Often the fungus on the toenails appears in men, in women the hands are more susceptible to this disease. The medical name for this problem is onychomycosis. It usually starts with the big toe. Only with the defeat of a nail cannot be sure that the infection will not spread. And so you want to bare your legs during the visit or in the summer. Often you have to restrain yourself and, feeling uncomfortable, wait for the problem to evaporate on its own.
Regardless of the type of fungus causing the nail disease, it will exhibit similar symptoms and require the same treatment. Due to the fact that the fungal infection of the nails does not pose a threat to life, most patients are not in a hurry with treatment, considering the only cosmetic problem. This approach is fundamentally wrong, because due to prolonged exposure to the fungus, immunity begins to suffer, and this opens the door to many diseases.
When the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, therapy with the use of drugs or folk remedies should be started. Both are very effective and therefore the patient should decide for himself which treatment method to prefer.
How to get rid of the problem?
It is worth noting that the fungus is difficult to treat, so it is extremely important to first determine the degree of the disease and its causes. Most often, the problem lies in the environment. A fungal disease can occur as a result of prolonged wearing of closed shoes in a hot period of time in a time of high humidity. In addition, a prolonged stay in the pool can cause damage to the nails.
There is a high chance of getting this attack in people with reduced immunity who have blood circulation problems. In addition, diabetics and housewives who are constantly in contact with water while cleaning the apartment and washing the dishes may be at risk.
It is not difficult to understand that the nail is affected by fungal bacteria. You just have to look at its color. It usually takes on a yellowish tint, but in some cases it can also be black, brown or gray. The nail becomes denser and rougher. A progressive infection causes it to stop growing and may fall off. Meanwhile, the skin begins to redden, itch and swell.
Before treating the disease, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease, adverse influencing factors.
Important!You shouldn't walk barefoot in public places where there is a high chance of getting an infection.
You can get rid of the infection in several ways. At the moment, both drug treatment and traditional medicine are used in practice. It happens that a particular ointment may not be suitable for a person, its use may not bring a positive result, but the skin of the legs will respond perfectly to inexpensive herbal treatment. Also, not all people can use drugs. Many drugs have contraindications. Pregnant women, for example, should avoid taking medications.
Sometimes doctors purposely offer patients to combine traditional medicine with drugs.
The use of folk remedies
The most popular and effective traditional medicine in the fight against fungal infections is:
- iodine;
- vinegar;
- tea mushroom;
- sea salt;
- Potassium permanganate;
- ammonia;
- boric acid;
- tea tree oil;
- propolis tincture.
Home remedies are mainly used in cases where there is a danger of using drugs that can cause an allergic reaction and are not suitable for everyone. The main thing is to know in what proportions to use them.
It is very important not to start treatment, otherwise the nails will not only be ugly, but will also lead to such consequences as skin diseases, hypersensitivity to allergens, diseases of the mucous membranes and inflammation of the internal organs. The fact is that the fungus is very toxic and all family members are at risk, especially if the family has a habit of changing their slippers.
Not many people manage to get rid of this problem with folk remedies, but it is enough to remember the usual disinfectant tinctures or decoctions.
Use of iodine
Iodine has long been used in self-healing processes. It is also capable of relieving skin diseases, including fungal infections. It can be used in its pure form. It is only necessary to pre-clean the skin under the nail and wipe it with iodine at the site of the infection. After this no bandages are needed. The iodine should evaporate on its own. Typically, this takes a few minutes. So, you can wait. If not, you could get a chemical burn.
Important!People with individual intolerance to iodine are not recommended to use in the treatment of any diseases.
If someone does not know how their body reacts to this substance, it is possible to carry out a painless experiment at home. Apply a few drops of iodine on the elbow bend and monitor the skin reaction. Of course, if the hand in the crease starts to turn red or blotchy, you should definitely not use iodine.
You can make a special antifungal blend, which contains iodine, table vinegar, and glycerin. These ingredients must be mixed in equal parts and proportionally add 2 times more boiled water. Now you can start lifting your legs and rub the antifungal mixture into the sore nail. These actions should be repeated for ten days.
Vinegar treatment
Vinegar is the most popular antifungal agent among the people. Also for the prevention of such diseases, doctors recommend cleaning the inside of the shoes. You just need to moisten a cotton swab in vinegar, put it in the shoes, which need to be folded in a plastic bag and send the shoes in this form to the closet for a day. So you can take it, ventilate it and walk calmly.
You can treat infected areas of the skin with vinegar. To begin with, the nails must be thoroughly washed and cleaned with a file, then the toes must be wiped with a cloth soaked in vinegar. A sore nail should be covered with a bandage so that the vinegar evaporates freely.
Before using vinegar, it is necessary to test the personal tolerance of this remedy. You should literally apply a drop of vinegar to the skin area and observe the body's reaction.
How to use propolis tincture?
Traditional medicine recipes are gentle on the human body, so people turn to them even before going to the clinic. Propolis has antiseptic qualities and can be purchased as an ointment, oil or tincture.
When dealing with nail fungus, the main thing is to be patient, because this is a long process. You can prepare a special foot bath with the addition of propolis. A spoonful of tincture in a small container of water will suffice. The legs should be steamed for 10 minutes. Then you need to get rid of the keratinized skin and put a propolis cap on the sore finger, which you can mold from the softened propolis.
Important!In the process of treating nail fungus, you should pay more attention to personal hygiene and use clean socks daily.
The use of boric acid
Boric acid has a disinfecting effect. She has to be as careful as possible. Treatment with this drug should be short-term, as a person can be poisoned with a large accumulation of a substance in the blood. It is not suitable for all people. It can be used in both liquid and dry form. There are several ways to treat this substance.
- It is necessary to pour 30 grams of powder into a bowl of water, the temperature of which does not exceed 60 degrees. The feet need to be steamed for about 15 minutes, then pat dry with a towel. This procedure should be done no more than once every 4 days.
- It is necessary to moisten a cotton swab in a 3% solution of this acid and apply it to the sore finger for a couple of minutes.
- You can sprinkle boric acid powder on the nail and then put on a sock.
Medicines for fungi
Now manufacturers are working on the release of therapeutic ointments for mushrooms, creams. Also, don't forget to take state-of-the-art medical pills and paints, which are only used once for 3-6 days.
Important!Without consulting a doctor, it is better not to engage in drug self-medication, as there are contraindications for certain groups of people.
There are many drugs over the counter at the pharmacy, but how suitable are they for your problem? There is still some work to be done here. If the fungus appeared recently, it will be easier to get rid of it.
Disease prevention
In order not to get such an infection, you should simply keep your feet clean and follow the rules of personal hygiene. You should also listen to the opinion of the people who advise:
- do not use other people's scissors when doing a manicure;
- do not go to the gym or shower without shoes;
- use cotton socks that allow your feet to breathe;
- do not wear tight shoes;
- do not walk long in wet shoes, if you are "lucky" enough to get caught in the rain.
In principle, there are no special measures to prevent this scourge. You just need to wash your feet more often, wash your socks.
