Toenail fungus-how to treat it. For what reason, what means are effective

14 March 2021

Have you noticed cracks between your toes? Do your feet keep itching? Did your toenails suddenly lose color and start to deteriorate? These symptoms should not be ignored because they may indicate a fungal foot infection. This disease is by no means uncommon; it is especially common among military personnel, professional athletes, and pool visitors. What makes us very regretful is that fungal skin lesions have been treated for a long time and are very difficult, and at the same time it has brought great discomfort to its "owner". What you need to do to avoid contracting this disease and how to deal with it after the acquisition: We will introduce you to all these situations in this article.

Causality: Toenail fungus comes from

Of course, the fungus itself does not "stick" to healthy people's legs for no reason. Several types of fungi are considered classic, that is, they affect the largest proportion of patients. All of these are collectively referred to as "onychomycosis". This group may include Candida fungus spores, dermatophytes or Trichophyton, the latter of which has several subspecies, which are located on different parts of the feet and nails.

At first glance, such a difficult name represents an extremely unpleasant infection that penetrates the "settlement" under the nail or the bottom of the finger or the area under the finger. The most wonderful environment for fungal spores is the moist and warm folds of human legs. It is here that they feel real comfort and continue to develop, thereby expanding the affected area.

So, what causes toenail fungus?

Without proper hygiene, fungi can multiply and affect most areas of the feet. At the same time, their spores are very capable of reaching the surface of any shoe, "settling" there and infecting one person again and again, besides him, there are those who can wear these shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are common hotbeds for disputes.
Due to excessive sweating in the legs, this is called hyperkeratosis. The inside of the shoes of military personnel, miners or athletes is usually very wet. This is caused by the increased load and stitched boots or the "impermeable" material of the boots. This environment is a paradise for mushroom spores.
Sometimes, during the pedicure in any beauty salon, the fungus will fall under the nails. If the pedicure equipment is not properly disinfected, the owner will risk bringing you fungus, which is difficult to eliminate. In the cutting process of the pedicure tweezers, if there is no special sterilization treatment, this will definitely happen.
Onychomycosis is a frequent companion of people who take antibacterial drugs or have weakened immunity. Similarly, the attractive factor for fungus on nails may be impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities, varicose veins or diabetes.
Chronic diseases in the body can affect fungal infections. There is no need to start the inflammatory process that has become chronic. Top priority.

Since mushroom spores like to moisturize and keep warm, they usually "live" in baths, public showers and saunas. This is why you need to comply with sanitary regulations in places with stagnant water, high humidity and high temperatures. Make sure to wear only the shoes you bring home from the sauna, public showers and bathrooms. Remember: if someone wears slippers in the sauna several times before you, it is likely that the spores of the fungus have settled in the porous structure of the rubber, and you are likely to get onychomycosis.

How to diagnose toenail fungus by yourself

Self-diagnosis is not difficult, because with the least important signs, you can identify the fungus at an early stage and consult a doctor. All you need to do is to regularly check the feet in the area between the toes, soles of the feet and the nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the skin condition of the feet after visiting the swimming pool, sauna, bathing or wearing other people's shoes.

The most common symptoms of fungal infections of the feet and nails are:

Cracked skin on the bottom of the toe. At the same time, the wound will not dry out, but will become wet and inflamed.
Nails with unusual shapes. The shedding, deformation or discoloration of natural marigold from the skin should remind you. In patients with onychomycosis, the nails can become very thick, too brittle, and may even collapse. At the same time, the color scale can be changed: yellow, white, gray and even black marigolds are not uncommon for this disease.
In addition, pay attention to whether there are itches, flaky spots and rashes on the feet. If they do not disappear within 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
You should also pay attention to the sudden appearance of air bubbles on the skin of your feet. They are usually located in small clusters and contain a transparent liquid inside.
A very important symptom is an unpleasant smell from the feet. If your legs have never given off a foul smell before, please do not skip this factor, as it may indicate the presence of fungal disease.

Because of these symptoms, you can independently diagnose your own fungal skin disease. If you have any questions, you should see a doctor. The doctor will conduct a special examination to confirm or deny the existence of onychomycosis.

How to diagnose nail fungus in a medical clinic

Most likely, you will be asked for routine blood and urine tests to find out if there is an inflammatory process in the body. The doctor will ask you to specify which medicines you are taking and whether you have a specific disease, such as diabetes. Due to increased blood glucose levels and weight gain (usually accompanied by endocrine disorders), so-called diabetic feet often appear. This disease is characterized by calluses, corn, cracks and fungal lesions.

Laboratory analysis must be performed for the presence of fungal spores. Usually, a few days before the diagnosis, you do not need to wash your feet, and you must seal the place where the nail plate has come off with adhesive plaster. A special scratch is performed on the boundary between healthy skin and the affected area, which confirms the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when the disease recurs, the destroyed marigold particles are used for analysis. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. In a similar way, the laboratory assistant works with the doctor to determine the type of fungus and can then decide on further treatments.

Diseases of this nature are treated by dermatologists and doctors-mycologists in a narrow sense.

