Hello dear readers. Nail fungus is one of the most common forms of mycotic damage to the body. The disease is quite unpleasant and it is not easy to cure from it. The disease cannot be started, because this is not a cosmetic problem, but a serious pathology. But not everyone knows which approach will be right. It should be noted right away that self-medication is not the best choice in this situation. But information about what the disease is and how to quickly get rid of nail fungus will not be superfluous for anyone.
What causes a fungal nail infection
Nail fungus, or as it is called in medicine, onychomycosis, is a disease that causes damage to the nail plates and adjacent areas by parasitic fungal microorganisms. This is one of the subspecies of mycoses. If we consider all the diseases that only the feet can be subjected to, onychomycosis is the most common.
You can catch the infection in public places where the humidity is excessive. This includes baths, steam rooms, pools, beaches.
Wooden objects are widely used here (benches, lounge chairs, etc. ). Due to the porosity of the wood, fungi are difficult to destroy there.
In addition, doctors distinguish several risk groups. For people belonging to one of them, the probability of infection increases dramatically.
- cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy;
- after a course of treatment with antibiotics or steroids;
It is not always possible to quickly get rid of the disease. The speed of healing depends on the type of parasite that caused it, the stage of development of the disease, the area of the lesion, the presence of complications and concomitant diseases and the general condition of the body.
Symptoms of onychomycosis
Nail damage from parasitic fungi cannot go unnoticed. Symptomatic changes in the nail plates are quite pronounced and boil down to the following.
- Lost natural shine, transparency.
- The color changes. It can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, bluish, greenish, greyish.
- Surface roughness appears.
- Streaks, spots and thickenings are clearly distinguished.
- Layering is observed.
- There is peeling from the nail bed.
- Various areas are painted and chipped.
- The surrounding tissues may become red, swollen and itchy.
- There are sensations of pain.
- The feet emit an unpleasant odor.
Despite all this, self-diagnosis can be difficult. At the beginning of development, the signs of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of some other lesions: trauma to the nail area.
How to quickly get rid of toenail fungus with folk remedies and medicines
You have to be realistic and understand that nail and toenail fungal infection does not heal in a week. According to doctors, the healing period can last from 6-8 weeks to six months, and sometimes 8-12 months.
It depends on many factors, as well as the activity of nail growth. On the hands, this process takes place much faster than on the feet, and therefore the treatment here comes earlier.
You can get the best and fastest positive results if you follow the recommendations below.
- Use various therapeutic measures in the complex. Do not rely on the effectiveness of any miracle remedy. Competently combine pharmacological preparations and recipes from traditional medicine.
- The treatment should be active, but gentle - the aggressive means often used for therapeutic purposes should not affect the healthy parts of the body located in close proximity to the affected ones.
- Follow strict hygiene requirements so that the fungus does not spread, as well as to avoid re-infection soon after healing. And the probability of that is very high.
- Keep the affected limbs dry. Remember that humidity and heat are ideal conditions for the active reproduction of fungi.
- Remove all the causes that caused the appearance of onychomycosis and remove them.
- Every day carefully, but as much as possible, cut the growing nail affected by the disease. If possible, go through the procedure of laser exposure, which very effectively inhibits the pathological activity of pathogens.
Pharmacological means
Agents acting against pathogens are usually divided into three subgroups depending on the active components. Each of them has in its arsenal both external ointments and tablets with a general effect on the whole body.
It should be borne in mind that the latter have an extensive list of side effects. This is why you should not self-medicate. To minimize the risks, you need to undergo an examination, determine which species of fungus caused the disease and act with "targeted" drugs.
Subgroups of antifungal drugs
- Azole agents. They are based on triazole or imidazole, as well as their derivatives. Depending on the concentration, they exhibit fungistatic or fungicidal action. They are effective against mold and yeast-like fungi.
- allylamine agents. The active ingredients can be terbinafine, naftifine, butenafine. They are able to stop the growth of fungi, and also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Other medicines. They act on the basis of additives flucytosine, morpholine, griseofulvin, chloronitrophenol. They are distinguished by narrower activity directed at certain types of fungal pathogens.
External means
At the beginning of the development of onychomycotic lesions, only ointments should be used. Only if they prove to be ineffective, the intake of tablet antifungals is introduced.
