Fungal nail infections are very common, affecting up to 20% of the population.It is not a life-threatening disease.However, it causes many problems in the form of itching, deformation of the nail plate and discoloration.Pathogenic fungi release toxins that spread throughout the body, increasing its sensitivity to external harmful influences.Knowing how to cure nail fungus at home, you can deal with the problem yourself.
How does the infection occur?
Factors that provoke the disease are cuts, wounds, scratches on the feet and damage caused by wearing tight shoes.Insufficient foot care, especially with excessive sweating, as well as taking antibiotics and reduced immunity contribute to the appearance of mycosis.
Infection is possible through contact with a sick person, using other people's shoes, laundry cloths or room carpet.
Therefore, the greatest chance of getting infected with the fungus exists when one of the family members suffers from this disease.Flakes of the skin of a person infected with the fungus can fly into the surrounding area and infect another.
This often happens in crowded places in conditions of high humidity - in the bathroom, sauna, swimming pool.Fungal infection can occur even in salons that provide manicure and pedicure services, where sanitary standards are not sufficiently followed.Adults are more susceptible to the disease, but sometimes a child's leg can also be affected by the fungus.
Symptoms of the disease
The manifestation of mycosis begins with increased dryness and flaking on the heels and feet.Redness is sometimes observed, accompanied by severe itching, blistering and corns.People who suffer from excessive sweating have diaper rash.The nail changes its structure and color, turns yellow and cracks.When the spores penetrate deep into the plate, voids are created under it, filled with a mixture that crumbles and an unpleasant rotten smell appears.
In an advanced stage, nail fungus makes it difficult to walk and can cause fever.In such cases, a dermatologist should be contacted immediately.Complications associated with mycosis can manifest in the form of psoriasis and eczema.
There are three types of toenail fungal infection, the symptoms of which differ:
- Vesicular.In this case, the lower part of the foot suffers, where small blisters filled with liquid form.
- Membranes.It appears between the toes in the form of cracks.
- A type of moccasin.Thickening of the skin with the formation of cracks appears on the heels and soles.By affecting the nails, the fungal pathogen causes disruption of their structure.The body can react with an allergy.
In order to avoid resorting to surgical methods of removing the affected nail, you must consult a doctor in time.He will choose the appropriate drugs and tell you how to treat nail fungus at home.
Why are fungi dangerous?
The disease is not harmless and can cause serious damage to the human body.Nail fungus is the cause of a disease that is difficult to treat.Corroding the nail plate, it spreads to nearby tissues, becoming a conduit for any other infection.Weakened immunity allows the fungus to penetrate the internal organs.
Mycosis can also be associated with general intoxication of the body.Toxins released by some types of mushrooms accumulate inside and lead to poisoning.The disease also causes serious psychological discomfort, causing negative emotions related to its development.
Treatment options
Mycosis can be successfully treated at home with the help of medicines and traditional medicine.It is important to start treatment on time.Today, the method of pulse therapy is very popular, when fungi are eliminated in a short period of time as a result of the use of antifungal agents prescribed in large doses.It is important to take long breaks between courses.
You can cure nail fungus at home using products intended for external use (ointments, gels, varnishes).Created on the basis of fungicidal drugs, they have an effective antimycotic effect.The success of treatment depends on how precisely the type of pathogen and the degree of pathology are determined.It is possible that each affected area of the foot may require different medications.
In order to increase the effectiveness of treatment, it is recommended to combine local drugs with systemic ones.An additional way is to use traditional medicine recipes to speed up the healing process.You can treat nail fungus with the most common products - garlic, vinegar, lemon.
Drug therapy
There are a wide variety of medications that are effective against yeast infections.It is used both orally and externally.This question of how to treat toenail fungus should be addressed by a specialist.He chooses the appropriate medicine.
Local remedies
At the very beginning of the disease, when the area of nail damage does not exceed 50%, solve the problem with the help of ointments and sprays.
Most come in different forms and help kill many types of fungus.The ointment is used twice a day, after cleaning and drying the affected area.Lack of results when using the ointment for more than two weeks requires replacing the drug with another to prevent the development of fungal resistance.
For mild symptoms, treatment at home can be carried out using special medicated varnishes and serums.
Oral medications
When local drugs for nail fungus do not have a positive effect, the doctor prescribes oral drugs that block the ability of microorganisms to reproduce and destroy.
A combination of oral medications with ointments and sprays helps to quickly remove toenail fungus.
Traditional medicine
Our grandmothers knew very well how to treat nail fungus at home.Since ancient times, all kinds of recipes with garlic, soda, vinegar and other ingredients available in the kitchen of every housewife have been used to solve this problem.Common means are:
- Garlic.It is used to remove different types of fungi.Not only on the feet, but helps to treat nail fungus at home, this product is known for its healing properties.To prepare garlic tincture, a few cloves are crushed into a paste, mixed equally with alcohol and the resulting mixture is diluted with a small amount of water.Apply the tincture to the affected nail.You can also use garlic in its pure form;simply smear the nail plate with finely chopped garlic.
- Treatment of nail fungus with vinegar.First, your feet should be well steamed.Then a vinegar bath is prepared.A 9% warm solution of the essence is prepared in a small container.Put your feet in it for 15 minutes.Then wipe without rinsing with water.Vinegar baths for foot treatment are recommended at home up to twice a week.
- Iodine.Thanks to the antiseptic and disinfecting effect of the alcohol tincture, fungi are destroyed.A drop of 5% iodine solution is applied to the nail twice a day during the first week.Then the number of treatments is gradually reduced.The course lasts one month.
- Onion.Applying crushed onion to the nail helps in getting rid of the fungal infection.
- Lemon.The fruit, cut into thin slices, is placed on the painful nail, wrapped in plastic film and secured with a bandage from above.The procedure is performed for 12 days.
- Propolis- a product from the beehive, known for its medicinal effect.It helps relieve unpleasant symptoms, reduce itching and inflammation.After moistening the tampon in 20% tincture of propolis, apply it to the affected area, secure it with a bandage.Propolis helps to restore the nail plate.
Prevention
You can protect yourself from fungal nail infections by taking certain preventive measures.To do this, follow the basic rule - avoid walking barefoot in the pool, bathroom or hostel.In addition, it is important: not to use other people's shoes;wash your feet in the morning and in the evening;take measures to strengthen the immune system (do sports, walk in the fresh air, follow a proper diet, take vitamins);pay attention to diseases associated with mycosis (diabetes mellitus, gastritis, varicose veins);treat shoes with formaldehyde or vinegar.
At the first signs of suspected fungal infection, appropriate measures should be taken.In the initial stage, it is much easier to get rid of nail fungus at home than with serious damage.