Hello dear readers. Nail fungus is one of the most common forms of mycotic damage to the body. The disease is quite unpleasant and it is not easy to recover from it. The disease cannot be started, because this is not a cosmetic problem, but a serious pathology. But not everyone knows which approach will be correct. It should be noted right away that self-medication is not the best choice in this situation. But information about what the disease is and how to quickly get rid of nail fungus will not be superfluous to anyone.
What causes a fungal nail infection
Nail fungus, or as it is called in medicine, onychomycosis, is a disease that causes damage to the nail plates and adjacent areas by parasitic fungal microorganisms. This is one of the subspecies of mycosis. If we consider all the diseases that only the feet can be susceptible to, onychomycosis is the most common.
You can catch the infection in public places where the humidity is too high. This includes baths, steam rooms, swimming pools, beaches.
Wooden objects are widely used here (benches, deckchairs, etc. ). Due to the porosity of the wood, this fungus is difficult to kill.
In addition, doctors distinguish several risk groups. For people who belong to one of them, the probability of infection increases dramatically.
- cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy;
- after treatment with antibiotics or steroids;
It is not always possible to get rid of the disease quickly. The speed of healing depends on the type of parasite that caused it, the degree of development of the disease, the area of the lesion, the presence of complications and accompanying ailments, and the general condition of the organism.
Symptoms of onychomycosis
Nail damage from a parasitic fungus cannot go unnoticed. Symptomatic changes on the nail plates are quite pronounced and boil down to the following.
- Lost natural shine, transparency.
- The color changes. It can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, bluish, greenish, greyish.
- Surface roughness appears.
- Streaks, spots and thickenings are clearly distinguished.
- Layering is observed.
- There is an exfoliation from the nails.
- Various areas are painted and crumbled.
- The surrounding tissues may become red, swollen and itchy.
- There are sensations of pain.
- Feet smell unpleasant.
Despite all this, self-diagnosis can be difficult. At the beginning of development, the signs of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of some other lesions: trauma in the nail area.
How to quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies and medicines
You have to be realistic and understand that a fungal infection of the nails and nail area is not cured in a week. According to doctors, the healing period can last from 6-8 weeks to six months, and sometimes 8-12 months.
It depends on many factors, as well as the activity of nail growth. On the hands, this process takes place much faster than on the legs, so the medicine here comes earlier.
The best and fastest positive results can be achieved if you follow the recommendations below.
- Use various therapeutic measures in the complex. Do not rely on the effectiveness of any miracle cure. Competently combine pharmacological preparations and recipes of traditional medicine.
- Treatment should be active, but gentle - aggressive agents, which are often used for therapeutic purposes, should not affect healthy areas of the body that are in close proximity to the affected.
- Strictly adhere to hygiene requirements so that the fungus does not spread, also to avoid re-infection soon after healing. And the probability of that is very high.
- Pay attention to the dryness of the affected extremities. Remember that humidity and heat are ideal conditions for the active reproduction of fungi.
- Remove all the causes that caused the appearance of onychomycosis and eliminate them.
- Every day, gently, but as much as possible, cut off the growing edge of the nail affected by the disease. If possible, go through the procedure of laser exposure, which very effectively inhibits the pathological activity of pathogens.
Pharmacological means
Agents that act against pathogens are usually divided into three subgroups depending on the active components. Each of them has external ointments and tablets with a general effect on the whole body in their arsenal.
It should be remembered that the latter have an extensive list of side effects. Therefore, you should not prescribe medication yourself. To reduce the risks, you need to undergo an examination, identify which types of fungi caused the disease and act with "targeted" drugs.
Subgroups of antimycotic drugs
- Azole agents. They are based on triazole or imidazole, as well as on their derivatives. Depending on the concentration, they exhibit fungistatic or fungicidal action. They are effective against mold and yeast-like fungi.
- allylamine agents. Active ingredients can be terbinafine, naftifine, butenafine. They are able to stop the growth of fungi, and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Other drugs. They act on the basis of additives flucytosine, morpholine, griseofulvin, chloronitrophenol. They are characterized by narrower activity aimed at certain types of fungal pathogens.
External resources
At the beginning of the development of onychomyctic lesions, only ointments should be used. Only if they prove to be ineffective, the application of tableted antimycotics is introduced.
Difference between cream and ointment:
- have a direct effect on the lesions;
- they have fewer contraindications;
- adverse reactions are limited.
If the disease is caught at the beginning of its development, then it will be possible to cope with it within a month.
The most popular anti-fungal creams and ointments
- Grease zinc. It allows you to relieve inflammation, dry the affected areas, get rid of itching, get an adsorbing effect.
- Clotrimazole. Broad spectrum substance. Duration of use - from 2 weeks to six months. It also has an antiseptic effect. It can cause drying of the skin, burning, allergic manifestations on the skin. Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, as well as small children under the age of three.
- Naftifin. It fights inflammation, has an antimicrobial effect. The agent tends to accumulate on treated surfaces. Use the ointment no more than twice a day. The tool is not used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Use of tablets
In order to ensure a systemic effect on the whole body, the doctor prescribes oral tablets. A wide range of drugs are prescribed.
- Substances fluconazole, medoflucon. It is enough to take only once a day. The product is well tolerated. In rare cases, intestinal disorders and body rash may occur. The course of treatment can be 1-4 weeks.
- Substances orungal, sporanox. It can be used for pulse therapy. The drug is not prescribed for kidney failure, pregnancy, hypersensitivity to the drug. It can cause allergic reactions, dizziness, hypokalemia, abdominal pain.
All medicines against toenail fungus should be taken only after consulting a doctor.