The difference between creams and ointments:
- have a direct effect on the lesions;
- there are fewer contraindications;
- side effects are limited.
If you catch the disease at the beginning of development, then it will be possible to deal with it within a month.
The most popular antifungal creams and ointments
- Ointment zinc. It allows you to relieve inflammation, dry the affected areas, get rid of itching, get an adsorbing effect.
- Clotrimazole. A broad-spectrum substance. Duration of use - from 2 weeks to six months. It also has an antiseptic effect. It can cause dry skin, burning, allergic manifestations on the skin. Contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as for small children under the age of three.
- Naftifin. Fights inflammation, has an antimicrobial effect. The agent tends to accumulate on treated surfaces. Use the ointment no more than twice a day. The tool is not used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Use of tablets
To ensure a systemic effect on the whole body, the doctor prescribes oral tablets. Broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed.
- Substances fluconazole, medoflucon. It is enough to take it only once a day. The agent is well tolerated. In rare cases, intestinal disorders and body rashes may occur. The course of treatment can be 1-4 weeks.
- Substances orungal, sporanox. It can be used for pulse therapy. The drug is not prescribed for kidney failure, pregnancy, hypersensitivity to the action of the drug. May cause allergic reactions, dizziness, hypokalemia, abdominal pain.
All medications for toenail fungus should be taken only after consulting a doctor.
How to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies at home
First of all, you must strictly adhere to all medical recommendations, do not miss taking medications and bring the treatment to the end, and do not interrupt the course after the removal of particularly unpleasant symptoms.
In addition, you need:
- use local baths regularly;
- apply a specialized varnish that blocks the spread of the fungus and also has a therapeutic effect;
- daily remove the protruding parts of the growing nail that is affected by the disease;
- use special means to soften the nail plate to remove it;
- steam the hands or feet before using external means for topical application;
- take measures to prevent household contamination.
Special varnishes
Lacquers have a number of advantages. The active ingredients penetrate well deep into the affected nails, but at the same time harden and leave no traces on clothes, sheets, shoes.
The solidified layer reliably blocks the supply of oxygen to the pathogens, which blocks their activity. But varnish products are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.
Before using varnishes, you should resort to using a warm local bath. Watered boards affected by fungus are cut to the maximum, processed with a file or other grinding device. The surface is wiped dry
It is recommended to cover healthy nails with varnish. The procedure is repeated every night for a long period - from several months to six months.
Help from a surgeon
Both a part and the whole plate can be removed. But this is not a guarantee of complete freedom from the disease. The probability of further spread of fungal infection is very high.
After the operation, the finger heals for a long time. In addition, suppuration may develop. A newly growing nail can become deformed. A preferred alternative to such a method is laser therapy.
After the surgical removal of the damaged nail formation, special emphasis is placed on medical treatment of the fungus. In some, particularly severe cases, the growth zone can be removed, after which the finger will remain "bare" - the nail will no longer be able to grow here.
Traditional Medicine
Alternative methods are slower than medical ones, but have fewer side effects. They can only be effective for treating the early stage of the disease.
Later, folk recipes were used exclusively in combination with pharmacological preparations as auxiliary measures.
Such remedies are used to treat nail fungus.
- Garlic. Apply garlic paste in the form of applications on sore nails. A fixing bandage is placed on top. The procedure is repeated every night. You can also use squeezed garlic juice in an equal mixture with alcohol. The nails are treated with the resulting balm twice a day.
- Vinegar. Acetic acid acidifies the environment, which inactivates pathogens. This tool lubricates damaged nails every day. You can use compresses with vinegar. To do this, lumps of cotton wool are moistened in vinegar and fixed on the desired fingers in the affected area. Compresses last all night, remove in the morning.
- Peroxide. Like vinegar and other similar products, apply directly to nails or cotton swabs. Peroxide acts as an antiseptic.
- Alcoholic solution of iodine. They can cover the nail plates, including healthy ones, 1-2 times a day. In addition, the iodine supplement is suitable for any bathroom. To do this, just add a few drops of the product.
- Propolis tincture. It can be used for lotions as well as injected into topical hand or foot baths. The compresses are left on the nails all night. You can prepare an ointment that is a mixture of propolis and oil. The composition is superimposed on gauze and placed on the desired area. The agent is left for 10 hours.
