You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common, and the most common nail infection is shingles. It seems to you that it is something far away and will never hit you, no matter what.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of planet Earth suffers from a similar disease.
How to be among the 9 lucky ones and not earn such a nuisance on your hands or feet? Why does the disease appear and how does it manifest itself? How to get rid of nail fungus at home? What is the best treatment for toenail fungus? Proven ways of fighting with antimicrobial agents and methods of traditional medicine.
Disease: causes and symptoms
Onychomycosis, also known as dermatophytic onychomycosis, also known as herpes zoster, is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Infection is often confused with non-fungal deformation, psoriasis, eczema. This point can be clarified through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but the insidious infection is difficult to influence, returning with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors distinguish the following among the main causes of the appearance of diseases on the hands and feet:
- A moist warm environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on the hands and feet. It is recommended to thoroughly dry wet shoes, use socks made of natural materials.
- Reduced immunity. Sometimes just walking barefoot is enough to catch the infection. A course of vitamins, hardening and respect for your health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores, which are so easily infected in common areas. Entering the recesses between the nails and fingers, they can remain dormant for long periods, suddenly awaken and spread with instantaneous defeat. In no case do not try on, and even more so do not wear other people's shoes. Danger can be waiting for you in the pool, sauna, bathtub, shower cabin of the fitness center, etc.
- Building. It is especially true for lovers of extravagant manicures. The fact is that the extension leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the nails of the hands. Once inside, the infection takes hold and the host, causing a lesion. Doctors advise that the extension procedure is carried out no more than once every 6 months, then you are more likely to avoid hand fungus.
You can determine the fungus on the hands and feet at home, knowing the symptoms of the problem. Nails will begin to thicken or, conversely, become crumbly and thin. It will begin to tear not only on the edges, but also on the entire surface of the nail plate. The form will begin to deform, the structure will become scaly.
At first you may notice that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Blackening often occurs, which should certainly warn you. Such a common problem as growth under the skin can also be a symptom of fungus.
In the background of the infection, the digestive organs can also suffer, especially dysbacteriosis is observed, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness and decreased immunity are characteristic. In children, fungal disease is easily recognized by the itching sensation between the toes. The skin around the nails and on the feet can crack to bleed, causing pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of trouble?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat hand and foot fungus. Be patient, because the treatment of nail fungus is a long and financially expensive process. An overview of the best techniques on how to effectively treat onychomycosis at home especially for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise the treatment of the problem with an antifungal drug of oily and varnish consistency. At the initial stage, such a remedy for toenail fungus is what you need.
Effectively fights lesions, showing tangible results after just seven days. The medicine is applied daily to the nails at home, after cleaning the nail surface from the previous layer of medicated antifungal varnish or oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior in effectiveness.
They are more suitable for the complex treatment of fungi, together with oral drugs for the treatment of various forms of candida or their prevention. Oral medications, or internal use, are very effective for fungi.
These remedies are great for treating yeast infections. However, if the case is neglected enough, only a combined treatment regimen, including lotions, gels, ointments and other nail treatments, can help at home.
In the case of a severe lesion, you will need to seek help from a surgeon. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to lime and treat it at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Modern methods include temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser removal of fungi. Remember that in addition to the desired elimination of the disease, you will encounter damage to the skin under the nail plate.
Alternative recovery
Traditional medicine is always ready to offer a natural analogue in the fight against any problem. To treat nail fungus at home, you can:
- Iodine.
- Garlic.
- Vinegar.
- Celandine.
- Coffee.
- Onion.
- Soda.
- Laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice a day to the surface of the nail plate and the surrounding skin will dry out and destroy the growing spores. A well-established way of treating fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a folk recipe that saves you from many troubles, and nail fungus is no exception.
Wipe your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will notice the first dramatic changes. 250 ml of vinegar is enough for 4-5 liters of water. You can pour a bowl of cold water and add apple cider vinegar and keep your feet there for a while. In addition to fighting the fungal infection, this method is excellent for dealing with excessive sweating of the feet and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it.
Reviews say that vinegar is also used as a component of a therapeutic compress. It is necessary to mix a glass of vinegar with a chicken egg and 150 ml of butter. The obtained mushy mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning it is applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treatment of fungus with celandine is as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the liquid squeezed from the plant to the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start the manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee can fight the spread of fungus? You can win the battle against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Make a strong drink, wait for it to cool down to an acceptable temperature and put your hands or feet down for a few minutes. Improvements will not wait long for you. After ten procedures, there will be no trace of the fungus.
Some kind of mask made of chopped onion and a teaspoon of honey works wonders and saves from fungus in a couple of days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and the surrounding area, cover and leave for several hours. You can say goodbye to the symptoms of the fungus after a week of daily use.
For children who have itching from a yeast infection, baking soda comes to the rescue. Such gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but also for pregnant and breastfeeding women. One teaspoon of baking soda is one tablespoon of water. The affected area is treated with this mass at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. You're still a sweet spot for a yeast infection, because you haven't had time to fully recover from onychomycosis. Competent preventive measures now play a key role.
The use of antibiotics increases the risk of developing yeast infections, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also lead to fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help to avoid the active spread of yeast.
Remember that you must not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding area from fungus. This means that general cleaning is necessary. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you come into contact with.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than consulting a professional. Do not self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe you this or that medicine, and also, with a high probability, will recommend some of the folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is varnishing to hide imperfections. Know that you will only make the situation worse. Covering up the flaws doesn't solve the problem that needs treatment.
A good prevention against infections is regular hand and foot baths with mint broth. You can also add string, chamomile and other herbs.
The fungus is contagious, so tactfully inform your family members about the problem so that they will be more attentive to themselves and take care of their health. The preventive methods described above will be more appropriate than ever in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Which one to give priority to, only the doctor will tell. Do not cause fungus.It is better to work with folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not put yourself in a serious condition, do not paint the fungus with varnish, do not ignore the disease. After the transmitted fungus, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infection in the future.