Nail fungus on the thumb manifests itself with a thickening of an ugly appearance. Statistics say that more than a quarter of the entire population is affected by onychomycosis.
It is tedious and long to treat the disease, after the course there will be relapses.
Why the fungus appears
All the factors that contribute to the infection of the fungus of the thumb are due to the fact that pathogenic spores of the fungus penetrate into the skin.
You can get infected through infected objects when you come in contact with them, for example, using other people's things - shoes, towels
The risk group for onychomycosis on the big toes includes people who suffer from flat feet, who have excessive, clumsy, careless sweating at home.
Causes of infection with a fungal infection:
- Wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes helps the development of pathogenic flora and the reproduction of bacteria, as sweating increases. The big toe is most often attacked. Mushroom spores, multiplying, fall on socks, other things and spread on the floor. Infecting others.
- Shoes made of low-quality, dense, non-breathable artificial materials "choke" the feet, contributing to the growth of bacteria.
- Ignoring the rules of hygiene in public places. Wear shoes when visiting saunas, swimming pools and showers - this will protect you from foreign bacteria.
- Never wear someone else's socks, tights or shoes and do not lend your own. If you are trying on shoes, make sure you have your own sock to try on.
- Fungal infection is caused by immunological problems. Weakened immunity is difficult to deal with viruses and fungi. It is difficult to treat the fungus in people suffering from diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins, obesity, infected with HIV.
- Neglecting such basic rules as washing your feet with soap every day, changing socks, treating your nails, helps in the development of fungal infections.
- Improper handling and care of corns, cracks and corns can provoke the reproduction of fungal spores on the big toe.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Fungal disease occurs due to infection with fungal spores. The infection will not lead to a fatal outcome, but can go from the nail to the foot and adjacent toes.
The disease is initially almost invisible, suspicion arises when a yellow tinge appears on the nails, and then brown with seals and delaminations. Compressed and exfoliated nails cause severe discomfort when wearing shoes.
Medicine divides onychomycosis into 3 levels:
- Initial - the nail plate is covered with spots and streaks of a yellow color, the feet are not yet affected during this period.
- The second stage - the glow disappears, the color turns brown, an unpleasant odor comes from the feet.
- Advanced level - the nail shines from the skin, is released, crumbles. Is on pain. This stage is dangerous, the spores, which fall, spread to the surrounding space.
With symptoms such as peeling skin on the fingers, periodic appearance of blisters, redness, cracks, you need to be vigilant and take preventive measures to prevent mycosis.
Characteristics of disease treatment
Fungal infection of the feet begins with the nail of the big toe. Fungal spores are comfortable in the top layer of the nail plate, from where their path to the matrix begins.
Since the nail of the thumb is touched first, treatment begins at this site. The method of action of drugs has a local-external and systemic effect. The approach should be individual, taking into account the signs of pathology and the condition of the patient's internal organs.
The approach to treatment is complex. Disinfectants, antifungal agents of bacterial type, pulsed therapy are used.
Pulse therapy involves a long-term exposure regimen with periodic changes in treatment types. This schedule contains oral medications for one week with a recurrence after 3 weeks.
Every day, agents that suppress the reproduction of pathogenic microflora are used.
Using a systematic approach allows you to increase your chances of being completely cured of the disease. Complex therapy involves taking vitamins and immunostimulatory drugs.
The use of drugs is based on the principle of accumulation. Medications are concentrated and provide protection against the disease for a long time.
Ointment to get rid of
Preparations for external use are different ointments and more options - varnishes and creams.
The mechanism of action of ointments is based on the destruction of the cell membrane of fungal spores. The course of treatment is long and is carried out until the final birth. Dead layers are cleaned with a file.
Iodinol is used as a lubricant. The result is obtained if the sock of the infected person's shoe is lubricated from the inside, a cotton swab moistened with medicine is applied to the nail.
Tar and sulfur ointments proved to be quite effective as antifungal medicines.
All ointments when used give a good result. But treatment must be prescribed by a specialist. Different ointments deliberately affect fungi of a different nature. Only a doctor after conducting research in the laboratory can choose the most effective medicine.
We save them at home with the help of folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers many recipes to get rid of fungal diseases. Treatment of onychomycosis in the thumb at home is carried out in the following ways.
With the use of iodine
Onychomycosis is successfully treated with iodine baths. Water is poured into a basin at a temperature of about 40-45 degrees, iodine alcohol is poured into it drop by drop.
For 1 liter of water you need 3 drops of iodine - depending on the volume of the container, you can calculate the right amount.
Put your feet in the water and hold until the water has cooled. Peroxide-treated scissors cut off the affected part of the nail plate. After the procedure, the nail and the skin around it are treated with peroxide. The effect will increase if an antibacterial ointment bandage is applied.