- Vegetable Burners. For the treatment of onychomycosis, onions or horseradish are suitable. They have antimicrobial activity. Herbal products are used in the form of porridge. You can also make something like an ointment by mixing liquid jibri with butter or rendered chicken fat.
- Essential extracts. These agents have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerative effects. Fir and some other oils can be used to make local baths or as part of compress mixtures.
The essential extract is mixed with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1: 1. It should be rubbed into damaged nail plates. As always in such cases, the medicine will have a stronger effect if the nails are first evaporated.
What is a fungal nail infection?
Fungal nail infectionsalso known asdermatophytic onychomycosis. The initial fungus that affects the skin of the feet is a common infection of the skin of the feet, especially between the toes. On the skin of the feet, the original fungus lives in the keratin that makes up the outer layer of the skin. When the fungus spreads into the nail keratin,fungal nail infection.
What causes yeast infections?
fungispreading from the foot (known as"dermatophyte fungi"), cause most fungal nail infections. Less commonly, nail infections are caused by other types of fungus, usually yeast (egCandida) andmold.
These fungi tend to attack nails that are already damaged, as it is easier for the fungus to enter. Fungal infections of the toenails are very common (1 in 4 people may be affected at any one time), toenail fungus is less common. Both types are most common in the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and people with diabetes and poor peripheral circulation. A warm and moist environment helps the fungus to grow and cause infection. Wearing tight shoes or using showers, bathrooms or changing rooms can increase the risk of fungal infections.
Are they hereditary?
Absolutely not. In some extremely rare cases, however, there is a genetic risk factor and other family members may also be susceptible to infection.
What are the symptoms of fungal nail infections?
There are usually no symptoms at first. Later, the nails may thicken and become painful when pressing on the inside of the shoe. Then they are difficult to prune. The sight of an infected nail, especially a toenail, can be embarrassing. The affected nail can ruin socks and tights, and it can also chafe the adjacent skin. The skin nearby may also have a fungal infection; it may itch, crack, blister, or appear whitish, especially between the toes.
What do nail fungal infections look like?
Nail fungusit usually starts at its free edge and then spreads from the side of the nail to the base of the cuticle. Eventually, the entire nail may be affected. Infected areas become white or yellowish, thickened and scaly. Less commonly, there may be white inclusions on the surface of the nail. The nails of the big toes and little fingers are most susceptible to damage from fungal infections. Sometimes, especially in those who regularly perform wet work, such as a housewife or cleaner, the skin around the nail becomes red and swollen. This is called paronychia and can allow infection to easily enter the nail.
How are fungal nail infections diagnosed?
Fungal nail infectionsusually diagnosed clinically. Your doctor may take a piece of an infected nail and send it to a lab to see if the fungus can be seen under a microscope or cultured. Repeat samples may sometimes be necessary.
Many nail problems can only be seenfungal infection, - for example, changes seen in psoriasis after a bacterial infection or old trauma, but antifungal pills will not help. Proper treatment may depend on knowing which fungus is causing problems; it may take several weeks to get results.
Can nail fungus infections be cured?
yesHowever, for successfultreatment of fungal nail infectionlong-term treatment is necessary, which can take up to a year. Nails are easier to handle.Fungal nail infectionsthey usually recur, especially on the toes.
How can fungal nail infections be treated?
Fungal nail infectionsthemselves are not a concern, not all of them need treatment. Some people with infected toenails don't worry about them at all. In this case, they can sometimes be left alone (although the patient must remain careful and try not to spread the infection to other parts of the body and nails, as well as other people).
On the other hand, ifinfected nailscause embarrassment or discomfort, they are usually treated. It is important to treat people whose infections can cause serious health problems, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system, to prevent potentially serious health problems.
The goal of treatment is to get rid of the fungus: then the nail usually returns to normal. However, if the nail was damaged before it became infected, it will be more difficult to clean and may return to its original state.Nail infectionscaused by mold and yeast can be very resistant to treatment.
Treatment options include:
Nail treatment (local procedures)
Treatment applied to the nail does not work as well as oral treatment. They are most effective if the infection is in an early stage. The most commonly used methods are nail polish based on amorolfine, ciclopirox and tioconazole solution.
