The treatment of big toe fungus, even in mild cases of the disease, is recommended to be done under the supervision of a dermatologist.This recommendation is based on the fact that the treatment of onychomycosis (this is the medical name of this disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and the type of pathogen.
With self-treatment, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.
Characteristics of the thumb
Dermatologists believe that removing the fungus on the nail of the big toe is more difficult compared to other toes of the lower limb.This is due to the fact that it is large in size and has a large nail bed.
Due to the structural characteristics of finger lesions, they are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- large affected area (big nail);
- high risk of fungal spores entering the blood (more abundant blood supply).
These distinctive features increase the duration of the healing process.Dermatologists note that when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis, the greatest difficulty is to eliminate the lesions on the thumb.
Stages of fungal infection
The doctor's recommendation on how to cure toenail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:
- First.The patient does not experience any unpleasant sensations;barely noticeable streaks or spots appear on the nail plate.The nail looks healthy and a slight change in color is perceived as a cosmetic defect and not as the first symptoms of mycosis infection.Detecting the infection during this period allows you to quickly heal the nail lesion.
- Second.The development of fungus on the thumbnail causes a person slight discomfort.The main symptoms of this stage: unpleasant smell from the feet and changes in the nail plate.The nail becomes yellowish and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort only bother you when you wear narrow or closed shoes.Treatment is possible with the external use of antifungal agents;anti-fungal tablets are prescribed only if a person has a severely weakened immune system.
- third.It is considered an advanced form of pathology in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When it occurs, other toes are affected and the skin of the feet can become infected.The patient is concerned about itching, severe deformation of the nail plate, which thickens and becomes loose.At this time, the patient is the most dangerous to others due to the fact that the particles of the nail plate with the fungal spores contained on it come off.At this stage of the disease, the fungus on the nails of the big toe can be cured only with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
A dermatologist can advise you on how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the symptoms and signs of the severity of the infection.
Errors in self-medication
On my big toe, nail fungus appeared, treatment is constantly being carried out, but there is no result.This can be heard from some patients who were self-treated using antifungal agents purchased at the pharmacy.
As a rule, patients begin to blame drug manufacturers for failures, but in reality, the main reason why the fungus is not treated is the patient's mistakes:
- Incorrect determination of the degree of pathology.If for the first stage it is enough to use medical varnishes and treatment with non-specific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide), then in severe lesions specific therapy is required.Due to lack of experience, a person can limit himself to using only external drugs when it is necessary to take pills.
- Incorrect evaluation of the healing process.There are many causes of fungal infections and most drugs for external use have a wide spectrum of action.But the remedy for the fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis has developed.The key to the effectiveness of the therapy will be the timely replacement of the drug with a drug from another group, but most people do not take this into account and continue to use purchased ointments or sprays without result.
- Irregularity of therapy.To cure toenail fungus, treatment should be done daily.Regular removal of the discharge of the nail plate and the use of drugs will prevent the progression of onychomycosis and help to destroy the fungal spores.Skipping external treatment disrupts the inhibition of the growth of mycoses and slows down the healing process.
- Poor hygiene.Fungi on the big toe are dangerous not only for others, but also for the patient: microspores of the pathogen remain on clothes and shoes.Wearing slippers on bare feet or infrequently changing socks promotes self-infection and has a negative impact on the healing process.When conducting antifungal therapy, you should constantly wear clean socks made of natural fabrics, even at home.
important!
How to treat advanced toenail fungus in a particular case is determined individually after laboratory methods determine the type of pathogenic microorganism.
Drug review
Preparations for toenail fungus are divided into the following groups according to the form of release:
- varnishes;
- ointments and sprays;
- pills;
- nail plate remover.
The lucky one
Varnishes are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and are recommended for use not only in the treatment of the initial stage of the disease, but also for the prevention of onychomycosis.Medicines have an antiseptic effect and help to soften the areas affected by the fungus.
Medicines act on certain groups of pathogens, destroy spores and suppress the growth of mycotic colonies.The varnish is applied to a clean nail plate and after drying is left for a long time.
Ointments and sprays
Products for external use are available without a prescription in pharmacies and rarely cause side effects.Apply after cleaning and treating the nail to the affected surface and the surrounding skin.Lubrication of the affected areas is carried out 1-2 times a day, and the therapy can last from several months to a year (depending on the severity of the pathology).
The drugs have different effects in suppressing the growth of mycocolonies, but they all have good therapeutic characteristics.
Tablets
Oral drugs are used in advanced forms of the disease, when there is a risk of mycotic spores entering the blood.The drug is carried through the bloodstream throughout the body and helps eliminate deep tissue damage.Taking pills is always prescribed in combination with the use of external means.
It is not recommended to determine how to treat fungal infections of the limbs if you have to take pills.If in the external use of drugs, the error in the choice of the drug will only lead to the ineffectiveness of the treatment, then in internal administration, such an error will lead to the development of dysbiosis and further suppression of a weakened immune system.
In the matter of what and how to treat, if you have to take pills, it is better to trust the competence of the doctor.
Medicines are selected individually and take into account not only the symptoms of the disease, but also the presence of contraindications, as well as possible side effects.All drugs have an inhibitory effect on the development of mycotic colonies and can be taken for a long time.
Nail removers
In case of severe damage to the nail plate, it must be removed for the treatment to be successful.But removing a nail from the nail bed is always painful and can lead to damage.If there are no special instructions, then it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way, using softeners.
The most popular are:
- A product that is applied to the affected areas in the evening and left overnight.In the morning, you need to remove the compress, clean all the peeled plates and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The procedure is repeated daily until the affected structures are completely removed.
- On a clean and maximally unstuck nail plate, an antifungal patch is stuck and left for 10-12 hours, and in the morning the nail is removed with nail scissors.For most patients, 1 session is sufficient for the complete peeling of the nail, but in some cases, several procedures may be necessary to achieve an effect.
In mild cases of fungal infections of the big toes, one properly selected drug is sufficient for treatment, but in advanced pathologies, combined therapy is required (drugs for internal and external use are prescribed).
Home remedies
The use of home remedies as self-therapy has a good effect in the initial stages of the disease.
You can use non-medicinal means:
- Potato peels.Boil in plenty of water without cleaning the salt.Drain the water and steam the feet with it, and mash the skins to a puree.After soaking the nails in the cleansing water, apply the paste to the affected areas for 15-20 minutes.After the procedure, rinse the pulp with warm water and put on clean socks.
- coffee.Brew ground or instant coffee firmly with boiling water and cool to a moderately hot temperature.Make a coffee foot bath for 15 minutes, then rinse your feet and apply a moisturizer.
- garlic.Mix a mash of 3-4 cloves of garlic with a tablespoon of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture on a gauze pad and use for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
- Kombucha.Mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed into the areas affected by fungus.
At an early stage of the disease, these available means will help defeat the fungus, and in advanced forms of the pathology, they are recommended to be used as an adjunct to drug therapy.
Fungus on the nail of the big toe, due to the structure of the finger, is treated for a long time.The doctor will help you choose the appropriate therapy, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient carries out the treatment procedures.