Fungal diseases of the skin and nails are contagious, as a result of which the infection of a healthy person occurs through contact with the patient. Nail and skin fungus is a very common disease, although many are unaware of the infection.
After all, the disease manifests itself not in the stage of development, but in the stage of exacerbation, when the patient has symptoms of the disease. The disease is very serious, so immediate treatment is required, otherwise a general skin infection may occur. What is nail fungus, what are the symptoms of its manifestation, as well as the features of treatment at home, we learn from the material.
What is a dangerous mushroom
Fungus on the skin and nails causes great damage to the body, so the disease should be treated as soon as possible to avoid serious consequences. What are the consequences of a fungus?
The main danger of fungal diseases is that the parasites cause complications of serious diseases such as diabetes, bronchial asthma and allergies. Fungal infections on the skin help to destroy the epidermis and nail plates (often the big toes). As a result, inflammatory processes in the skin, pus, delamination of nail plates and discoloration of the skin are observed.
In addition to causing complications, the fungus also helps reduce immunity. Against this background, the penetration of fungal infections into the internal organs and their defeat is observed. The release of toxins by many types of parasites causes poisoning of the patient's body not only from the outside but also from the inside.
Mushrooms also affect a person's well-being. Untimely treatment causes the disease to spread throughout the body when it reaches vital organs. Physical discomfort creates a jealous attitude in the patient, so the person does not pay attention to himself, and sometimes even finds a way out of alcohol.
A fungus is a disease in which the skin is slowly purulent, starting with the feet. If you do not fight a dangerous disease, it will gradually kill its "victim". There are many different ways to fight fungal infections with the help of both medical and folk remedies. Today we will focus on the main and effective means of treating nail fungus.
Symptoms and signs of appearance
To start treating toenail fungus, you need to make sure that the infection is in your body. The fungus is dangerous because it is invisible to the human eye, but it can be eliminated with the help of special preparations.
It is very easy to become infected with a fungus. It is enough to visit a sauna, a bath, a gym, a swimming pool or other similar establishments with a 95% chance of infection. If you do not follow the rules of hygiene and use third-party items, shoes or towels, you can be sure that the first signs of the disease will soon appear. Symptoms of the disease in the legs do not appear immediately after infection, for example, with a cold.
After contact with a person's skin, the fungus begins to actively multiply and spread. As a rule, the duration of such parasitic movements lasts from several weeks to a month. If the patient's immune system is weakened, then the fungus affects the skin and nails fairly quickly, and the first symptoms appear within a week. If the body is able to fight the infection, then the first signs of the disease may appear even after a month.
The first stage of the disease passes without the slightest symptoms, except for increased sweating of the feet and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Later, the fungus on the nails manifests itself as the first signs of discoloration of the nail plates. At the same time, the feet dry quickly and begin to peel. First, small cracks appear on the heels, and then large scars. The person begins to complain of constant itching and redness of the feet and toes. Very often the disease manifests itself with peeling of the skin between the toes.
Symptoms in the form of persistent diaper rash of the legs lead to the formation of itchy blisters and corns. First the color of the nails changes, and then the shape. The first fingers are mainly affected, located on the edges, ie the thumb or little finger. Fungal spores penetrate deep into the nail plates and infect them. The nails first begin to whiten, then turn yellow and wear out. The nails begin to crack, become brittle and fragile. Gaps of dirt form under the nail plates and infection of the fingers occurs.
If you find the first signs of the disease, you should consult a doctor immediately to begin proper treatment. In the early stages, mycosis can be treated with special ointments, creams or traditional medicine, but if the disease progresses to an acute stage, the doctor can not avoid surgery, which decided to remove the nail plate.
Mycosis can be complicated by eczema or psoriasis, so you should not avoid such consequences, you should take appropriate measures immediately. With the development of complications of mycosis, not only the deterioration of general well-being, but also problems with the legs are observed. The patient has difficulty moving, and with prolonged walking, a person feels severe pain in the legs. We will learn more about how to treat toenail fungus, as well as what medications are available to combat the disease.
How to treat
Fungal mycosis is often treated at home. In toenails, an advanced form of mycosis is treated with surgery when the nail plate cutting procedure is performed under local anesthesia. This method of treatment is rare, but there are people who are not in a hurry to treat mycosis.
There are many types of medications available for both local and general treatment. Recently, a method such as pulse therapy, which involves the implementation of therapeutic methods in a short time, has become popular. For treatment, antifungal drugs are used in certain doses, depending on the stage of mycosis.
If the disease is in its early stages, how can nail fungus be treated? To get started, you should visit a dermatologist who will make an accurate diagnosis and determine the appropriate method of therapy based on factors such as the type of fungal pathogen, skin type and degree of pathology.
Fungal treatment between the toes involves the use of special suspensions. The suspensions treat not only the affected areas of skin between the fingers, but also all the gaps. The toes are wrapped in a plastic bag to speed up the effect.
How to treat nails for mycosis? Special varnishes, creams and ointments are mainly used for this purpose. These products are applied to the skin underneath, not to the nail plate. To do this, you need to remove the affected areas of the nail plate, which allows you to process inside the finger. Treatment of nail fungus at home is often carried out with the help of complex therapy in the form of both local and general remedies. This allows you to eliminate the disease as soon as possible and with greater efficiency.
It is important to know! If the nails affect no more than 50% of the area, then you can cope with the disease with the help of special ointments.
