Treating toenail fungus with folk remedies is a long process, which may take 1-4 months. At the same time, it is very likely that the disease will recur after a period of time. This is because the microorganisms that cause this condition are highly infectious and their spores spread in the environment where the infected person lives.
What is toenail fungus
The fungus on the nail plate of the toe is an infectious disease with a chronic course. It is caused by the pathogen (fungi) infecting this part of the limb. In medical terms, this pathology is called onychomycosis.
is considered to be a common disease that is difficult to treat with all types of therapies.On average, every 10 residents will suffer from toenail fungus. The disease may transform into a complex form that completely affects the entire surface of the nail plate, causing it to separate and deform.
Toenail fungus
Using folk remedies to treat toenail fungus is a long process, and positive results can be achieved after 1-3 months. Start with treatment. The type of fungal disease is also very important, and its development leads to complete or partial damage to the nail plate.
The following table shows the types of toenail fungus and a description of the pathological process:
| Types of onychomycosis | Disease characteristics |
| Eutrophication | The color of the nail plate changes. Streaks and irregular spots may appear. At the same time, the usual luster of the nail, the transparency of the plate and its normal thickness are retained. It is considered a non-serious type of disease and responds well to treatment with traditional medicines. |
| Mast | The nail color changes, loses luster and transparency. The gradual deformation of the nail plate develops with the destruction of the edge. Part of the nail may fall off the bed. The degree of deformation of the plate directly depends on the insemination of the tissue by pathogenic microorganisms. |
| tranquilizers | When the deformation phase of the nail plate is completed, it is an atrophic disease. The tissue of the nail will fall off, eventually causing it to drain from the base of the bed. |
Dermatologists use this species diversity classification of onychomycosis.
In addition, according to clinical symptoms, diseases are divided into:
- Distal-nail plate damage occurs only from one side of the free edge;
- Side-nail damage develops on the side;
- Proximal-fungal disease will destroy the tissue afterwards;
- Total-The fungus completely affected the entire nail from the root to the front.
The type and form of the disease are determined by the specialist when examining the patient. Based on the results of the examination and diagnosis, a treatment plan is selected. This applies to medical treatment methods and folk remedies.
Stages and extent of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus is a folk remedy that requires long-term treatment and is a chronic disease. Onychomycosis develops for months, sometimes even years. It depends on how strong the patient’s immune system is and the type of infectious pathogen.
Each stage of the disease is characterized by the gradual deterioration of the health of the affected tissues, namely:
- The first stage-the color of the nail plate along the edge gradually changes, which may form white, gray or yellow shaded streaks and spots. There is no other painful signs of this disease at all (people feel strong and disturbing from the toesUnpleasant yeast smell);
- The second stage-onychomycosis progresses, covering the entire area of the nail plate, and its structure begins to change from the edge of the bed to the bottom of the bed (the color of the diseased tissue is completely yellow or gray, with any signs of transparency);
- The third stage-the final stage of the development of toenail fungus, which is characterized by complete necrosis of the affected tissues, which will deform and be rejected by the body (the appearance of local inflammation caused by the peeling of the nail plate from the skin). The bottom of the bed ispossible).
The last stage of the disease is the most serious form of onychomycosis. After the nail is removed, its reformation occurs, but in this case, healthy tissue has formed. If a person does not take measures to treat skin diseases and remove pathogenic microorganisms, then new nails will also be infected and destroyed by fungal diseases.
Toenail fungus symptoms
Toenail fungus is a disease with obvious symptoms. It needs to be treated with folk remedies, which requires the regular use of homemade decoctions, tints and ointments.
Onychomycosis in this part of the body can be identified by the following symptoms:
- Redness of the epithelial tissue surrounding the nail plate;
- White spots or stripes appear on the side of the nail and the side of the front. These spots or stripes will not disappear during the machining or watering process;
- The nail plate will gradually change its color and lose its transparency (the pathological process develops from the edge of the tissue to the center and root);
- Fungal microorganisms penetrate deep into the nail plate, destroy its structure, and cause its deformation;
- The nails on the affected area are yellow wrinkles.
- are mechanically acted on the affected tissues and they are separated from the nail bed (this process may be accompanied by painful symptoms and the secretion of ichor at the base of the nail, and is connected to the epithelium and soft tissue of the toe).