Effective use of ordinary vinegar
Water at room temperature is diluted with 9% vinegar in a ratio of 2 to 1. Bath time is 15 minutes. Then the damaged nail should be filled or cut. The duration of the manipulations is at least 2 weeks.
Lemon and potatoes help
- Fresh lemon should be soaked in boiling water - so there will be more juice. Cut the slices and apply on the damaged nail. Citrus fruits are fixed with plaster. A good result will be if the compress is done every evening and kept overnight.
- Peel the potatoes. The component is boiled, water is poured into a bowl and crushed into a puree. The legs fly into the broth, then the softened growths are cut off. After cleaning, the wheat is applied for half an hour and washed.
Medicinal plants in war
- Celandine. The fresh juice of this amazing plant can cure almost all kinds of fungal diseases. Within 2 weeks, a fresh plant (leaf and stalk are cooked) is applied to the plates and skin of the affected nails. If possible, change the compress every 2-3 hours.
- Aspen bark. Nail baths are prepared on the basis of 200 g of ingredients per liter of water. The manipulation is performed for 15 minutes in water that the foot can tolerate. After the bath, a mixture of mild laundry soap and baking soda is applied to the nails. The ratio is 1: 1. After 30 minutes, everything is washed with warm water. The nail after such a procedure will begin to renew.
As an additional prophylaxis, sea salt baths are used.
The nail comes out of the thumb
Fungal nail disease is characterized by external manifestations like p. sh. exfoliation of the nail plate from the skin. The rest of the nail darkens or turns blue.
This is because a layer of air accumulates in the cavity under the nail, which becomes larger over time.
The further the process takes place, the more pain a person feels. The nail rises up, pustules appear and bleeding.
With detachment, the following treatment is used:
- Use of topical treatment - ointments, along with medicines in tablet form, external and internal use will give the best result;
- You can use laser treatment methods, such procedures are done in beauty salons;
- With complete disconnection, you should contact the surgeon immediately.
To treat nails, if you leave your finger without fungus or with fungus, you should drink gelatin solutions, follow hygiene requirements and do not do pedicure.
Effective treatment of fungi
Recommended medications for these lesions:
- Means of local influence. General purpose medicines can be bought without a prescription. But you must use the rules of use specified in the instructions. Otherwise, there will be no effect.
- Means of systemic influence. These are tablets and pills, which, along with ointments, are prescribed by a dermatologist.
- Laser treatment is quite effective. The treatment does not cause pain. The procedure does not cause harm to the patient's body. No recurrence after laser cleaning.
- The hardware pedicure procedure is less popular than laser therapy, but its effect is wonderful. Most often, this method is used in advanced cases.
- Surgical manipulations have not yet gained enough popularity, but their effect is quite strong. The disadvantages of this manipulation are pain and a long period of rehabilitation.
Which tool is better
Medical varnishes and serums are known as effective and efficient drugs in antifungal therapy.
The price of such drugs is higher than for conventional ointments, but the effectiveness of the drugs is high.
Mycosis appeared on the arm
Fungal diseases on the fingernails are less common. The most common infection is caused by the fungus Candidiasis. Fingernails are also affected by filamentous fungi.
You can also be infected by shaking hands, by infecting other people's gloves, and even by yourself. Taking spores from other parts of the body.
Treatment of fungal infections on the hands is prescribed depending on the type of fungus, the age of the infected person and the stage of the disease.
First, you need to get rid of the causes of the disease, strengthen the immune system, get rid of bad habits.
It is not necessary to be treated with antibiotics during this period. The patient needs to change their diet - remove from the foods used those that help reproduce the fungi, these are sweets and an abundance of carbohydrate foods.
The doctor prescribes studies and, depending on the type of fungus, prescribes medication and prescribes a course of treatment. Most often, it is a combination therapy.
If the patient has an acute inflammatory process, then local treatment should be avoided. Deterioration must be removed.
For the patient, it is necessary to eliminate interaction with those tools and household items that provoke the development of the disease. Acute inflammation can be removed with such time-tested drugs as brilliant green, fucortsin, potassium iodide.
For nails, it is convenient to use varnishes for treatment. With a fungal infection of the nails on the hands, the spores quickly spread through the skin and fall into the folds between the fingers.
Antifungal drugs will increase their effect if folk remedies are used in treatment. But they should be used only after consulting a doctor.
The most important and safest advice for those who do not want to be affected by this nasty infection or who dream of getting rid of it forever is strict adherence to hygienic requirements and preventive measures to prevent the disease.
The result can be obtained if you follow the rules of personal prevention - do not put yourself in such conditions where you can be infected with fungal spores - have a personal comb, personal slippers, never use other people's things.
If such a concern has already occurred, then it is not necessary to allow its spread, but to start treatment in time in the early stages. If you have any symptoms similar to a fungal infection, you should consult a doctor immediately.