Toenail fungus, or as it is also known, onychomycosis, is a very common disease spread by contact. It is provoked by epidermophytes, which, in fact, are pathogenic microorganisms. Getting on the human skin, the fungus affects the upper layer of the epidermis on the feet and nail plate. In addition to the fact that this disease causes aesthetic discomfort, if left untreated for a long time, it can trigger the occurrence of complications.
The main symptoms of this disease
Before deciding how to get rid of nail fungus, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a symptom complex that is only characteristic of this disease. It includes the following signs:
- change the normal color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or black;
- itching between the toes, on the feet;
- nail fragility and detachment;
- irritated skin on the feet, there may be peeling, blisters or sores;
- featureless thickening and unevenness of the nail plate.
In the early stages of the disease, nail fungus looks almost invisible. After all, some people may not pay attention to slight itching and slight discoloration. But if you do not get rid of toenail fungus in time, it leads to the complete destruction of the plate. Therefore, it is very important to immediately contact a specialist when alarming symptoms appear. It will help to quickly remove the fungus and restore the nails to their former health.
Medical treatment of omnichomycosis
The use of medicines is an effective way to get rid of nail fungus quickly. Now there is a large number of drugs in different forms of release. The most common among them are:
- medical varnish - its use is effective only at the initial stage, when the fungus does not have time to spread to the growth line of the nail plate. Such funds are quite easy to use and very effectively help to get rid of the disease in a short time;
- Ointments and creams are the most common topical preparations. Using such a tool, you can remove the fungus that grows under the nails. Due to their texture, creams and ointments envelop the affected area, contributing not only to suppress the development of mycosis, but also to tissue regeneration;
- pills - unfortunately, fungus not only affects the nails, but also generally negatively affects the state of the human immune system. Drugs that need to be taken orally help to forget the disease for a long time. But it should be understood that they can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Fungal treatment with vinegar
Acetic acid will help get rid of nail fungus at home. This method is one of the most common in traditional medicine. This means that the epidermophyte dies under the influence of an acidic environment. To achieve the best effect, it is necessary to dilute the vinegar in the correct proportion with water. In the fight against nail fungus at home, an acidic solution of low concentration will be enough.
Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to clean and steam the skin of the feet. Dead nail areas and fungus should be removed with small scissors. This will allow deeper penetration of the acid. There are several ways to get rid of nail fungus with vinegar, these include:
- bath - 9% vinegar solution must be heated to a temperature of about 36-37 degrees. The affected finger is dipped in warm liquid for 15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure or rinse with water;
- compress - you need to fold the bandage several times and wet it with a lot of vinegar. Then such a compress is applied to the affected area. To achieve a better effect, you can wrap your feet with a bandage, put on warm socks and leave overnight;
- ointment - vinegar can be part of the medicine, for example, it can be mixed with vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate in equal proportions. Apply this mixture before going to bed.
In addition to the fact that the lesions are treated with vinegar, special attention should also be paid to the patient's shoes. It must be regularly wiped with a slightly acidic solution.
Fungal treatment with iodine
Iodine solution is very good for nail fungus. It has an antiseptic effect, as it is often used to disinfect the affected skin area. Also, iodine exhibits cauterizing properties, which is important to prevent further spread of infection. It is sometimes used for preventive purposes.
To understand how to treat toenail fungus with iodine, you should understand the mechanism of its effect on mycosis cells. In fact, the work of the solution is based on the coagulation (coagulation) of proteins. Based on the fact that fungal cells have a protein structure, iodine, entering the affected area, destroys it and prevents further spread. It is through this that complete healing takes place.
You can use iodine to fight toenail fungus in several ways:
- Dotted - the agent is applied directly to the focus of infection. In this case, the probability of a quick recovery is quite high.
- Bath - iodine is added to clean and boiled water, after which the feet are inflated for 10 minutes. This method can be used as a disease prevention. After all, it is easier to prevent a problem than to figure out how to remove the fungus later.
Treatment of other people
Alternative medicine is very popular nowadays. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help ease the course of the disease and ensure a quick recovery. In the fight against nail fungus, the following methods are most often used:
- tar soap - has an antimicrobial effect. For medicinal purposes, it is used by soaping the affected area. To increase efficiency, you can wear warm socks and leave them overnight;
- Tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic. This method is best used in combination with others to speed up recovery. The oil can be used for bathing, compresses or lotions;
- Garlic is a very simple, but very effective remedy. After a week of regular procedures, the results will be noticeable. For lesions should be used garlic gruel or a compress with its juice;
- celandine - usually make a bath from herbal infusion. The procedure must be repeated every two days until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely;
- kombucha - it is used as a lotion. On the sore finger, you should put a small piece of mushroom peroxide and fix it with a film. This medicine has a softening effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut the affected nail;
- the use of smoke - the sore fingers are smoked with smoke from a cotton cloth. As a result of the procedure, nails affected by mycosis fall off and healthy ones grow in their place after a while;
- propolis - used as an infusion for compresses. To prepare it, mix alcohol and grated propolis. After the mixture is infused, it is used to clean the gauze and wrapped around the sore finger.
Toenail fungus very often appears for no apparent reason. It brings significant discomfort to one's life. Therefore, you should not delay its treatment for a long time. To find out how to get rid of toenail fungus, you should consult a dermatologist. It will help you choose funds that will have a quick and positive impact.