If you are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as a fungal infection, you should immediately begin treatment. About,how to cure nail funguswe will talk about it in this article.
First of all, you need to understand what fungal infections are. These diseases belong to the class of infectious diseases. Yeast infections, or infections caused by fungi, are very diverse, but they most often affect the skin and nails. Yeast infections are contagious and spread from person to person.
Nail fungus
This disease (onychomycosis) is caused by a fungal infection that can be contracted by a sick person. Very often, this disease spreads within the family, as it is spread through shared items, such as slippers or towels.
The fungus is very fond of hot and humid environments, so swimming pools, showers, gyms and baths are ideal places for infection. The predisposing factors for the disease are wet shoes and excessive sweating of the feet.
The fungus is a very resistant microorganism. They endure dry living conditions, temporarily stopping their reproduction. But as soon as the environment becomes favorable, the violent activities of life begin again.
If the nails are infected with fungus, they change in appearance. The color of the nail plate changes to white, gray, yellow, brown, green and even black. The nails thicken, crumble, lose their natural shine. Thickening of the nail plate is a reaction to the multiplication of infection in the nail bed. Keratinization develops and significantly interferes with treatment.
In advanced cases, the fungus affects the entire thickness of the nail. The nail begins to exfoliate, to collapse.
To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory study of samples taken from the nail.
Medicines for nail fungus
To treat nail fungus, topical preparations and oral agents are used. External drugs are ointments, creams, gels, nail polishes and special plasters that have a peeling effect.
Antifungal varnishes include compounds that penetrate deep into the nail plate and the nail bed. To use the varnish, you must first cut the affected area of the nail with a nail file and degrease it with alcohol.
Ointments and keratolytic patches are used to remove the areas of the nail affected by the fungus. Under the influence of these agents, the nail becomes soft and easy to remove for further processing. Plasters and ointments contain antiseptic, salicylic or acetic acid. Antifungal components can also be included. A bandage is applied to the affected nail, topped with a layer of ordinary adhesive plaster and a layer of bandage. The bandage is removed after 2-3 days. The softened areas of the nail are removed and a fresh keratolytic patch is reapplied. Treatment is carried out until the nails affected by the fungus are cleaned. Treatment with keratolytic patches or ointments is a long process.
There are special kits for the treatment of nail fungus. These include a keratolytic antifungal ointment, a special scraper to clean your nails, and a patch.
Antifungal creams are indicated for use. The cream should be applied to the affected nails every day until complete healing.
Internal medications
If the nail fungus responds poorly to treatment, in especially advanced cases the doctor prescribes antimycotics - drugs in the form of capsules and tablets. These funds should be taken 2-4 months. But many of them can have a negative effect on the human body precisely because of the length of time taken. Therefore, a new method of systemic treatment called pulse therapy has been developed. The essence of treatment is a mild drug regimen: two tablets or capsules per day for a week. Then you should take a 21 day break. The general course of pulse therapy is 3 times for 7 days.
Antimycotics prevent recurrence of the disease and effectively fight infection. The doctor prescribes the medicine that the patient needs the most.
Folk remedies to combat nail fungus
If the disease does not start, herbal medicines and herbal ingredients can be taken to help the medicines.
- Grind the peppermint leaves and mix with salt. Apply the composition to your nails and place it between your fingers for an hour.
- 20 gr. pour the lilac flowers with half a glass of alcohol. Let it steep for two weeks. Rub the composition into the affected area several times a day.
- Mix butter and crushed garlic in a ratio of 1: 1. Apply to nails once a day with bandage and tape. Change the product every day. Apply until complete recovery.
- It is recommended to walk barefoot in the morning dew. It is considered to be one of the best treatments.
- Mix garlic juice, pure rubbing alcohol and distilled water in a ratio of 1: 1: 10. Regularly rub the composition on the nails affected by the fungus.
- Fresh rowan leaves, pounded into a porridge, apply to the affected areas for 1 hour. Apply the recipe until complete recovery.
- Pour half a glass of poplar buds with 0, 5 liters of vodka. Let it steep for 10 to 12 days. Compresses with the tincture at night. The nails soften overnight. In the morning, the nails should be cleaned of a slight keratinization, and the dye should be carefully rubbed.
- Wrap the affected nails with rubbed leaves of a golden mustache. Reinforce the compress with plastic wrap. The compress can be done at night. In the morning, you need to clean your nails from the softened keratinization.
Disease prevention
If you follow simple rules, you will never come across such an unpleasant disease as nail fungus.
- Never wear someone else's shoes.
- Always dry your shoes when you get home.
- If you constantly visit the baths, pool, gym, apply topical antifungal medications.
- At home, porous or woolly rugs in the bathroom are better to refuse, since they carry infections, including nail fungus.
- If you forgot to change your shoes at home when visiting public places and the antifungal medication has run out, treat your feet and nails when you get home with tea tree oil, vinegarof apple cider, tincture of propolis.
See your doctor at the first sign of nail fungus. Even if you are wrong, do not regret the time wasted because there is nothing more important than your health.