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 staining.Pathogenic fungi release toxins that spread throughout the body, increasing its sensitivity to negative external influences.Knowing how to cure nail fungus at home, you can deal with the problem yourself.
How does infection occur?
Factors that provoke the disease include cuts, wounds, scratches on the feet and injuries caused by wearing tight shoes.Insufficient foot care, especially with excessive sweating, as well as taking antibiotics and lowering immunity contribute to the appearance of mycoses.
Infection is possible through contact with a sick person, using someone else's shoes, towels or a room rug.
Therefore, the greatest opportunity to catch 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 into the surrounding space, infecting another.
This often happens in crowded places in conditions of high humidity - in a bathroom, sauna, swimming pool.Fungal infection can also occur in salons that offer manicure and pedicure services, where sanitary standards are not adequately monitored.Adults are more often susceptible to the disease, but sometimes even a child's foot can suffer from the fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The manifestation of mycosis begins with increased dryness and flaking on the heels and feet.Sometimes a rash 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 texture and color, turning yellow and cracking.When the spores penetrate deep into the plate, voids are created under it, filled with a crumbly mixture, and an unpleasant smell of decay appears.
In the advanced stage, toenail fungus makes it difficult to walk and can cause fever.In such cases, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.Complications related to mycosis can appear in the form of psoriasis and eczema.
There are three types of fungal toenail infections, the symptoms of which vary:
- Vesicular.In this case, the lower part of the leg suffers, on which small blisters filled with liquid form.
- Membrane.Appears between the fingers in the form of cracks.
- Type of moccasin.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 can react with an allergy.
To avoid using surgical methods to remove the affected nail, you should consult a doctor at the right time.He will choose the right medications and show you how to treat toenail fungus at home.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
The disease is not harmless and can cause serious damage 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 conduit for any other infection.Weakened immunity allows fungi to penetrate internal organs.
Mycosis can also be accompanied by general intoxication of the body.Toxins released by some types of mushrooms accumulate inside and lead to poisoning.The disease also causes serious psychological distress, causing negative emotions for 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 method of pulse therapy is very popular today, when fungi are eliminated in a short period of time as a result of the use of antifungal agents prescribed in large doses.It is important to take long breaks between courses.
You can cure nail fungus at home using products intended for external use (ointment, gel, varnish).Created on the basis of fungicidal drugs, they have an effective antifungal 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.
To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, the combination of local and systemic agents is recommended.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.It is used both orally and externally.This question of how to treat toenail fungus should be addressed by a specialist.He chooses the right medicine.
Local remedies
From the 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 fungus.The ointment is used 2 times a day, after cleaning and drying the affected area.The lack of results when using the oil for more than two weeks requires replacing the drug with another to prevent the development of fungal resistance.
For mild symptoms, home treatment can be carried out using special medical ointments and serums.
Oral medications
When current 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.
Combining oral medications with ointments and sprays helps to get rid of toenail fungus quickly.
Traditional medicine
Our grandmothers knew well how to treat toenail fungus at home.Since ancient times, to solve this problem, all kinds of recipes with garlic, soda, vinegar and other ingredients available in the kitchen of every housewife have been used.Common tools are:
- Garlic.It is used to get rid of various types of fungi.Not only on the feet, but also helps in the treatment of nail fungus at home, this product known for its curative properties.To prepare the garlic solution, a few cloves are crushed into a paste, mixed evenly 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 coat the nail plate with finely chopped garlic.
- Treatment of nail fungus with vinegar.First, your feet should be completely steamed.Then a vinegar bath is prepared.A warm 9% solution of the essence is prepared in a small basin.Put your feet in it for 15 minutes.Then wipe without rinsing with water.It is recommended to take vinegar baths for treating feet at home up to twice a week.
- Iodine.Thanks to the antiseptic and disinfectant effect of the alcohol tincture, the fungi are 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 one month.
- Onions.Applying a crushed onion to the nail helps to cope with the fungal infection.
- Lemon.The fruit, cut into thin slices, is placed on the injured nail, wrapped in plastic wrap and fixed with a bandage on top.The procedure is carried out for 12 days.
- Propolis- a product from the hive, famous for its healing effects.It helps relieve unpleasant symptoms, relieving itching and inflammation.After you have soaked the tampon in 20% propolis solution, apply it to the affected area, fixing it with a bandage.Propolis helps to renew the nail plate.
Preventing
You can protect yourself from fungal nail infections by taking some preventative measures.To do this, you must follow the basic rule - avoid walking barefoot in the pool, spa or guesthouse.In addition, it is important: do not use someone else's shoes;wash your feet in the morning and in the evening;take measures to strengthen the immune system (play sports, take walks in the fresh air, observe proper nutrition, take vitamins);pay attention to diseases related to mycosis (diabetes mellitus, gastritis, varicose veins);treat shoes with formaldehyde or vinegar.
At the first signs of suspicion of a fungal infection, appropriate measures should be taken.In the initial stage, it is much easier to get rid of nail fungus at home than with severe damage.