To cure nail fungus at home, you need to use special medications.Treatment methods differ depending on the initial and advanced stages of the disease.Each of them can be recognized by certain symptoms.The disease itself is called onychomycosis.This cannot be left to chance, because the pathology is long and difficult to treat.A specific medication for toenail fungus is selected based on the severity of the symptoms.
What is nail fungus
Onychomycosis is one of the most common infectious diseases caused by microorganisms in the form of yeast and mold.Due to their rapid spread, the nail plates begin to turn yellow, crack, crumble and thicken.Due to fungal growth, you may lose your nails completely.If left untreated, they will collapse.It is easy to become infected with fungus in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, nail salons and fitness clubs.
What does it come from?
Most cases of infection occur through household items or shoes shared with a sick person.People who sweat their feet excessively are more prone to nail fungus.Most often, foot fungus appears in adults;in children this occurs much less frequently.The causes of the development of the disease are:
- wear tight shoes;
- insufficient hygiene;
- disorders of the endocrine and nervous system;
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- frequent visits to places with high humidity;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- foot deformities;
- vascular diseases.
Types of nail fungus
There are several types of fungus that can affect toenails.The main ones are considered to be the following:
- Mold.People weakened by a long illness are more likely to be affected.The nail takes on a bluish, yellowish or greenish tint, and can even turn black.Toenail fungus can be completely eliminated within 1-2 months.
- Yeast.The nail becomes uneven, becomes covered with grooves and waves and turns yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, the plaque lags behind the bed.At the same time, the nail folds become infected and thicken.
- Dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The edges of the nail move away from the bed.As the situation worsens, the yellowing completely consumes the nail.
Signs
The disease first affects the big toes.Over time, this destroys the nail.When the fungus spreads, other fingers are also affected.The person feels severe itching between them.The skin begins to peel and crack.In addition, the pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Change in color of the nail plate.In its normal state, it is translucent and has a pinkish tint.After a fungal infection, the color of the nail turns yellow, brown or black.
- Thickening of the nail plate.Its increased keratinization occurs, therefore it becomes thick.In advanced cases, it even interferes with treatment.
- Crumbling.In the absence of proper treatment, the nail plate is destroyed and completely discolored.
Steps
Signs of a fungal infection differ depending on the stage of onychomycosis.Infection occurs quickly and the pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- First step.It is very difficult to recognize it with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor who, with multiple magnifications, is able to see small pale spots.
- Second step.The pathology continues to progress.Small scratches and dots turn into full grooves.This leads to the destruction of the plaque.The shine of the nail plate disappears and it begins to turn yellow.
- Third step.If you ignore the previous symptoms, you may lose your nail completely.The skin around it will be red and scaly.The nail is completely exfoliated.In this context, an unpleasant odor emerges
How to diagnose a fungus
External manifestations of the disease only confirm that the toenails are affected by a fungal infection.The cause of the disease can only be determined by laboratory tests.To prescribe adequate treatment, onychomycosis is differentiated from psoriasis, lichen planus, etc.If there are signs, you should consult a mycologist or dermatologist.The diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microsporia.This is scraping of the nail plate.To recover the material, the nail is treated with a special substance that destroys keratin.In this form, the material is easier to study.
- Research on bacteria.This involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The causative agent of infection is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of the colonies.This study makes it possible to identify the sensitivity of a microorganism to drugs.
- DNA diagnosis.This method reveals areas affected only by dermatophytes and candida fungus.Diagnostics are carried out with special devices, so they are expensive.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the clinical form of the disease, the size of the affected area and the degree of change in the nail, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive course of treatment.Therapy may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfection and treatment of shoes, which help with mild or moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate in case of severe or recurrent infection;
- folk remedies, for example, soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointments, tea tree oil, celandine tincture, propolis, acetic acid.
At the initial stage
For small lesions, local treatment will help cure onychomycosis.These include peel-off patches, medicated varnishes, creams, gels and ointments.These drugs are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.They are applied directly to the damaged nail and surrounding tissues for a long time.Sometimes it takes about a year for full recovery.
neglected mushroom
If the disease is already advanced, external remedies will not be very effective.It is necessary to use drugs for internal use.This includes antimycotics in tablet and capsule form.They inhibit the development of the pathogen and block its spread.In addition, the tablets have a prolonged effect, reducing the risk of reinfection.
How to treat toenail fungus
Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes certain medications to patients.The main groups of antifungal drugs are:
-
drugs for systemic use;
- products for topical use.
The last group of drugs includes a variety of drugs applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnish;
- sprays;
- solutions;
- cream
Special varnishes
In the early stages of the disease, antifungal varnishes can be used.They help to soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of the medicinal substance in it.
Ointments and creams
The effectiveness of local drugs is due to direct contact of the drug with the lesion.At the first stage of the disease, only these drugs are prescribed, since the tablets have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If the signs of nail fungus indicate an advanced stage of the disease, the doctor will prescribe more serious antifungal drugs in tablet form.
Laser therapy
If toenail fungus is in an advanced stage and cannot be treated with medication, more radical methods are used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, fungal spores die.Additionally, the laser does not damage surrounding tissue.Even an advanced stage of onychomycosis can be cured in 3-4 treatment procedures.
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies
Methods for treating fungus on toenails with folk remedies should be used in parallel with the use of medications.This is especially true in the advanced stages of the disease.In this case, using only folk recipes will not help.At the first signs of onychomycosis, you can use tincture of vinegar, iodine, kombucha and celandine.
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used to eliminate fungus.It should be mixed with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.You need to soak your feet in this solution for about 15 to 20 minutes.After that, your feet should be allowed to dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily for 2 weeks.During this time, you will notice how a new nail, not damaged by the fungus, begins to grow.
Iodine
Effective treatment for toenail fungus is also carried out using iodine.The duration of treatment is 3 weeks.Every day it is necessary to treat the affected nail plates with iodine.It is important to constantly remove the tip of the grown nail.This remedy for foot fungus gets good reviews.Iodine can also be used for hot baths.To do this, dissolve 10 drops of the product in 0.5 liters of water, and soak your feet in it for 10 minutes.
Kombucha
The compresses are made from kombucha.To do this, you must apply a plate of this product to the painful nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You must wear socks on top.It is better to carry out the procedure at night, and in the morning rinse your feet under warm water, then remove the affected areas and lubricate them with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you can quickly recover from the fungus.
Celandine
Fresh celandine should be passed through a meat grinder and the juice squeezed out of the resulting pulp using 3-4 layers of gauze.You need to take enough herb to prepare 200 ml of liquid.200 ml of 70% alcohol are added and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the prepared product to the affected areas after steaming the feet for 10 minutes and allowing them to dry completely.The duration of treatment is at least 10-12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.