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 this is something distant and it will never affect you, no matter how it is.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of planet Earth suffers from a similar ailment.
How to be among the lucky 9 and not earn such a discomfort in the 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 remedy for toenail fungus? Proven methods of fighting with antimicrobials 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. Often the infection is confused with non-fungal deformation, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to shed some light on this point through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but the cunning infection is difficult to influence, returning with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors among the main causes of the appearance of the disease on the hands and feet distinguish the following:
- Warm humid environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on the hands and feet. It is highly recommended to thoroughly dry wet shoes, use socks made from natural materials.
- Reduced immunity. Sometimes walking barefoot is enough to catch an infection. A course of vitamins, hardening and a reverent attitude to your own health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores, so easy to infect in common areas. Entering the cavities between the nails and fingers, they can lie dormant for a long time, suddenly awakening and spreading with an instantaneous speed of defeat. In no case do not try and even more so do not wear someone else's shoes. Danger can await you in the pool, sauna, bathroom, fitness center shower, etc.
- Construction. Especially true for lovers of extravagant manicure. 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 settles firmly and harbors, causing an injury. Doctors recommend doing the extension procedure no more than once every 6 months, so you are more likely to avoid a fungus on your hands.
You can determine the fungus on the hands and feet at home, knowing the symptoms of the problem. The nails will begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become brittle and thin. They will begin to tear not only at the edges, but also over the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape will begin to deform, the structure will become scaly.
At first, it can be seen that the luster and elasticity have disappeared. Blackening often occurs, which should definitely alert you. Such a common problem as internal growth under the skin can also be a symptom of a fungus.
Against the background of infection, the digestive organs can also suffer, in particular dysbacteriosis is observed, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness and decline in immunity are characteristic. In children it is easy to recognize a fungal disease by the itchy sensations between the toes. The skin around the nails and on the feet can turn to blood, causing pain. Frequent skin 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 fungus on the hands and feet. Be patient, as nail fungus treatment is a lengthy and financially expensive process. An overview of the best techniques on how to effectively treat nail fungus at home just for you.
Most likely, your doctor will recommend treating the discomfort with an oily, lacquered antifungal drug. In the initial stage, such a cure for toenail fungus is what you need.
It effectively fights injury, showing tangible results after just seven days. The drug at home is applied to the nails daily, after cleaning the surface of the nail from the previous layer of varnish or antifungal medicinal oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior to them in terms of effectiveness.
They are more suitable for the complex treatment of the fungus, combined with oral remedies aimed at treating various forms of candida or preventing them. Oral drugs, that is, internal use, are very effective for fungi.
These drugs are great for treating fungal infections. However, if the case is sufficiently neglected, only a combination treatment regimen, including lotions, gels, ointments, and other nail treatments, can help at home.
You will need to seek the help of a surgeon in case of a serious injury. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to calcine it and treat it at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Among modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser fungus removal are recommended. Remember that in addition to the desired elimination of the disease, you will encounter skin damage under the nail plate.
Alternative recovery
Traditional medicine is always ready to offer a natural analogue in the fight against any problem. To cure nail fungus at home, you can:
- Iodine.
- Garlic.
- Vinegar.
- celandine.
- Coffee.
- Arch.
- Drink.
- Laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice daily to the surface of the nail plate and surrounding skin will dry out and destroy the growing spores. An established way to treat mushrooms is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a popular recipe that saves you from many problems, and nail fungus is no exception.
Clean your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will notice the first dramatic changes. For 4-5 liters of water, 250 ml of vinegar is sufficient. You can pour a bowl of cold water and add apple cider vinegar and keep the legs there a little. In addition to fighting a fungal infection, this method does a great job of dealing with excessive foot sweating and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it.
Reviews say that vinegar is also used as a component of a therapeutic compress. You need to mix a glass of vinegar with a chicken egg and 150 ml of butter. The resulting porridge-like mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning it is applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treating the fungus with celandine is as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the liquid squeezed from the plant on the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start handling again.
Did you know that coffee can cope with the spread of fungi? You can win the battle against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Make a strong drink, wait for it to cool to an acceptable temperature and lower your arms or legs for a few minutes. The improvements won't keep you waiting long. After a dozen procedures, there will be no trace of the fungus.
Some kind of mask of chopped onion and a spoonful of honey works wonders and saves from the fungus in a couple of days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and the surrounding area, cover, leave for several hours. You can say goodbye to fungus symptoms after a week of daily use.
For children suffering from itching from a fungal infection, soda comes to the rescue. Such a gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but also for pregnant and lactating women. One teaspoon of baking soda is one tablespoon of water. The affected surface is treated with this mass at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, don't rush to rejoice. You are still a tidbit for a fungal infection, since you have not yet had time to fully recover from suffering onychomycosis. Competent preventive measures now play a key role.
Using antibiotics increases the risk of developing fungal 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 the yeast.
Remember that you need to not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding space from fungi. This means that general cleaning is imperative. 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 drug, and in addition, with a high probability, will recommend something from the folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is a varnish coating to hide flaws. Know that doing so will only make the situation worse. By masking the flaws, you are not solving the problem that requires treatment.
A good preventive measure against infections are regular hand and foot baths with mint broth. You can also add twine, chamomile, and other herbs.
The fungus is contagious, so tactfully inform your family members about the problem so they are more self-aware 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 preference to exactly, only the doctor will tell. Don't start the mushroom.It is better to do with folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not bring yourself to a serious condition, do not paint the fungus with paint, do not ignore the disease. After the transferred fungus, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infection in the future.