Toenail fungus is manifested by a thickening of the ugly appearance. Statistics show that more than a quarter of the total population is affected by onychomycosis.
The treatment of the disease is time consuming and long, after the course there will be relapses.
Why do fungi appear?
All the factors contributing to the infection with the fungus of the thumb are due to the fact that the pathogenic spores of the fungus penetrate the skin.
You can become infected through infected objects when you come in contact with them, for example, by using other people's things - shoes, towels
The risk group for onychomycosis of the toes includes people suffering from flat feet, who have excessive sweating, careless, careless at home.
Causes of fungal infection:
- The use of tight, uncomfortable shoes helps the development of pathogenic flora and the reproduction of bacteria, as sweating increases. The largest toe is attacked the most. The spores of the fungus, multiplying, fall on socks, other things and spread on the floor. Infecting others.
- Shoes made of low-quality artificial materials, dense, non-breathable, "suffocate" the feet, contributing to the development of bacteria.
- Ignoring the rules of hygiene in public places. Wear shoes when visiting saunas, swimming pools and showers - this will protect you from foreign bacteria.
- Never wear someone else's socks, tights or shoes, or borrow your own. If you try on shoes, make sure you have your own sock to try on.
- Fungal infection is caused by immune problems. Weakened immunity is difficult to deal with viruses and fungi. The fungus is difficult to treat in people suffering from diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins, obesity, HIV-infected people.
- Ignoring such basic rules as daily washing your feet with soap, changing socks, treating nails helps to develop fungal infections.
- Improper treatment and care of calluses, cracks and calluses can provoke the reproduction of fungal spores on the big toe.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Fungal disease occurs due to infection with fungal spores. The infection will not be fatal, but can spread from the nail to the foot and adjacent toes.
Initially, the disease is almost invisible, suspicion arises when a yellow tint appears on the nails, and then brown with seals and delaminations. Thickened, exfoliated nails cause severe discomfort when wearing shoes.
Medicine divides onychomycosis into 3 levels:
- Initially - the nail plate is covered with spots and streaks of yellow tint, the feet are not yet affected during this period.
- The second stage - the shine disappears, the color becomes brownish, from the feet comes an unpleasant odor.
- Advanced level - the nail is exfoliated from the skin, becomes loose, crumbles. Have pain. This stage is dangerous, spores, falling, spread to the surrounding space.
In case of symptoms such as flaking of the skin on the toes, periodic appearance of blisters, redness, cracks, one should be vigilant and take preventive measures to prevent mycosis.
Characteristics of the treatment of the disease
The fungal infection of the feet begins with the toenail. The spores of the fungus are conveniently located in the upper layer of the nail plate, where their path to the matrix begins.
As the nail of the thumb is affected first, the treatment starts from this place. The mode of action of drugs has a local-external and systemic effect. The approach should be individual, taking into account the signs of pathology and the condition of the patient's internal organs.
The approach to treatment is complex. Disinfectants, bacterial antifungals, pulse therapy are used.
Pulse therapy involves a long-term exposure regimen with periodic changes in treatment. This regimen contains oral medications for one week with recurrence after 3 weeks.
Means that suppress the reproduction of pathogenic microflora are used every day.
Using a systematic approach allows you to increase the chances of complete recovery from the disease. Complex therapy includes taking vitamins and immunostimulating drugs.
The use of drugs is based on the cumulative principle. The drugs are concentrated and provide protection against the disease for a long time.
Ointments to get rid of
Preparations for external use are various ointments and more options - varnishes and lotions.
The mechanism of action of ointments is based on the destruction of the cell membrane of fungal spores. The course of treatment is long and is carried out until the final deliverance. Dead layers are cleaned with a file.
Iodinol is used as a lubricant. The result is obtained if the sock on the shoe of the infected person is lubricated from the inside, a cotton swab soaked in medicine is applied to the nail.
Tar and sulfur ointments have proven to be quite effective as antifungal drugs.
All ointments, when used, give a good result. But treatment must be prescribed by a specialist. Different ointments purposefully affect fungi of different nature. Only a doctor after conducting laboratory tests can choose the most effective remedy.
We get rid of home with the help of folk remedies
Folk medicine offers many recipes for eliminating fungal diseases. The treatment of onychomycosis of the big toe at home is carried out in the following ways.
With the use of iodine
Onychomycosis is successfully treated with iodine baths. The water is poured into a basin with a temperature of about 40-45 degrees, alcohol is poured into it iodine drop by drop.
For 1 liter of water you need 3 drops of iodine - depending on the volume of the vessel you can calculate the exact amount.
Put your feet in the water and hold until the water cools. Peroxide-treated scissors cut the affected part of the nail plate. After the procedure, the nail and the skin around it are treated with peroxide. The effect will be enhanced if an antibacterial ointment dressing is applied.
