To cure nail fungus at home, you need to use special drugs.Treatment methods differ for early and advanced stages of the disease.Each of them can be recognized by certain symptoms.The disease itself is called onychomycosis.It cannot be left to chance, because the pathology takes a long time and is difficult to treat.A specific medicine 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 yeasts and molds.Due to their rapid spread, nails begin to yellow, break, crumble and thicken.As a result of fungal growth, you can completely lose your nails.If left untreated, they will crumble.It is easy to get yeast infection in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, beauty 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 with excessive foot sweating are more prone to developing nail fungus.Most often, foot fungus appears in adults;in children it occurs much less frequently.The causes of the development of the disease are:
- wear tight shoes;
- insufficient hygiene;
- endocrine and nervous system disorders;
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower limbs;
- frequent visits to places with high humidity;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- foot deformity;
- vascular diseases.
Types of Toenail Fungus
There are several types of fungi that can affect toenails.The following are considered main:
- Moldy.People weakened by a long illness are more likely to be affected.The nail takes on a bluish, yellowish or greenish tint and may even turn black.Toenail fungus can be completely removed in 1-2 months.
- Yeast.The nail becomes uneven, becomes covered in 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 creep in and thicken.
- Dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The edges of the nail extend away from the bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowness completely wears away the nail.
Signs
The disease first affects the big toes.Over time, it destroys the nail.As the fungus spreads, other toes are also affected.The person feels severe itching between them.The skin begins to peel and crack.Furthermore, the pathology manifests itself with 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.Increased keratinization occurs, so it becomes thick.In advanced cases, this even interferes with treatment.
- Dilapidated.In the absence of adequate therapy, the nail plate is destroyed and completely discolored.
Phases
The signs of fungal infection differ depending on the stage of onychomycosis.The infection occurs rapidly, and the pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- First phase.It is very difficult to recognize it with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor who, under multiple magnifications, is able to see small pale spots.
- Second phase.The disease continues to progress.Small streaks and spots develop into entire furrows.This leads to the destruction of the plate.The shine of the nail plate disappears and begins to turn yellow.
- Third phase.If you ignore the above symptoms, you can lose the nail completely.The skin around it will be red and scaly.The nail is completely exfoliated.Against this background, there is an unpleasant odor
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 through laboratory tests.To prescribe adequate therapy, onychomycosis is differentiated from psoriasis, lichen planus, etc.If there are signs, you need to consult a mycologist or dermatologist.The diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microsporia.It is a scraping from the nail plate.To collect 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.It involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The causative agent of the infection is determined by the growth rate, color and shape of the colonies.This study allows us to identify the sensitivity of a microorganism to drugs.
- DNA diagnostics.This method reveals areas affected only by dermatophytes and candida fungi.Diagnostics are performed 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 treatment.Therapy may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfecting and treating shoes, which help with mild or moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate for severe or recurrent infections;
- folk remedies, for example soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointments, tea tree oil, celandine tincture, propolis, acetic acid.
In the initial phase
For small lesions, local therapy will help treat onychomycosis.These include peel-off plasters, medicated varnishes, creams, gels and ointments.Such drugs are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.They are applied directly to the damaged nail and surrounding tissue for a long time.Sometimes it takes about a year for complete recovery.
neglected mushroom
If the disease is already in an advanced stage, external remedies will be of little effectiveness.It is necessary to use drugs for internal use.This includes antifungals in the form of tablets and capsules.They inhibit the development of the pathogen and block its spread.In addition, the tablets have a prolonged effect, thereby reducing the likelihood 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 that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- paints;
- spray;
- solutions;
- cream
Special paints
In the initial stages of the disease, antifungal paints can be used.They help to soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of the medicinal substance contained in it.
Ointments and creams
The effectiveness of local drugs is due to the direct contact of the drug with the lesion.At the first stage of the disease, only such drugs are prescribed, since the tablets have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If the signs of toenail fungus indicate an advanced stage of the disease, the doctor will prescribe more serious antifungal drugs in the form of tablets.
Laser therapy
If the toenail fungus is in an advanced stage and cannot be treated with medications, more radical methods are used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, fungal spores die.Furthermore, the laser does not damage the surrounding tissues.Even an advanced stage of onychomycosis can be cured in 3-4 treatment procedures.
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies
Ways to treat fungus on toenails with folk remedies should be used along with the use of medications.This is especially true for the advanced stage of the disease.In this case, using only folk recipes will not help.At the first signs of onychomycosis, you can use vinegar, iodine, kombucha and celandine tincture.
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is used to eliminate fungus.It must be mixed with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.You need to soak your feet in this solution for about 15-20 minutes.Afterwards, the feet should be allowed to dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure every day for 2 weeks.During this period, you can notice how a new nail, not damaged by the fungus, begins to grow.
Iodine
Effective treatment of toenail fungus is also carried out with the help of iodine.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.Every day it is necessary to treat the affected nails with iodine.It is important to constantly remove the tip of the nail that has grown.This remedy for foot fungus gets good reviews.Iodine can also be used for hot baths.To do this, dissolve 10 drops of product in 0.5 liters of water and soak your feet in it for 10 minutes.
Kombucha
The compresses are made with kombucha.To do this, you need to apply a plate of this product to the sore nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You have to 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 recover from the fungus quickly.
Celandine
Fresh celandine should be passed through a meat grinder and the juice extracted from the resulting pulp using 3-4 layers of gauze.You need to take enough herb to make 200ml of liquid.200 ml of 70% alcohol are added to it and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the prepared product to the affected areas after steaming your feet for 10 minutes and letting them dry completely.The course of treatment lasts at least 10-12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.