Fungal diseases of the toenails (onychomycosis) are quite common. This disease is infectious in nature and is caused by pathogenic bacteria (epidermophytes). Almost from the moment of infection, a person begins to feel severe itching in the area of \u200b\u200bthe fingers, which even proven methods do not help to cope with. The disease is difficult to treat, so you need to be patient and determinedHow to properly treat toenail fungus.
Every fifth person in the world gets the fungus at least once, so it is not difficult to determine its presence by external signs.
Why are mushrooms dangerous?
Nail fungus cannot be ignored, as this disease is contagious and can destroy the life of the patient and those around him.
In addition to the constant desire to scratch the affected area, the nail plates begin to change their structure, peel off, infecting the entire surrounding area with fungus. It is unpleasant to look at, so you cannot ignore the wound. Moreover, it will not be possible to forget it, as it will constantly remind you of itself with itching.
Currently, people are very reluctant to go to the clinic, so the question always remains important: how to cure nail fungus at home?
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is becoming common. How to treat nail fungus at home?
People are used to thinking that fungus is not a serious disease and that you can get rid of it yourself. Only when they have struggled unsuccessfully with a problem for several weeks and see no results do they turn to professionals for help.
During this time, the disease moves to the next stage, when the desire to scratch the leg becomes irresistible, causing a state of panic and stress.
You should know that toenail fungus visually affects only a specific area of the human body, although it actually changes the functioning of the whole body for the worse. Toxins that arise during the growth and reproduction of pathogenic fungi settle in it.
Blood flow promotes their distribution throughout the body, which leads to disruption of metabolic functions, increases sensitivity to many negative factors, causing all kinds of complications.
From the outside, the affected nail is painted in different colors. It depends on the pathogen, as the fungi can be molds, yeasts or dermatophytes.
Over time, keratinization of the nail leads to the fact that even cutting it becomes a problem, and how to cure nail fungus at home in this case? Traditional methods of treating toenail fungus are the first thing victims turn to.
Causes of fungus:
- open wounds on the legs (scratches, ulcers, scratches, corns);
- violation of hygiene rules;
- weak immunity;
- antibiotics or other medications used to treat any illness;
- excessive sweating of the feet.
But all these reasons are secondary, since the main thing is still the infection caught in a sick person. About a third of sufferers contracted a fungal infection while visiting saunas, swimming pools, nail salons and other crowded places.
The presence of moisture only activates the infection process and provides favorable conditions for the spread of bacteria. It is enough to walk barefoot through a public shower or use someone else's clothes for the patient's skin to have an effect on your skin.
You can often get infected by using cloths, carpets and other similar common items. But even at home, no one is safe from fungal infection.
It is enough for one of the family members to go to the beach or the pool and he can become a carrier of bacteria, and if he shares his slippers or sponge with him, the whole family can be infected.
Lack of moisture also does not interfere with the functioning of mushrooms. For example, visiting an assembly room in the store can become a site of infection. People in fitting rooms often take off their shoes and stand on the same mattress.
Shoe stores, where people try on shoes without socks, are a real breeding ground for many diseases, including fungal diseases.
Mushroom spores are able to withstand low and high temperatures, which extends their life by several months, so even on the beach in the most extreme heat they live peacefully in the sand.
Considering that sand or small pebbles on the beach are a natural scrub for the feet, infected skin particles are found there in large quantities and stick to those who have open wounds on the feet.
Used shoes are another carrier of fungal spores. Of course, stores that sell such goods are obliged to put them on sale only after undergoing the appropriate chemical treatment, but this is not always done.
The first manifestations of fungi
Fungi manifest themselves in different ways all the time. If a person is healthy and does not have any damage to the leg, then it can appear in the form of skin. If there is damage between the toes or on the heel, the symptoms may be more severe.
The disease begins with peeling of the skin near the nails, slight redness and itching. This may not be given any importance, as the cause may be uncomfortable or poorly breathable shoes. In addition, redness between the fingers is quite difficult to notice immediately.
Clear signs of fungus are more visible in areas where the skin of the feet sweats. Diaper rash appears there and blisters appear in the later stages.
The color of the nails changes from transparent to yellow, the plate becomes cloudy and bumpy. As bacteria begin to attack the nail, streaks, yellow spots will appear, and the nail will begin to crack and peel.
The subungual space will be filled with a crumb mixture and alternate with empty pits. But the biggest problems will come from the increased itching and the rotten smell from the feet, which will intensify if the foot sweats.
The advanced stage may be accompanied by fever and movement problems. Treatment of toe fungus in this case will require urgent medical attention. He will determine what species caused the disease and what measures should be taken to combat it.
In the initial stage, you can treat toenail fungus with folk remedies or by using pharmaceutical antifungal ointments and gels.