Effective use of ordinary vinegar
Water at room temperature is diluted with 9% vinegar in a ratio of 2 to 1. Bath time is 15 minutes. The damaged nail should then be sanded or trimmed. The duration of the manipulations is at least 2 weeks.
Lemon and potatoes help
- Fresh lemon should be watered with boiling water - so there will be more juice. Cut the slices and apply on the damaged nail. Citrus is fixed with plaster. A good result will be if the compress is made every night and lasts all night.
- Peel the potatoes. The component is boiled, the water is poured into a bowl and crushed to a puree. The legs are raised in the broth, after which the softened growths are cut off. After cleaning, the slurry is applied for half an hour and washed off.
Medicinal plants in the fight
- Celandine. The fresh juice of this amazing plant can cure almost all types of fungal diseases. Within 2 weeks, a fresh plant is applied to the affected nail plates and skin (the leaves and stem are kneaded). If possible, change the compress every 2-3 hours.
- Aspen bark. Nail baths are prepared on the basis of 200 g of ingredient per liter of water. The manipulation is performed for 15 minutes in water that the foot can tolerate. After the bath, a mixture of mild laundry soap and soda is applied to the nails. The ratio is 1: 1. After 30 minutes, wash everything with warm water. The nail after such a procedure will begin to renew.
Sea salt baths are used as additional prophylaxis.
The nail is separated from the thumb
Fungal nail disease is characterized by external manifestations such as exfoliation of the nail plate from the skin. The abandoned part of the nail darkens or turns blue.
This is because an air layer accumulates in the cavity under the nail, which becomes larger over time.
The further the process progresses, the more pain a person experiences. The nail rises, pustules and hemorrhage appear.
In case of separation, the following treatment is used:
- The use of topical treatment - ointments, along with drugs in tablet form, external and internal use will give the best result;
- You can use laser methods of treatment, such procedures are done in beauty salons;
- In case of complete separation, you should contact the surgeon immediately.
To treat the nail, if you leave your finger without fungus or with fungus, you should drink gelatin solutions, observe hygiene requirements and do not do pedicures.
Effective treatment of fungus
Medicines recommended for these lesions:
- Means of local influence. General purpose medicines can be bought without a prescription. But you must use the rules of use specified in the instructions. Otherwise there will be no effect.
- Means for systemic impact. These are tablets and pills, which together with ointments are prescribed by a dermatologist.
- Laser treatment is quite effective. The treatment does not cause pain. The procedure does not harm the patient's body. There are no recurrences after laser cleaning.
- The hardware pedicure procedure is less popular than laser therapy, but the effect is wonderful. More often this method is used in advanced cases.
- Surgical manipulations have not yet gained enough popularity, but their effect is quite strong. The disadvantages of this manipulation are pain and a long period of rehabilitation.
Which tool is better
Medical varnishes and serums are recognized as effective and efficient drugs in antifungal therapy.
The cost of such drugs is higher than for conventional ointments, but the effectiveness of drugs is high.
Mycosis appeared on the arm
Fungal diseases of the fingernails are less common. The most common infection is caused by the fungus Candidiasis. Fingernails are also affected by filamentous fungi.
You can even get infected by shaking hands, by infecting other people's gloves, even by yourself. By getting spores from other parts of the body.
The treatment of fungal infections on the hands is prescribed depending on the type of fungus, the age of the infected person and the stage of the disease.
First you need to get rid of the causes of the disease, strengthen the immune system, get rid of bad habits.
It is not necessary to be treated with antibiotics during this period. The patient must change the diet - to remove from the foods used those that help the growth of fungi, these are sweets and plenty of carbohydrates.
The doctor prescribes tests and, depending on the type of fungus, prescribes medication and prescribes a course of treatment. More often it is a combination therapy.
If the patient has an acute inflammatory process, then topical treatment should be avoided. Exacerbation must be eliminated.
It is necessary for the patient to eliminate the interaction with those means and household items that provoke the development of the disease. Acute inflammation can be eliminated with such time-tested drugs as brilliant green, fucorsin, potassium iodide.
For nails it is convenient to use varnishes for treatment. In a fungal infection of the fingernails, the spores spread quickly through the skin and fall into the folds between the fingers.
Antifungal drugs will increase their effect if folk remedies are used in the treatment. But they should be used only after consulting a doctor.
The most important and safest advice for those who do not want to get infected with this nasty infection or dream of getting rid of it forever, is strict adherence to hygiene requirements and preventive measures to prevent the disease.
The result can be obtained if you follow the rules of personal prevention - do not put yourself in conditions where you can get infected with fungal spores - have a personal comb, personal slippers, never use other people's things.
If such a nuisance has already occurred, then it is not necessary to allow it to spread, but to begin treatment in time in the early stages. If you have any symptoms similar to a fungal infection, you should consult a doctor immediately.