All of the above symptoms are accompanied by a persistent pungent and unpleasant smell, which is similar to yeast but more pronounced. The signs of the disease appear even before the external symptoms begin to develop, indicating that the tissue of the nail plate is gradually being destroyed.
Causes of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus, its folk remedy is based on the principle of systemic use of household medicines. Without the influence of many factors, it cannot develop on its own.
Onychomycosis may be infected in the following situations:
- Because of visiting public showers, bathrooms, steam rooms, swimming pools, saunas, if a person does not use a single rubber slippers, they will come into contact with the surface where there are live fungal spores;
- Several people wear shoes together, and one of them has fungal lesions on the nail plate;
- Poor hygiene, occasionally washing feet;
- The presence of accompanying diseases such as diabetes, varicose veins and foot deformities, as local immunity decreases or nutrient media is created to increase the population of fungal microorganisms, increasing the risk of toenail fungus;
- The quality of the shoe sole coating is poor, does not allow air to pass through and does not absorb water, which ultimately leads to the fact that the toes are always wet; If a person with onychomycosis lives in the same living conditions, the open part of the foot or nail is in contact with the floor surface of the apartment
- .
A person’s immune status plays an important role in the development of this disease. People with strong immunity can avoid infection and further damage the nail plate. A warm and humid environment is ideal for fungal microorganisms, so this information should be considered when visiting beaches and other crowded places.
Diagnosis of toenail fungus
Fungus on toenails is an infectious disease that requires careful diagnosis. This folk remedy can only be started after a detailed examination by a dermatologist. This is necessary in order to establish fungal microbial strains and then choose treatments that are effective in specific situations.
In order to diagnose onychomycosis, the patient must undergo the following examination stages:
- A preliminary examination conducted by a dermatologist to check the appearance of the diseased plate and evaluate the condition and degree of deformation of the tissue; Smear from the surface of the epithelium located around the nail bed (biochemical analysis of fungal microbial strains and possible secondary bacterial flora);
- Under the conditions of the laboratory operating room, experts select some of the affected tissues in order to study fungal microorganisms in more detail and rule out the simultaneous existence of several types of fungal diseases;
- In addition to the toes, the skin surface of the feet is inspected to ensure that the fungal disease is localized and there is no sign of spreading to other parts of the lower limbs.
Based on the results of external examinations and laboratory examinations, the attending physician diagnosed the patient as onychomycosis or denied the existence of pathology.
Diagnosis takes 1 to 3 days on average. In public hospitals, the services of biochemical laboratories are free, but the conditions for studying biological materials may take up to 7-10 days.
When to see the doctor
Once you find signs of nail fungus development, you should immediately consult with your dermatologist.Delay can lead to worsening symptoms and extensive damage to the nail plate.
In addition, people with onychomycosis are carriers of fungal infections, and spread the spores of pathogenic microorganisms in the daily environment of their residence without realizing it. In this case, it is not ruled out that healthy family members are infected with onychomycosis.
Prevent toenail fungus
It is possible to prevent the toenails from being contaminated by fungal infections, but for this, simple preventive rules must be followed every day, which will protect the lower limbs from pathogenic microorganisms.
The following is recommended:
- Please do not visit public baths, swimming pools, saunas, shower rooms or wear rubber-soled shoes on your feet;
- Only wear high-quality shoes made of genuine leather;
- Follow the personal hygiene rules, wash your feet and socks with warm water and soap every day;
- Insist on treating family members who have toenail fungus symptoms but let the condition progress and do not seek medical help;
- During the summer vacation, in the open water near the beach, you can only walk with shoes, and avoid contact between the epithelial surface of the feet and toes with sand, river silt or mud;
- Only wear your own shoes;
- Make sure that there are no mold growing areas in the apartment or private house (the walls are damp, the fungus infects the old wooden floor, the skirting board, the corner wallpaper is black).
In order to prevent fungal nail infections, it is recommended to pay special attention to strengthening the immune system.
For this, you need to take a daily contrast shower, give up bad habits, exercise, eat a reasonable diet, and only eat biologically significant products (cereals, chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs), Cheese, milk, cheese, sea fish).