Options for traditional methods of treating toenail fungus
- The use of washing powder has always been considered effective, as it contains alkali that can kill any type of mold. Half a glass of powder should be thrown into a hot bath and the feet should be immersed in it. You should not sit for more than 15 minutes. The procedure should be repeated for 10 days.
- Everyone knows that garlic kills bacteria. In the fight against mold, it is used in its pure form, by cutting the cloves into two parts and soaking them in salt. Garlic does not need to be eaten, it should be rubbed into the area of the leg damaged by the fungus. Garlic can cause even more irritation and redness, so it should not be applied for long periods of time. 5-7 minutes are enough.
- An ammonia compress at night is also a method of treating foot fungus with folk remedies. Add a spoonful of ammonia to 250 mg of water, wet a natural fabric that will hold moisture well in the solution and wrap the leg.
- Spread the foot with a paste of baking soda and water for 20 minutes. This will stop the spread of bacteria.
- Sprinkle steamed feet with boric acid powder and wear socks.
- Does iodine cure nail fungus? Treatment of toenail fungus with iodine is not limited to the usual staining of the affected areas. A product made of iodine, vinegar essence, glycerin and water in a ratio of 1: 2 (2 parts water) helps if you rub it on the affected areas at night. Before that, they should be steamed so that the pores open and the medicine penetrates better.
- The simplest method, which can be used only in the first stage of the disease, is to insert tampons moistened with alcohol between the fingers. You can do this overnight or until the alcohol dries completely.
- Grated onion skin will also help stop the spread of the infection, for which it should be applied for several hours.
- How to treat toenail fungus with herbs? Dry chamomile, mint, sage and nettle are suitable for this purpose. They can be crushed into equal parts, poured into a sock and worn at night. The same powder cannot be used a second time, just like socks. In summer it is possible to use fresh bouquets.
- Treating foot fungus with vinegar is very effective. How to treat nail fungus with vinegar? To do this, you need to take a bath with a solution of 9% vinegar. First, you need to steam your feet, then pour vinegar into warm water, lower your feet there for 15 minutes so that the soles of your feet do not touch the bottom. After the procedure, let your feet dry naturally without rinsing them with clean water.
- We treat nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide. The application process is the same as in the case of vinegar, only 3% peroxide is used instead.
- Cut the lemon into slices and apply it on the affected nail. Cover the top with gauze and wrap with cling film overnight.
Preventing
To effectively treat toenail fungus, it is best to prevent the infection in the first place. To get rid of an unpleasant disease, you should follow the recommendations:
- do not walk barefoot in public places;
- when visiting the gym, swimming pool, water park, wear rubber slippers;
- use antifungal spray that has a fungicidal effect;
- buy comfortable types of shoes made of fabric or leather;
- make sure that in nail salons they work with you only with tools that have undergone heat treatment;
- do not use a stranger's slippers, towel or socks;
- don't wear the same socks every day;
- wash your feet in the morning and in the evening;
- take vitamins;
- At the first signs of a fungal disease, use a gel that relieves itching, skin and erosion.
What is dangerous and how to treat advanced nail fungus at home
An old fungus can cause complications of diseases such as diabetes, bronchial asthma or allergies. It becomes a channel for other infections that can affect internal organs.
An increased amount of toxins in the body leads to intoxication.
An old fungus cannot be cured only by folk remedies. How to treat advanced nail fungus? This will require a course of medication under the supervision of a dermatologist, and folk remedies should be used in addition.
The causes of advanced fungus can be a late visit to the doctor, an incorrectly prescribed course of treatment or the ineffectiveness of the drugs used.
Old fungi require long-term treatment, which can last six months. How to cure old nail fungus?
A doctor can make a diagnosis only after analyzing an itch from the damaged area, after which he will prescribe antifungal drugs. You should be careful with some of the medicines; they may be contraindicated during pregnancy.
In parallel with the tablets, creams and ointments are used, which are applied to the lesion.
How to cure advanced nail fungus with folk remedies
- Cotton swabs are soaked in propolis solution with 20% alcohol and applied to damaged nails. Propolis helps to quickly destroy the fungus, after which the old nail plate falls off and a healthy one grows again.
- Kombucha applied to the affected area helps fight the fungus. It is applied for several hours a day.
- An ointment of 100 grams of butter, chopped eggs and 50 mg of 70% acetic acid is used daily. All the ingredients are placed in a jar and not mixed. The ointment should be kept in the refrigerator for a week until the peels are completely dissolved. The ingredients can then be blended until smooth.
- 15 grams of reed roots are poured with boiling water and left for 30 minutes. The infusion should be drunk a quarter of a glass 4 times.
- At night, you should apply the ointment from the ashes of 3 cigarettes with 1/2 spoon on your nails. fluoride toothpaste.
What is the best way to treat toenail fungus? There are many effective remedies, but they can be used according to the stage of the disease.
The initial stages can be treated with folk remedies; for older stages, complex treatment with medications in combination with home medicine methods will have to be used.