Often, toenail fungus appears in men, in women, the hands are more susceptible to this disease. The medical name for this problem is onychomycosis. It usually starts with the big toe. Only with the defeat of a nail can not be sure that the infection will not spread. And then you want to discover the legs when visiting or in the summer. Often you have to hold back and, feeling uncomfortable, wait for the problem to evaporate on its own.
Regardless of the type of fungus that causes nail disease, it will manifest similar symptoms and require the same treatment. Due to the fact that fungal nail infection is not life threatening, most patients are not in a hurry with treatment, considering the problem only cosmetic. This approach is fundamentally flawed, because due to prolonged exposure to the fungus, immunity begins to suffer, and this opens the door to many diseases.
When the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, therapy with the use of drugs or folk remedies should be started. Both are very effective and therefore the patient must decide for himself which treatment method he prefers.
How to get rid of the problem?
It is worth noting that the fungus is difficult to treat, so it is extremely important to first determine the degree of the disease and its causes. Most of the time, the problem is in the environment. A fungal disease can occur as a result of prolonged wearing of closed shoes in a period of hot weather at a time of high humidity. Also, prolonged stay in the pool can lead to nail damage.
There is a high probability of catching this attack in people with reduced immunity who have blood circulation problems. Also, diabetics and housewives who are constantly in contact with water while cleaning the apartment and doing the dishes may be at risk.
It is not difficult to understand that the nail is affected by fungal bacteria. You just have to look at its color. It usually takes on a yellowish hue, but in some cases it can even be black, brown or gray. The nail becomes denser and rougher. A progressive infection causes it to stop growing and it may fall off. Meanwhile, the skin begins to redden, itch and swell.
Before treating the disease, the cause of the disease, the adverse influencing factors, must be eliminated.
Important!You should not walk barefoot in public places where there is a high probability of getting an infection.
You can eliminate the infection in different ways. At the moment, both drug treatment and traditional medicine are used in practice. It turns out that a specific ointment may not be suitable for a person, its use may not bring a positive result, but the skin of the legs will respond perfectly to an inexpensive herbal treatment. Also, not all people can use medication. Many drugs have contraindications. Pregnant women, for example, should avoid taking medication.
Sometimes doctors purposely offer patients to combine traditional medicine with medication.
The use of folk remedies
The most popular and effective traditional medicines in the fight against fungal infection are:
- iodine;
- vinegar;
- tea mushroom;
- sea salt;
- Potassium permanganate;
- ammonia;
- Boric acid;
- tea tree oil;
- propolis tincture.
Home remedies are mostly used in cases where there is a danger of using medications that can cause an allergic reaction and are not suitable for everyone. The main thing is to know in what proportions to use them.
It is very important not to start treatment, otherwise the nails will not only be ugly, but will also lead to consequences such as skin diseases, hypersensitivity to allergens, diseases of the mucous membranes and inflammation of Organs internal organs. The fact is that the fungus is very toxic and all family members are at risk, especially if the family is in the habit of changing slippers.
Few people manage to get rid of this problem with folk remedies, but just remember the usual disinfecting tinctures or decoctions.
use of iodine
Iodine has long been used in self-healing processes. It is also capable of relieving skin ailments including fungal infections. It can be used in its pure form. It is only necessary to pre-clean the skin under the nail and clean it with iodine at the site of infection. No bandages are needed after that. The iodine should evaporate on its own. This usually takes a few minutes. So you can wait. Otherwise, you could get a chemical burn.
Important! People with individual intolerance to iodine are not recommended to use it in the treatment of any disease.
If someone does not know how their body reacts to this substance, a painless experiment can be carried out at home. Apply a few drops of iodine to the crook of the elbow and monitor the skin reaction. Of course, if the hand in the crease starts to turn red or blotchy, you shouldn't use iodine.
You can prepare a special antifungal mixture, which contains iodine, table vinegar, and glycerin. These ingredients must be mixed in equal parts and proportionately added 2 times more boiled water. Now you can start moving up your legs and rubbing the antifungal mixture onto the painful nail. These actions must be repeated for ten days.
Vinegar treatment
Vinegar is the most popular antifungal agent among people. Even for the prevention of such diseases, doctors recommend cleaning the inside of shoes. You just need to moisten a cotton swab in vinegar, put it on the shoes, which must be folded in a plastic bag, and send the shoes that way to the wardrobe for a day. Then you can pick it up, ventilate it, and take it easy.
You can treat infected areas of skin with vinegar. To begin with, the nails should be thoroughly washed and cleaned with a file, then the toes should be cleaned with a cloth soaked in vinegar. A painful nail should be covered with a bandage so that the vinegar evaporates freely.
Before using vinegar, it is necessary to test the personal tolerance of this remedy. You should literally apply a drop of vinegar to the skin area and observe the body's reaction.
How to use propolis tincture?
Traditional medicine recipes are gentle on the human body, so people turn to them even before going to the clinic. Propolis has antiseptic qualities and can be purchased as an ointment, oil or tincture.
When dealing with nail fungus, the main thing is to be patient, because this is a long process. You can prepare a special foot bath with the addition of propolis. A spoonful of tincture in a small container of water will suffice. The legs should be steamed for 10 minutes. Then you need to get rid of keratinized skin and put a cap of propolis on the sore finger, which you can mold with softened propolis.
Important!In the process of treating nail fungus, you should pay more attention to personal hygiene and wear clean socks daily.
The use of boric acid
Boric acid has a disinfecting effect. She needs to be as careful as possible. Treatment with this drug should be short-term, as a person can be poisoned with a large accumulation of a substance in the blood. It is not suitable for all people. It can be used in both liquid and dry form. There are several ways to treat this substance.
- It is necessary to pour 30 grams of powder into a bowl of water, the temperature of which does not exceed 60 degrees. Feet should be steamed for about 15 minutes and then wiped clean with a towel. This procedure should be done at most once every 4 days.
- It is necessary to moisten a cotton swab in a 3% solution of this acid and apply it to the painful finger for a few minutes.
- You can sprinkle boric acid powder on your nail and then put on a sock.
Medicines for fungi
Now manufacturers are working on launching therapeutic ointments for fungus, creams. Also, do not forget to take high-end medical pills and varnishes, which are used only once for 3-6 days.
Important!Without consulting a doctor, it is better not to engage in self-medication of drugs, as there are contraindications for certain groups of people.
There are many medicines over the counter at the pharmacy, but to what extent are they suitable for your problem? There is still some work to be done here. If the fungus has appeared recently, it will be easier to get rid of it.
Disease prevention
In order not to catch this infection, you should just keep your feet clean and follow the rules of personal hygiene. You should also hear from people who advise:
- do not use other people's scissors when doing a manicure;
- don't go to the gym or shower without shoes;
- wear cotton socks that allow your feet to breathe;
- do not wear tight shoes;
- don't walk around in wet shoes for a long time if you are "lucky" to get caught in the rain.
In principle, there are no special measures to prevent this scourge. You just need to wash your feet more often, wash your socks.
