If you are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as a fungal infection, you should immediately start treatment. About,how to cure toenail funguswe will talk in this article.
First of all, you need to understand what yeast infections are. These diseases belong to the class of infectious diseases. Mycoses, or infections caused by fungi, are very diverse, but most often affect the skin and nails. Fungal infections are contagious and spread from person to person.
Nail fungus
This disease (onychomycosis) is caused by a fungal infection that you can get from a sick person. Most often, this disease is transmitted within the family, since it is transmitted through shared items, such as slippers or towels.
The fungus really likes a warm and humid environment, so swimming pools, showers, gyms, bathrooms are ideal places for infection. The predisposing factors for the disease are wet shoes and excessive sweating of the feet.
The fungus is a very resistant microorganism. They endure dry conditions of existence, temporarily stopping their reproduction. But as soon as the environment becomes favorable, the violent activities of life begin again.
If the nails are infected with fungus, they change their appearance. The color of the nail plate changes to white, gray, yellow, brown, green, and even black. Nails thicken, crumble, lose their natural shine. The thickening of the nail plate is a reaction to the multiplication of the infection in the nail bed. Keratinization grows and significantly interferes with treatment.
In advanced cases, the fungus affects the entire thickness of the nail. The nail begins to exfoliate, collapse.
To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory study of samples taken from the nail.
Medications for nail fungus
To treat nail fungus, both topical preparations and oral agents are used. External drugs are ointments, creams, gels, nail polishes and special plasters that have a peeling effect.
Antifungal varnishes include compounds that penetrate deep into the nail plate and nail bed. To use the varnish, you must first cut the affected area of the nail with a nail file and degrease it with alcohol.
Keratolytic ointments and patches are used to remove the areas of the nail affected by the fungus. Under the influence of these agents, the nail becomes soft and easy to remove for further treatment. Plasters and ointments contain an antiseptic, salicylic, or acetic acid. Antifungal components can also be included. A plaster is applied to the affected nail, on top is a layer of ordinary adhesive plaster and a layer of bandage. The bandage is removed after 2-3 days. The soft areas of the nail are removed and a new keratolytic patch is reapplied. Treatment is carried out until the nails affected by the fungus are cleaned. Treatment with keratolytic patches or ointments is a long process.
There are special kits for treating nail fungus. These include a keratolytic antifungal ointment, a special scraper for cleaning nails, and a patch.
Antifungal creams are indicated for use. The cream should be applied to the affected nails every day until complete recovery.
Internal drugs
If nail fungus responds poorly to treatment, in especially advanced cases, the doctor prescribes antifungals, drugs in the form of capsules and tablets. These funds should be taken from 2 to 4 months. But many of them can have a negative effect on the human body precisely for the duration of the intake. Therefore, a new systemic treatment method called pulse therapy has been developed. The essence of the treatment is a gentle medication regimen - two tablets or capsules a day for one week. Then you should take a break for 21 days. The general course of pulse therapy is 3 times for 7 days.
Antifungals prevent disease recurrence and effectively fight infection. The doctor prescribes the drug that the patient needs most.
Folk remedies to combat nail fungus.
If the disease does not start, herbal medications and herbal ingredients can be taken to help with the medication.
- Grind the mint leaves and mix with salt. Apply the composition on your nails and place it between your fingers for an hour.
- 20 gr. pour lilac flowers with half a glass of alcohol. Let it sit for two weeks. Rub the composition on the affected area several times a day.
- Mix butter and crushed garlic in a 1: 1 ratio. Apply to nails once a day with bandage and tape. Change the product every day. Apply until complete recovery.
- It is recommended to walk barefoot in the morning dew. It is considered one of the best treatments.
- Mix the garlic juice, pure isopropyl alcohol and distilled water in a ratio of 1: 1: 10. Rub the composition on the nails affected by the fungus regularly.
- Fresh rowan leaves, crushed into mush, are applied to the affected areas for 1 hour. Apply the recipe until complete recovery.
- Pour half a glass of poplar buds with 0. 5 liters of vodka. Let it sit for 10-12 days. Make compresses with tincture at night. Nails are smoothed overnight. In the morning, the nails should be cleaned of soft keratinization, and the stain should be thoroughly rubbed in.
- Wrap the affected nails with rubbed leaves of a golden mustache. Strengthen the compress with cling film. The compress can be done at night. In the morning, you need to clean your nails from the softened keratinization.
Disease prevention
If you follow simple rules, you will never find such a nasty disease as toenail fungus.
- Never wear someone else's shoes.
- Always dry your shoes when you get home.
- If you constantly visit the bathhouse, pool, gym, apply topical antifungal drugs.
- At home, it is better to reject porous or hairy rugs in the bathroom, as they carry infections, including nail fungus.
- If you forgot to change your shoes at home when visiting public places and the antifungal medication has run out, treat your feet and nails when you get home with tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and propolis tincture.
Visit your doctor at the first sign of nail fungus. Even if you are wrong, do not regret the lost time, because there is nothing more important than your health.