Treatment of toenail fungus
The treatment of onychomycosis is carried out using traditional medicine, traditional medicine formula, and also through surgical intervention. Each of these methods is effective at a specific stage of disease development.Medicines
The treatment of fungal infections is to use antifungal drugs.
Antifungal drugs can only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Only an expert with this characteristic can determine which specific drug is effective in a specific clinical case. In addition, when formulating a treatment plan, consider the collected laboratory research data of deformed or altered nail samples.
Traditional method
There are some traditional medicine recipes that can help you get rid of fungal toenail infections without the use of medicinal preparations. For this, please use the following compressed, homemade ointments, tinctures and other methods:
Kombucha compression
To prepare this folk remedy, you need to buy kombucha or grow it at home. Cut off a portion of this ingredient with a knife and place it on the surface of the infected nail. This procedure is executed at night before going to bed. Kombucha is fixed on the finger with adhesive plaster. The treatment time is not limited by time.
Onion juice tin agent
You need to take 1 medium-sized onion, chop it with a knife, and pour 1 teaspoon. granulated sugar.
In the future, medicines will be placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours. During this time, the chopped vegetables managed to release a sufficient amount of juice to be injected and used as medicine. Wipe the diseased nails with onion juice 3-4 times a day for 3 months or until fully recovered.
Disinfectant
This product is prepared at home by mixing 1 teaspoon in equal proportions. Boiling water, ethanol and garlic pulp. Mix all the components until a uniform mass is formed. The resulting solution is used for the disinfection of nail plates at least twice a day. The treatment lasts at least 3-4 months.
Salt paste for fungi
An effective antifungal agent, easy to make at home. For this, you need to consume 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1 tablespoon of table salt. l. Collect honey from herbs and mix all the ingredients. The result is a honey-based ointment with a high concentration of mineral salts.
Apply the product to the nail plate once a day. It is best to perform this procedure at night. During the course of treatment, it is necessary to observe preventive measures, do not let household medicine contaminate the skin around the nail bed, and protect the mucous membrane of the eyes.
Use self-made ointment until the diseased nail falls off and further forms a healthy plate. Alternative therapies are indeed effective, but the only disadvantage of using alternative therapies is the schedule of treatment.
The use period should be at least 3 months. The initial form of fungal infection of the nail plate on the foot can be eliminated within 2 months. In this case, the treatment process should be continuous. Even skipping a process can worsen the health of the tissue.
Other methods
Another treatment for fungal nail infections of the lower extremities is surgery. This method includes the fact that the attending physician removes the deformed nail plate.
Generally, the procedure is performed as follows:
- The patient comes to the operating room independently, and then lies on the sofa or sits in a chair.
- A nurse injected local anesthetic into the finger, and the nail was affected by onychomycosis.
- After the anesthetic starts to work (5-10 minutes later), the surgeon uses tweezers to tear off the nail plate of the affected area. ＜Sterilization treatment of the surgical area, using suture materials and sterile dressings.
After completing the surgery, the patient was transferred to his surgical ward, where he received further treatment with antifungal drugs. The average duration of complete healing of the wound site is 7 to 10 days. Within 1 month. A new nail plate will grow out, and as long as the treatment process is arranged properly, there will be no signs of fungus.
Possible complications
In the absence of measures designed to cure fungal nail plates,may cause the following complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- The nail plate is completely deformed and is further separated from the bottom of the bed;
- The fungus spreads on the surface of the foot between the toes to the healthy skin tissue on the surface of the foot, and the disease transitions to the nails of the upper limbs and the groin folds;
- Onychomycosis infections of other family members who have not had fungal diseases before (children are the most vulnerable because their immune systems are weaker than those of adults);
- The loss of nails and the termination of the new plate formation process, because the abundance of infectious microorganisms initially destroyed its structural integrity.
Folk remedies can be used to treat toenail fungus, but this requires the greatest effort and takes at least 3 months. time.
The main danger of onychomycosis is that the fungal microorganisms that damage the nail plate are highly infectious and quickly adapt to new environmental conditions and the action of active pharmaceutical ingredients.This is why the disease should be treated as early as possible to prevent it from turning into a complex or chronic course.