To treat nail fungus at home, you need to use special drugs.Treatment methods differ for the initial 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 lasts a long time and is difficult to treat.A specific toenail fungus medication is chosen 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.As a result of fungal growth, you can completely lose your nails.If left untreated, they will crumble.It is easy to get infected with fungi in public places.This is especially true for saunas, swimming pools, beaches, nail salons and gyms.
What does it come from?
Most cases of infection occur through household items or shoes shared with a sick person.People with excessive sweating of their feet are more prone to nail fungus.More often, athlete's foot occurs in adults.in children it occurs much less often.The causes of the development of the disease are:
- wearing tight shoes;
- inadequate hygiene.
- endocrine and nervous system disorders.
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower extremities.
- frequent visits to places with high humidity;
- infectious chronic diseases;
- leg deformities;
- vascular diseases.
Types of toenail fungus
There are several types of fungus that can affect toenails.The main ones are considered to be the following:
- Moldy.People who have been weakened by a long-term illness are more likely to be affected by it.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.
- Dough.The nail becomes uneven, covered with grooves and waves and turns yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, plaque is left behind the bed.At the same time, the nail folds and thickens.
- Dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The tips of the nail extend away from the bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowing completely consumes the nail.
Signs
The disease affects the big toes first.Over time it destroys the nail.When the fungus spreads, other fingers are also affected.The person feels intense itching between them.The skin begins to peel and crack.Further, the pathology manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- Change in the color of the nail plate.In its normal state it is translucent and has a pink tint.After a fungal infection, the color of the nail changes to yellow, brown or black.
- Thickening of the nail plate.Increased keratinization occurs, so it becomes thick.In advanced cases, this even interferes with treatment.
- Fragmentation.In the absence of proper treatment, the nail plate is destroyed and completely discolored.
Stages
The signs of fungal infection differ depending on the stage of onychomycosis.The infection occurs quickly and the pathology can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- First stage.It is very difficult to recognize with the naked eye.This can only be done by a doctor who with multiple magnifications can see small maculae.
- Second stage.Pathology continues to evolve.Small stripes and dots develop throughout the grooves.This leads to plaque destruction.The shine of the nail plate disappears and begins to turn yellow.
- Third stage.If you ignore the previous symptoms, you may lose your nail completely.The skin around it will be red and flaky.The nail is completely exfoliated.Against this background, there is an unpleasant smell
How to diagnose a fungus
The 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 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.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.
- Bacteria research.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 determine the sensitivity of a microorganism to drugs.
- DNA diagnostics.This method reveals areas affected only by dermatophytes and candida fungi.Diagnostics are done with special devices, so they are expensive.
How to treat nail 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.Treatment may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for disinfection and shoe care, which help with mild to moderate fungal infections.
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage.
- surgical removal of the nail plate for severe or recurrent infection.
- folk remedies, for example, soda, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, birch tar ointments, tea tree oil, celandine tincture, propolis, acetic acid.
In the initial stage
For minor lesions, topical treatment will help treat onychomycosis.These include peeling pads, 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 the surrounding tissue for a long time.Sometimes it takes about a year for full recovery.
neglected fungus
If the disease is already advanced, then external treatments will have little effectiveness.It is necessary to use drugs for internal use.This includes antifungals in tablet and capsule form.They inhibit the growth of the pathogen and prevent its spread.In addition, the tablets have a prolonged action, therefore reducing the possibility of re-infection.
How to treat nail fungus
Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes certain drugs to the patients.The main groups of antifungal drugs are:
-
drugs for systemic use.
- products for local use.
The last group of drugs includes a variety of drugs that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnishes;
- spray?
- solutions;
- cream
Special varnishes
In the initial stages of the disease, antifungal varnishes can be used.They help soften the nail plate and increase the concentration of the medicinal substance in them.
Ointments and creams
The effectiveness of topical drugs is due to the direct contact of the drug with the lesion.In the first stage of the disease, only such drugs are prescribed, because tablets have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If the signs of toenail fungus indicate an advanced stage of the disease, then the doctor will prescribe more serious antifungal drugs in the form of tablets.
Laser treatment
If the toenail fungus is at an advanced stage and cannot be treated with drugs, then more radical methods are used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, fungal spores die.In addition, 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 toenail fungus 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 get rid of fungus.It must be mixed with hot water in a ratio of 1:1.You need to soak your feet in this solution for about 15-20 minutes.After that, your feet should be allowed to dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily for 2 weeks.During this period, you can notice how a new nail, which has not been 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 nail plates with iodine.It is important to constantly remove the tip of the ingrown nail.This remedy for athlete's foot 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
Compresses are made using kombucha.To do this, a plate of this product must be applied to the painful nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You must wear socks on top.It is better to do the procedure in the evening, and in the morning wash your feet with warm water, then remove the affected areas and lubricate with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you can quickly recover from the fungus.
Celandine
Fresh felantine must be passed through a meat grinder and 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 is 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 allow them to dry completely.The course of treatment is at least 10-12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.