How to cure toenail fungus

Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never pass. Controversy is resistant to many drugs, but I can say: Fungi are considered to be one of the most tenacious microorganisms on the planet. Like mold, fungal spores may live longer than all of us.

Mycoses should be successfully treated because they spread to the surface of the skin, all large areas involved in the pathological process, and even settle in the respiratory tract, causing asthma.

There are drugs called antifungals. Like antibacterial drugs, they are usually taken by the mouth, eliminating the problem from the inside out. Because certain drugs may have many side effects, only a doctor can prescribe antifungal drugs. Certain types of drugs can only fight one or a few fungi, but there are also broad-spectrum antifungal drugs.

In order to effectively treat onychomycosis, it is suitable to use drugs with the following active ingredients:

Terbinafine,
Clotrimazole,
Ketoconazole,
Fluconazole,

Remember, only doctors have the authority to prescribe antifungal drugs. Considering the possible side effects, it is impossible to choose an antifungal drug that is absolutely suitable for all patients with onychomycosis.

In addition, special ointments, applications and creams can be used for high-quality treatment of foot fungal infections. These remedies for toenail fungus are used both in the initial stage and during operation. Depending on the damage and location of the fungus, the doctor may prescribe it. They include applying ointment to the affected area of the skin and then sealing it with a plaster. Usually keep this application overnight and carefully remove dead skin or nail particles in the morning.

The following processing options can also produce good results:

Treat with antifungal spray,
Cream or lotion
The toenails are coated with a special varnish for fungi.

Comprehensive treatment of fungal diseases, combined with ointments, antifungal drugs and other methods, can produce the most long-lasting effect. But we should not forget that the treatment of onychomycosis is a long process. In order to let you know how to get rid of toenail fungus, it is worth mentioning the fact that the nails usually fully grow out in 6 to 12 months. You should not interrupt treatment until new, healthy nails have fully grown, because sometimes spores will remain on the roots of the nails. If you stop treatment early, the disease may recur.

Folk remedies for toenail fungus

If only two or three treatment procedures are performed, and the treatment is forgotten when the clinical condition improves slightly, the treatment of fungus at home will not be effective. The course of antifungal treatment should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it can take longer to overcome unpleasant diseases. Please be patient or the toenail fungus will come back.

The main purpose of home treatment is to remove the affected skin and nails as much as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In the case of a beauty salon, a pedicureist will help cope with fungal diseases. He will use a special milling cutter with a non-coarse nozzle to remove the affected layer of the upper part of the nail, and then apply antifungal ointment to the area. At home, you are unlikely to completely remove the dead cell layer, but it is likely to soften and carefully remove it.

Toenail fungus recipe:

1 egg,
Vinegar essence 70% or 80%,
Tea tree oil, butter or olives.

Acetic acid works well against many types of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, pour the egg essence into the solution. For this, it is best to use a glass beaker. Now you need to put it in a dark place. Observe the egg: When you find that the shell is completely dissolved, take out the container and add a little oil to it (if you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops are enough). Now, you need to grind the mixture thoroughly to make the eggs into a uniform paste. The mixture needs to cover the area affected by the fungus, wrap it with plastic wrap, and wrap the foot with a bandage or gauze. It is recommended to leave the compress for several hours, and then cut off the steamed marigold. With regular use, diseased nails can be almost completely removed, and the fungus can be eliminated forever.

Toenail fungus: folk remedies

If you want to beat onychomycosis by yourself, it may be a compress made of multiple ingredients (for example, garlic, horseradish or kombucha) that can help you. Just steam the legs before applying to prepare a steam bath for them.

Soda water or potassium permanganate solution is considered the most effective. Both ingredients have a bactericidal effect, which can perfectly clean and disinfect the skin and toenails. Taking a shower is simple: pour hot water into a basin, then pour soda water at a rate of 1 tablespoon. l. 3 liters of soda water. Potassium permanganate powder must be added carefully so as not to burn the inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or purple; light pink water is sufficient. We lowered our legs into the bath and enjoyed it for about 1 hour. Dry your feet. Now you can perform other operations.

Chop horseradish or garlic and place it on a fine grater or squeeze it through a juicer. Wrap up the lump with a piece of gauze or bandage and apply it to the affected area. Leave the compress overnight, remember to wrap plastic and wear warm socks. Kombucha has the same effect, you will need a small amount-a small piece, and it must also be applied to the affected area of the nail.

Prevent foot fungus-how to avoid fungal spore infection

As a preventive measure to prevent onychomycosis infection, you should follow some simple rules:

Use your own shoes to visit the swimming pool, shower, sauna or steam bath. Try not to walk barefoot in such a place, especially when the skin is even slightly damaged.
Do not lend shoes and foot hygiene products (such as pumice stones or household pedicure brushes) to strangers.
In order to never think about how to get rid of toenail fungus, please change your underwear, socks or tights more frequently. Your health depends on it.
When pedicure, please check whether the owner has disinfected his equipment. In some salons, there is a service to buy your own pedicure tools. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infections.
Don’t forget that to prevent calluses, corn and blisters, you should wear loose shoes to avoid movement. Remember: if there are no cuts, cracks or scratches on the surface of the skin, fungal spores are unlikely to invade you.