To cure nail fungus at home, it is necessary to use special medications.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 takes a long time and is difficult to treat.A specific medication 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 its rapid spread, the nail plates begin to turn yellow, crack, crumble and thicken.As a result of fungal growth, you can lose your nails completely.If left untreated, they will fall apart.It is easy to get infected with fungus in public places.This is especially true of 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 on their feet are more likely to have nail fungus.More 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;
- disorders of the endocrine and nervous system;
- weakened immune system;
- poor blood circulation in the lower extremities;
- frequent visits to places with high humidity;
- chronic infectious diseases;
- foot deformities;
- vascular diseases.
Types of toenail fungus
There are several types of fungus that can affect toenails.The following are considered main:
- Moldy.People weakened by a long-term illness are more likely to be affected by it.The nail acquires a bluish, yellowish or greenish tint, and may even turn black.Toenail fungus can be completely eliminated in 1 to 2 months.
- Yeast.The nail becomes uneven, covered with grooves and waves, and turns yellow or brown.As the disease progresses, the plaque falls behind the bed.At the same time, the nail folds rot and thicken.
- Dermatophytes.They appear as yellow spots on the nail plate.The edges of the nail extend beyond the nail bed.As the condition worsens, the yellowing completely consumes the nail.
Signs
The disease first affects the big toes.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.Additionally, the pathology is manifested by 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 changes to yellow, brown or black.
- Thickening of the nail plate.Greater keratinization occurs, making it thick.In advanced cases, this even interferes with treatment.
- Falling apart.In the absence of adequate therapy, the nail plate is completely destroyed and discolored.
Stages
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, under multiple magnifications, can see small pale dots.
- Second stage.The pathology continues to progress.Small stripes and dots turn into entire grooves.This leads to the destruction of the plaque.The shine on the nail plate disappears and begins to turn yellow.
- Third stage.If you ignore the above symptoms, you may lose your nail completely.The skin around it will be red and scaly.The nail is completely exfoliated.Against this background, an unpleasant odor appears.
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, a mycologist or dermatologist should be consulted.Diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microsporia.It is a scraping of the nail plate.To collect the material, the nail is treated with a special substance that destroys keratin.This way, the material is easier to study.
- Bacteria research.It involves placing the material in a nutrient medium.The causative agent of 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 diagnosis.This method reveals areas affected only by dermatophytes and Candida fungi.Diagnostics are carried out 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 comprehensive treatment.Therapy may include:
- ointments, creams, lotions, drops, sprays for shoe disinfection and treatment, which help with mild or moderate fungal infections;
- tablets when the disease progresses to a severe stage;
- surgical removal of the nail plate in case of 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 small lesions, local therapy will help cure onychomycosis.These include peel-off patches, medicated varnishes, creams, gels and ointments.These 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 a complete recovery.
neglected mushroom
If the disease is already advanced, external remedies will be of little effectiveness.It is necessary to use medications for internal use.This includes antifungals in tablet and capsule form.They inhibit the development of the pathogen and block its spread.In addition, the tablets have a prolonged effect, therefore 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:
-
medications for systemic use;
- Products for topical use.
The last group of medications includes a variety of medications that are applied directly to the affected nail.The main ones are:
- varnishes;
- aerosols;
- 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 direct contact of the drug with the lesion.In the first stage of the disease, only these drugs are prescribed, because the tablets have more side effects.
Antifungal tablets
If signs of toenail fungus indicate an advanced stage of the disease, the doctor will prescribe more serious antifungal medications in tablet form.
laser therapy
If toenail fungus is in an advanced stage and cannot be treated with medication, more radical methods are used.One of the effective methods is laser therapy.When exposed to radiation, fungal spores die.Additionally, the laser does not damage surrounding tissues.Even an advanced stage of onychomycosis can be cured with 3 or 4 treatment procedures.
Treatment of toenail fungus with home remedies.
Toenail fungus treatment methods with home remedies should be used along with the use of medications.This is especially true in the advanced stage of the disease.In this case, using only popular 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 should be mixed with warm water in a 1:1 ratio.You should soak your feet in this solution for about 15 to 20 minutes.After this, you should let your feet dry completely.It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily for 2 weeks.During this time, you can notice how a new nail begins to grow, not damaged by the fungus.
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 nail that has grown.This remedy for foot fungus receives 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 for 10 minutes.
Kombucha
The compresses are made with kombucha.To do this, a plate of this product should be applied to the sore nail, wrapped in cellophane and a bandage.You need to wear socks on top.It is better to carry out the procedure at night, and in the morning rinse your feet with warm water, then remove the affected areas and lubricate them with iodine.Many patients report severe pain, but if you are patient, you will be able to recover quickly from the fungus.
celandine
Fresh celandine should be passed through a meat grinder and extract the juice from the resulting pulp with 3-4 layers of cheesecloth.You need to take enough herb to prepare 200 ml of liquid.200 ml of 70% alcohol are added and left to infuse for a whole day.Apply the prepared product to the affected areas after steaming your feet for 10 minutes and allowing them to dry completely.The course of treatment is at least 10 to 12 days.Nail plates should be treated 3-4 times a day.