If the use of the ointment does not bring positive changes within two weeks, you should change the ointment or inform your doctor. Most likely, the fact is that fungal parasites develop drug resistance. Means for growing a new nail in place are used for up to 1 year longer.
Drug treatment is essential, so if a doctor prescribes this or that remedy, his recommendations should not be ignored. Folk remedies are an additional method to combat the fungus, which also has a high effect.
Home treatment
Treatment of nail fungus at home is carried out using drugs. Let's look at some of them.
- The antifungal drug in the form of nail polish, based on cyclopiroxolamine, should be applied daily to the affected area. Damaged areas should be removed with a knife or nail file. The duration of use of the varnish for the treatment of fungi depends on the stage of the disease.
- Medical varnish applied according to a certain scheme: once every two days for a month. In the following month, treatment includes the use of varnish every third day. The treatment continues until the nail plate is completely restored.
- The drug is presented in the form of a serum based on rye enzyme filtrate, designed to combat pathogenic parasites. The serum not only effectively fights parasites, but also prevents their further development in this area. The serum is intended for long-term treatment of the disease, so the minimum course is at least 28 days. The serum is applied twice a day, while preparing the nail plate for the procedure.
- Therapeutic product with urea, ginkgo biloba extract and beeswax is designed to remove growths and affected nails. The solution contains a whole complex of various additives, as a result of which not only the removal of the nail plate is ensured, but also the growth of a new one. The agent is applied in a thick layer on a pre-prepared plate. Avoid contact with skin, as this may cause minor burns.
- A drug from the group of allylamines known to many people. An ointment is used to treat various stages of fungal exacerbations. The ointment is used twice a day, after cleaning the nail plates.
- Allylamine ointment is used in 2 single applications. Disinfects skin and nail areas, resulting in recoveryThe duration of treatment is not more than 2 weeks.
- A widely used spray for the treatment of mycosis and onychomycosis.
- Ointment from the group of azoles, which has a fungicidal effect, relieving the symptoms of mycosis. The ointment should be applied twice a day and the course of treatment lasts up to 4 weeks.
- An effective drug belonging to the class of allylamines, which helps to eliminate not only the symptoms of mycosis, but also pathogens. The cream has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. The duration of treatment can be up to 6 months.
If the means for the treatment of nail fungus do not have the desired effect, the use of oral medications in the complex is prescribed, for example:
- A synthetic antifungal drug of the triazole group can even treat the symptoms of older types of fungi. The drug is used once a week and the course lasts no more than 30 weeks.
- Triazole derivative. It is excellent for managing the symptoms of advanced disease. The duration of the course of treatment is at least 3 months, for which there is a special scheme for the purchase of capsules specified in the instructions.
The fastest way
The fastest treatment for nail fungus at home involves the use of drugs from traditional medicine. Although folk remedies belong to the secondary treatment of fungal infections and onychomycosis, but if you want to get rid of the disease not only reliably, but also quickly, you can not do without folk medicine. Homemade products and ingredients such as garlic, iodine, vinegar, peroxide and lemon are excellent medicines to fight the disease.
Folk remedies for nail fungus on the big toe include the use of the following components:
- garlic.For the treatment of mycosis should be combined in equal proportions with garlic puree and alcohol. Before use, the mixture should be diluted with distilled water and then applied to the surface of the plate.
- Iodine.This folk remedy has better healing properties than any ointment or cream. For proper use, iodine should be applied to the nail plate twice a day. The use of iodine is not only effective but also safe.
- vinegar.Homemade vinegar helps to quickly treat the symptoms of fungus. For this you need to take a bath with vinegar. It is enough to take a bath for 15 minutes for the symptoms of mycosis to begin to disappear within a week.
- Hydrogen peroxide. In the early stages of the disease, you can use peroxide, which is taken in baths. Soak your feet in a solution of water and peroxide for 15 minutes. You can repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Lemon.Lemon is useful not only for nutrition, but also for the treatment of fungi. You are required to cut a slice of lemon and paste it on the affected nail. Then wrap with bandage and cellophane. Keep for 8-10 hours. The course of treatment lasts up to 12 days. The effectiveness has been proven by numerous reviews.
Treatment of interdigital fungi is carried out with the help of aloe juice or celandine. To do this, the affected area is rubbed with nail water, then compressed. You can prepare a solution of celandine to blow your legs.
There are many effective ways to treat the fungus, but the most reliable is to prevent the development of the disease. However, even if this happens, immediate action must be taken without waiting for complications to develop.
Reviews
Thus, we analyzed the main symptoms and treatment of mycosis of the nails. Now let's pay attention to the opinions of our readers.
- "I discovered nail mycosis not long ago, but at first I did not understand that it was a disease. I went to the doctor, he prescribed a pill and applied nail cream. I started doing all this until my mother-in-law found out about the problem. Immediately a new prescription was prescribed. There are a variety of home-made products: honey, alcohol, herbal infusions, lemon, vinegar, etc. In general, he prepared various home remedies, and I applied them only to the affected area. has already been restored.
- "I tried many different drugs, but in the end I found relief with ordinary iodine. I rubbed my nails with iodine every day, and after 2 months the symptoms of the disease began to fade from a white sheet like a pen. Sometimes if you can be treated with ordinary iodine, you do not need expensive products.
- "Wearing indoor shoes in winter and summer helped me catch mushrooms. At first, the disease manifested itself between the fingers, but I did not pay enough attention, but when the nail began to wear out, I took action. The doctor prescribed me several ointments, but I chose a cream for myself, and after 2 months I recovered.