The question of curing nail fungus is asked by many, but not everyone chooses the right solution to the problem and turns exclusively to traditional medicine. Using homemade products can sometimes be helpful, but it’s better to trust professionals and not experiment with your own health.
Another misconception is the assumption that nail fungus is not a serious disease that needs to be treated immediately, but this is far from the case. Fungus or onychomycosis occurs in connection with the spread of bacteria on the horny plate, and if they are not prevented from spreading, the infection penetrates all the surrounding tissues and the body. In this case, you don’t have to decide how quickly the nail fungus heals, but how to save your limb and overall health.
How the fungus manifests itself
In the initial stage, it is much easier to cope with the infection. It is possible to avoid the use of special therapeutic agents and prevent the destruction of the nail, which leads to the complete or partial removal of the horny plate.
In principle, anyone can pay attention to a fungal infection who pays attention to their feet and takes regular care of their toes. This is evidenced by the following signs:
- Appearance of areas other than the natural color of the nail. What changes will be depends on the type of infection. These can be light stripes or brown, yellow "dots". The development of other shades is likely, which may be due to finding out the cause of such changes;
- Fragility. If your nails are crumbling, peeling, it’s most likely time to decide how to cure your nail fungus. In some cases, fragile nails are caused by other diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and malnutrition, so specialist consultation will not hurt you anyway;
- Deformation of the horny plate. The growth of bacteria, the lack of treatment leads to a significant modification of the nail, it is noticeably deformed. Not only does the appearance of the foot deteriorate, but there is also discomfort when walking in shoes;
- Itching, pain in the affected area;
- Bad smell. It is very undesirable to bring the condition of the nails to the stage when a certain smell is already coming out, there are signs of bloating, inflammatory process. Such symptoms may not only indicate that it is time to cure the nail fungus, but may also take measures to save the body from the spread of the infection.
The signs have different manifestations depending on the development of the nail disease, which led to the proper classification of mycosis lesions:
- Section 1. An initial grade that can only be recognized by a very attentive person or a specialist dermatologist. Minor color changes, slight itching possible;
- Section II. The nail may deform, the color will change, and the stratum corneum will be partially destroyed. It is still possible to cure nail fungus without surgery, but the delay only exacerbates the situation;
- Section III. It is one of the most advanced stages of fungal infection. It is no longer necessary to treat not only the nail, but also possibly the surrounding tissues as well as the root itself, as at this stage the infection is very deep. Various inflammations, peeling, etc. They can become accompanying factors. It is very dangerous to bring the condition of the feet to such an advanced state, as the treatment requires significant physical and financial costs and there is no guarantee that the restored nail will be smooth.
What can be the treatment of foot fungus
Modern drugs on the market for drugs for different types of infections allow for effective home treatment of the fungus. Depending on the stage, type and extent of the infection, it is possible to select the optimal drug.
In addition, certain drugs have a complex effect, their use not only solves the problem of nail fungus healing, but also how to stimulate cell regeneration and accelerate healing.
The following subgroups can be distinguished from the many actively advertised, positive or simply recommended medicines for nail diseases:
- Lucky. It is recommended to use the varnish as an additional treatment, for example during periods when it is not possible to use an ointment, compress or other external device. There are varnishes that contribute to the gradual exfoliation of the affected area, which is needed for better penetration of the active ingredients to kill the infection. The main advantage of varnishes is the ability to cover the fungus, as a decorative varnish can be temporarily applied to the medicinal varnish. An overview of such solutions is controversial, it is not recommended to use the varnish in the advanced stage;
- Drops. The solutions are applied to the cleaned nail or even after removal so that the active ingredients penetrate the site of infection. It is prescribed in conjunction with other medications if the nail suffers significant damage;
- Ointments and creams. The most varied selection of medicines are ointments and special creams. They differ not only in their efficiency, their complex effect, but also in their goods. The active ingredients, concentration and possible side effects are listed as part of each medicine. As different bacteria (yeast, dermatophytes) can provoke the fungus in the type of effect, the methods of treatment with them should be chosen accordingly. There are ointments and creams with a complex effect, ie their use is allowed for various infections. The ointment, along with blocking the spread of the infection, can help improve healing. The purpose of such drugs is varied, ranging from the advisability of using them to nail removal to the usual prevention. In this regard, it is better to visit a specialist before use, get acquainted with the reviews, read the instructions carefully in order to get rid of the fungus in the near future;
- Adhesive plaster. It is mainly used for partial or complete nail removal. In advanced stages, such a procedure is required because it is impossible to restore the diseased nail. The patch is impregnated with special materials that slowly dissolve the stratum corneum affected by the infection. After several applications, it is sufficient to clean the nail from the peeled particles and apply a medical ointment. All of this is easy to do at home;
- Oral preparations. If the infection has not only spread to one nail, but there is a risk of infection in the body, it is advisable to use special medications. In practice, such treatment is primarilyStage is prescribed. In addition to antifungal suspensions or tablets, a vitamin-mineral complex can also be prescribed to maintain whole body functions and enhance immune properties.
