the plate, voids are formed underneath it, filled with a crumbling mixture, and an unpleasant putrefactive odor occurs.
In its advanced stage, toenail fungus makes walking difficult and can cause fever.In such cases, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.Complications associated with mycosis can manifest themselves in the form of psoriasis and eczema.
There are three types of fungal infection of the toenails, the symptoms of which differ:
- Vesicular.In this case, the lower part of the foot suffers, on which small blisters filled with liquid form.
- Membrane.It appears between the toes in the form of cracks.
- Moccasin type.Thickening of the skin with the formation of cracks appears on the heels and soles.By capturing the nails, the fungal pathogen causes disruption of their structure.The body may react with an allergy.
To avoid having to resort to surgical methods of removing the affected nail, you must consult a doctor in a timely manner.He will select the appropriate medications and tell you how to treat toenail fungus at home.
Why is fungus dangerous?
The disease is not harmless and can cause serious harm 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 conductor for any other infection.Weakened immunity allows the fungus to penetrate the internal organs.
Mycosis may 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 medications and traditional medicine.It is important to start treatment on time.The pulse therapy method is very popular today, when fungus is eliminated in a short period of time as a result of the use of antifungal agents prescribed in large dosages.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 antimycotic effect.The success of treatment depends on how accurately the type of pathogen and the degree of pathology are determined.It is possible that each affected area of the foot may require different medications.
In order to increase the effectiveness of treatment, it is recommended to combine local agents with systemic ones.An additional way is to use traditional medicine recipes to help 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.Used both orally and externally.This question of how to treat nail fungus on the hands and feet should be dealt with by a specialist.He selects the appropriate remedy.
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 fungi.The ointment is used 2 times a day, after cleaning and drying the affected area.The lack of results when using the ointment for more than two weeks requires replacing the drug with another one in order to prevent the fungus from developing resistance.
For mild symptoms, treatment at home 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 attending physician prescribes oral medications that block the ability of microorganisms to reproduce and destroy them.
The combination of oral medications with ointments and sprays helps to quickly remove fungus from toenails.
Traditional medicine
Our grandmothers knew well how to treat toenail fungus at home.Since ancient times, to solve this problem, all kinds of recipes have been used with garlic, soda, vinegar and other ingredients available in the kitchen of any housewife.Common means are:
- Garlic.Used to get rid of different types of fungi.Not only on the feet, but also helps treat fingernail fungus at home, this product known for its healing properties.To prepare garlic tincture, several cloves are crushed into a paste, mixed equally with alcohol and the resulting mixture is diluted 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 thoroughly steamed.Then a bath with vinegar is prepared.A 9% warm solution of essence is prepared in a small basin.Place your feet in it for 15 minutes.Then wipe off without rinsing with water.It is recommended to do baths with vinegar for treating feet at home up to twice a week.
- Iodine.Thanks to the antiseptic and disinfectant effect of alcohol tincture, the fungus is destroyed.A 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 for a month.
- Onion.Applying a crushed onion to the nail helps to cope with fungal infection.
- Lemon.The fruit, cut into thin slices, is placed on the sore nail, wrapped in plastic wrap, and secured with a bandage on top.The procedure is performed over 12 days.
- Propolis- a product from the hive, famous for its healing effects.Helps relieve unpleasant symptoms, relieving itching and inflammation.After moistening the tampon in 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 certain preventive measures.To do this, you should follow the basic rule - avoid walking barefoot in the pool, bathhouse, or hostel.In addition, it is important: do not use someone else’s shoes;wash your feet morning and evening;take measures to strengthen the immune system (play 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, appropriate measures must be taken.At the initial stage, it is much easier to get rid of nail fungus at home than with severe damage.