They may not be able to clean the deeper parts of the infected nail on their own, but regularly removing the damaged part of the nail with scissors or scraping can help. Oral medications used in combination with an antifungal increase the chance of a cure. It may take 4-12 months of use before the effect is noticed.
Forfingernail infectionsshorter course of treatment. The cure rate with local treatment alone is around 15-30%. Topical treatment is safe. Redness and irritation may occur.
Before you start taking the pills, the doctor must send the part of the nail to the laboratory to check if the diagnosis of fungal infection is confirmed.
Substances available for use in the treatment of fungal nail infections include:
- The substance griseofulvin has been used for many years and is the only one of the three drugs approved for use in children. It is fully absorbed only with fatty foods (such as milk and dairy products) and long courses of treatment are usually required (6 to 9 months for fingernails and up to 18 months for toenails). However, only about three-quarters of infected fingernails and one-third of infected toenails clear up. Frequent relapses are also possible.
- The substances terbinafine and itraconazole have now largely moved away from griseofulvin. They work better and much faster, although only about 50% of nail infections are cured. Terbinafine should be considered as a first-line treatment for dermatophyte fungi (ie, those affecting the feet). It is taken daily for 6 weeks for nail infections and for 12-16 weeks for foot infections.
- The substance itraconazole is effective in the treatment of dermatophytes; it is also useful for treating other fungi such as yeast. It is usually taken in periods - one week each month - because it is absorbed into the nail cuticle and continues to work for several weeks. Two weekly courses for 21 days are usually sufficient for fingernail infections and three for toe infections.
- The substance fluconazole can be effective in Candida fungal infections. It is not currently licensed for fungal nail infections. It appears to be less effective than itraconazole and terbinafine, but remains an alternative in intolerance to both drugs.
- Other procedures
Laser and photodynamic therapy can be helpful, but are less effective than the topical and systemic treatments listed above.
Herbal products are also encouraged fortreatment of fungal nail infection, but there is no strong evidence that it is safer or more effective than standard treatments.
Are there side effects of the treatment?
Oral treatments are more likely to cause side effects than topical treatments.
Terbinafine sometimes causes a potentially very severe allergic reaction, can slightly worsen the condition of the skin, and sometimes affects the taste buds.
Itraconazole is not indicated for people who are already taking certain medications. Your doctor will inform you about this. Both terbinafine and itraconazole can affect the liver, and your doctor may order a blood test to check this before and during treatment.
Although griseofulvin is the only drug allowed in children, many dermatologists prefer to use terbinafine because it is much more effective.
How do I know if the treatment is working?
The new nail will grow slowly from its base and it may take 6 months to a year after treatment ends for the nails to look normal again. Foot infections clear up faster and more completely than toenails; it can take 18 months for the leg to fully recover.
Surgical removal of nails
Sometimes very thick nails that do not respond to pills alone can be removed by surgeons under local anesthesia, but this is rarely done because the success rate of treatment does not justify surgery.
I take care of myself
- Keep nails short, dry and clean. Use one clipper for infected nails and the other for normal nails.
- Don't just treat your nails; use an antifungal cream to treat the skin on the feet.
- Avoid trimming cuticles, either by yourself or by a manicurist, as this increases the risk of nail damage and infection.
For a fungal infection of the toes:
- Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes without high heels or tight socks.
- Keep your feet dry, wear cotton socks and change them daily and wear breathable shoes. Regular washing in hot water cleans most soiled socks, but it can be made more effective by using an anti-fungal spray before washing. Other clothes usually cannot be soiled.
- Maintain foot hygiene, including treating any infections.
- Wear clean shower shoes when using a communal shower.
- Pay special attention to the hygiene of the affected feet.
- Consider getting help from an orthopedist if thickened toenails make walking uncomfortable.
Prevention measures
The risk of re-infection with the fungus after getting rid of the disease is very high. That is why you must clearly follow simple rules:
- follow foot hygiene;
- get rid of shoes, towels and socks used during treatment;
- avoid sharing such things with other family members;
- avoid excessive moisturizing of the feet, use talcum powder;
- treat the inner surfaces of the shoes with antiseptics.
Remember that all medications for nail fungus are taken after consulting a doctor.