In addition to home treatment, you can also get rid of the fungus with hardware. These include laser therapy, cosmetic procedures, combined with the use of solutions to eliminate the source of infection, to restore the nail in a natural way.
You can choose a medicine to treat the fungus that appears on your nails alone. This is facilitated by the media, advertising in pharmacies, advice from a pharmacist, and internet reviews. In order not to be mistaken, the best solution is to consult a doctor. But even in this case, you can ask about alternative treatment, as there are complex funds with a similar composition, but significantly different in cost, that affect the disease.
If the drug is chosen correctly, the improvements will be noticeable after a while. When pulsation, redness appears, onychomycosis is already progressing in other areas, unpleasant odor becomes noticeable, you should contact a specialist immediately. In such cases, further self-medication can be dangerous.
Traditional medicine in the fight against nail fungus
A few decades ago, there were no universal cures for the complex treatment of fungi, there was no way to learn about drugs, and then mainly recipes from traditional medicine were used. Iodine was particularly popular, which is still an excellent preventive solution against the spread of infections of various origins. Among the most common methods of curing mycosis at home are:
- Hot baths. The solutions are made of various components, but their activity is primarily aimed at softening and disinfecting the affected area. Good effect is achieved with sea salt, diluted vinegar, celandine, weak potassium permanganate bath. Each of the options has a certain effect, there is a possibility of allergic reactions. Often, after such procedures, it is recommended to clean the nail mechanically (with a special brush, pumice stone), to use iodine or a special medical antifungal drug;
- Vinegar. It is believed that the vinegar solution copes well with such lesions, the point being to dilute the suspension in an appropriate proportion and not to burn the already damaged tissue;
- Compresses. Various products are used for such processes. It is a baking powder that is diluted with water, potatoes, garlic, chopped onions, aloe leaves, mouthwash, mountain ash and so on. In such experiments, you need to understand a number of serious consequences, including acquired allergies, burns, or the most harmless result - no effect;
- Essential oils, herbal decoctions. Essential oil, especially tea tree oil, is a natural disinfectant. It can be used during the treatment period and as a preventive or cosmetic treatment for the feet. Marjoram, eucalyptus oil are also used;
- Salicylic acid can be used to fight onychomycosis, but mainly in the early stages of the development of the lesion.
The feasibility of using home-made drugs at home is controversial. Because for some, such a treatment ends successfully, while for others, not only the nail but also health in general leads to long-term healing.
Preventing nail fungus or how not to infect others
Knowing certain rules will help reduce the risk of an unpleasant nail infection and protect your loved ones and other people from infections once the issue of treating mycosis is decided.
The basic rules for fungal control and prevention are as follows:
- Regular hygiene, individual washing facilities;
- Use of special slippers in public places (saunas, swimming pools);
- Strengthening the immune system. The weakened body is unable to fight the infection and the infection spreads;
- Cleaning and periodic disinfection of shoes, especially if the feet often sweat in them;
- The cleanliness of the stockings, they should be changed daily, natural fabrics should be preferred;
- Wipe your feet thoroughly after water treatments, high humidity provokes fungal growth;
- Use only your own shoes and clothes;
- Periodic disinfection of a pedicure or manicure device and of course only their individual use. If we compare office offices, special sterilizers are used for these purposes;
- Proper foot care. It is necessary not only to regularly clean the feet with special tools, but also to nourish the skin of the feet and nails. If possible, you should visit beauty salons where professional nail care, horny plates and further nourishment of the skin are performed.
These simple rules, accuracy, and attention to health will help protect you from further problems in treating mycosis. Similar rules should be followed if the disease is already being treated. This helps prevent other people from becoming infected and speeds up the healing process.
If a fungal infection has occurred, it may not appear immediately, sometimes after several months. It is important to detect the development of the focus of the infection in a timely manner and take measures to help maintain the health and beauty of the feet.