How to treat toenail fungus? This question is of great importance to those who suffer from this disease. Or rather suffers from it. Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) causes discomfort as the appearance of the nails becomes very unattractive. And there is no point in painting on a sore nail with nail polish. It is better to learn than to cure the fungus. In addition, there are many drugs that successfully fight the disease. Let's try to find the most effective remedy for toenail fungus.
The fungus can defeat anyone, so it is necessary to know the methods of dealing with this disease.
Fungi from the beach
It is easy to get onychomycosis. It is enough to put on a sick person, to walk barefoot on the beach or on the floor in the pool. The fungus prefers moist places with a fairly high temperature. These are baths, saunas, sports complexes. But it also happens that someone in the family becomes a source of infection. That is why it is so important for everyone to have their own slippers and to wear special shoes in places with a suspected infection.
Toenail fungus is usually treated by adults. This disease is practically non-existent among children. The conditions for the development of the disease are:
- a sharp decrease in immunity;
- various diseases (diabetes, obesity, circulatory disorders in the legs, etc. );
- age-related changes in the acid-base balance of the skin and nails.
It is impossible not to notice the fungus on the feet, the nail changes so much. The color of pink becomes gray, yellow or green, the plate thickens and disintegrates, soreness and itching appear at the site of the lesion.
But not only the unaesthetic appearance of the foot is an indication for the treatment of mycosis. During its growth and reproduction, the fungus poisons nearby tissues, toxic substances accumulate and cause metabolic disorders, interfere with the normal functioning of the digestive, nervous and cardiovascular systems. In addition, if you do not follow the rules of personal hygiene, then the disputes will "catch" new areas.
The fight against the fungus should begin as early as possible and certainly under the supervision of a specialist. It will help to understand the variety of means to combat the disease and to choose the right method of treatment.
The earlier you start fighting a fungal infection, the faster you can get rid of it.
Cream, nail polish or pills?
Fungi treatments are divided into several groups. First, pharmacies offer both expensive drugs and affordable drugs. And in this case, cheap means do not mean bad.
Second, there are many ways to treat toenail fungus. For this use:
- varnishes;
- creams;
- tablets;
- folk remedies.
But be patient. If you decide to use traditional medicine, you will have to wait a long time for the result - a few months or even a whole year. Are you ready for a quick effect? Use complex therapy - local remedies (varnishes, ointments) plus tablets. The active substances are able to accumulate in the tissues, which reduces the duration of the disease. But this is exactly the case when treatment should be under the supervision of a doctor. Nail fungus treatments have many contraindications, their uncontrolled use can cancel the effectiveness of treatment and lead to further progression of the disease.
Nail polish is a good remedy for nail fungus in the early stages of the disease. Varnishes destroy fungi at the cellular level. They are applied according to a scheme, the treatment is quite long. By the way, it is not forbidden to apply the usual on the medical varnish. You can try a special serum as well as patches.
It is also recommended to perform treatment using active nail plate removers. The funds do not get rid of the fungus, but simply dissolve the affected nail. Before using the funds, it is necessary to evaporate the feet, then wipe your feet and apply the detergent. Try not to get on the skin near the nail. After the time specified in the instructions, remove the plaster with which the finger is sealed and scrape off the affected tissues. This procedure is performed until the complete removal of the fungus.
Quite an effective remedy for mycosis - creams, ointments, sprays. There are many of them, each based on the active substance:
- naftifine;
- ketoconazole;
- oxyconazole;
- terbinafine;
- bifonazole.
Pills are the most effective treatment for nail fungus, but they are also the most dangerous. The age of children, liver and kidney pathologies, taking hormonal drugs are absolute contraindications to taking such a drug.
The doctor will monitor the effectiveness of the treatment of toenail fungus. Over time, damaged tissue must be replaced with healthy tissue. The complete cure is confirmed in the laboratory. You need to pass the necessary tests and wait for the results. You should also consider the possibility of an allergy to the drug. In this case, another remedy must be used against the fungus.
Unconventional, but not useless
The main thing to remember is that it is not recommended to walk barefoot on the beach, in a public pool, shower and the like. These places are a threat to your feet.
In the fight against mycosis, all means are good. Some of them are quite unexpected. Here, for example, Creolin is a drug used in veterinary medicine. Feedback on its effectiveness is positive. It has antiseptic, disinfectant and antiparasitic action.
Mouthwash will also help treat fungus. Baths with apple cider vinegar, Fucorcin, a mixture of lavender essential oils and tea tree are also used as medicines. Natural oils are needed, which means they can't be cheap.
In combination with drug therapy it is good to use folk remedies. Here are some of the most effective ways.
- In the morning and evening treat the nails with iodine tincture (1 drop is enough). The duration of treatment is 10 days. There may be pain. It should pass in 2-3 days.
- Grind 2 cloves of garlic and mix with butter (100 g). For one day, treat your feet with the resulting ointment. Repeat every day for a month. The result can be seen after one week of application.
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon of sea salt in 1 liter of hot water. Soak your feet in the solution every day for 2 weeks in a row
- Moisten cotton wool in an alcoholic solution of propolis and apply for 15 minutes on the affected nail. The procedures last 3 weeks.
- Cut a circle of lemon into 2 parts, attach to the affected nail, secure with a bandage and polyethylene. It is enough to perform such a procedure for 8-10 days.
- Rub the kombucha into the affected nail daily. The course of treatment is 20 days.
- Mix equal amounts of chamomile, violet and string. Pour a liter of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. Moisten gauze in the resulting infusion, apply on the nail.
- Grind 100 g of aspen bark, boil in 0, 5 liters of water. Dip your nails into this decoction. Then treat them with a mixture of laundry soap and baking soda (1 tsp. ). Treat daily.
- Mix with water 70% vinegar essence in proportions of 1/1. Add flour. Fix the resulting dough on the nail. The skin should not come into contact with the dough. After a few days, the affected nail will separate and grow healthy in its place.
There are many folk methods by which treatment is performed. Many believe that this therapy is the best way to treat nail fungus.
Do not walk barefoot
It is unlikely that you will be able to protect yourself 100% from nail fungus. But it is worth remembering about preventive measures, especially since they are not so complicated, and drugs are mostly expensive.
Do not try new shoes with bare feet, do not forget to wear a sock. Wash your feet with soap before bed. Use special shoes in showers, saunas, swimming pools, on the beach. If you suffer from sweating, use special preparations. Change socks, stockings, tights every day.
The fungus is difficult to beat, but it is quite possible.
It's like not getting infected at all.