How to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies at home
First of all, you should strictly adhere to all medical recommendations, do not skip taking medication and bring the treatment to an end, and do not stop the course after eliminating particularly disturbing symptoms.
In addition, you need:
- use local bathrooms regularly;
- apply a specialized varnish that blocks the spread of fungi and also has a therapeutic effect;
- daily remove protruding parts of the growing nail, which is affected by the disease;
- use special means to soften the nail plate to remove it;
- steam your hands or feet before using external topicals;
- take measures to prevent the infection of households.
Special varnishes
Varnishes have a number of advantages. The active ingredients penetrate well deep into the affected nails, but at the same time harden and leave no traces on clothes, bedding, shoes.
The hardened layer reliably blocks the flow of oxygen to pathogens, which blocks their activity. But varnish products are effective only in the initial stage of onychomycosis.
Before using varnishes, resort to using a warm local bath. Soaked boards affected by the fungus are cut as much as possible, treated with a file or other grinding device. Dry the surface
The varnish is also recommended for covering healthy nails. The procedure is repeated every evening for a long period - from several months to six months.
Help from a surgeon
Both part and the whole plate can be removed. But it is not a guarantee of complete freedom from the disease. The probability of further spread of the fungal infection is very high.
After surgery, the finger heals for a long time. In addition, suppuration may develop. A newly grown nail can be deformed. A preferred alternative to such a method is laser therapy.
After the surgical removal of the damaged nail formation, special emphasis is placed on treating the fungus with drugs. In some, particularly severe cases, the growth zone can be removed, after which the finger will remain "bare" - the nail will no longer be able to grow.
Traditional medicine
Alternative methods are slower than medical ones, but have fewer side effects. They can only be effective in treating the early stages of the disease.
Later, folk recipes are used exclusively in combination with pharmacological preparations as auxiliary measures.
Such drugs are used to treat nail fungus.
- Garlic. Apply garlic paste in the form of applications on painful nails. A fixing bandage is placed on top. Repeating the procedure is practiced every evening. You can also use squeezed garlic juice in an equal mixture with alcohol. Nails are treated with the resulting balm twice a day.
- Vinegar. Acetic acid acidifies the environment, which inactivates pathogens. This tool lubricates damaged nails every day. You can use vinegar compresses. To do this, cotton balls are moistened in vinegar and fixed on the desired fingers on the affected area. The compresses last all night, they are removed in the morning.
- Peroxide. Like vinegar and other similar products, apply directly to nails or cotton swabs. Peroxide acts as an antiseptic.
- Alcoholic solution of iodine. I can cover the nail plates, including healthy ones, 1-2 times a day. In addition, the addition of iodine is suitable for any bath. To do this, just add a few drops of the product.
- Tincture of propolis. It can be used for lotions as well as injected into topical hand or foot baths. Compresses are left on the nails overnight. You can prepare an ointment, which is a mixture of propolis and butter. The composition is applied to gauze and placed on the desired area. The product is left for 10 hours.
- Remedies for vegetable burns. For the treatment of onychomycosis, onions or horseradish are suitable. They have antimicrobial activity. Herbal products are used in the form of porridge. You can also make a sort of salve by mixing liquid pomace with butter or rendered chicken fat.
- Essential extracts. These agents have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerative effects. Fir and some other oils can be used to prepare local baths or as part of dressing mixtures.
The essential extract is mixed with Vaseline in a 1: 1 ratio. It should be rubbed into the damaged nail plates. As always in such cases, the remedy will have a stronger effect if the nails are first evaporated.
What is a fungal nail infection?
Fungal nail infectionsalso known asdermatophytic onychomycosis. The initial fungus that affects the skin of the feet is a common infection of the skin of the feet, especially between the toes. On the skin of the feet, the original fungus lives in the keratin that forms the outer layer of the skin. When the fungus spreads to the nail keratin,fungal nail infection.
What causes yeast infections?
Mushroomsspreading from the feet (known as"dermatophytic fungi"), cause most fungal nail infections. Less commonly, nail infections are caused by other types of fungus, usually fungi (egCandida) andmold.
These fungi tend to attack nails that are already damaged, because the fungi enter more easily. Fungal infections of the toenails are very common (1 in 4 people can be affected at any time), toenail fungus is less common. Both types are most common in the elderly, people with a weakened immune system, and people with diabetes and poor peripheral circulation. A warm, moist environment helps fungi grow and cause infection. Wearing tight shoes or using showers, bathrooms or changing rooms can increase the risk of fungal infections.
Are they hereditary?
Absolutely not. However, in some extremely rare cases there is a genetic risk factor, and other family members may also be susceptible to the infection.
What are the symptoms of a fungal nail infection?
There are usually no symptoms at first. Later, the nails may thicken and become painful when pressed against the inside of the shoe. Then it is difficult to trim them. The sight of an infected nail, especially a toenail, can be unpleasant. A damaged nail can ruin socks and tights, and it can also tear the adjacent skin. Nearby skin may also have a fungal infection; it may itch, crack, blister, or appear whitish, especially between the toes.
What do nail fungus infections look like?
Nail fungusit usually starts at its free edge and then spreads along the side of the nail to the base of the cuticle. Eventually, the entire nail may be affected. Infected areas turn white or yellowish, become thickened and scaly. Less often, there may be white inclusions on the surface of the nail. The nails on the big toes and little toes are the most susceptible to damage from fungal infections. Sometimes, especially for those who regularly do wet jobs, such as housekeepers or cleaners, the skin around the nail becomes red and swollen. This is called paronychia and can allow infection to easily enter the nail.
How are fungal nail infections diagnosed?
Fungal nail infectionsusually diagnosed clinically. Your doctor may take a piece of the infected nail and send it to a lab to see if the fungus can be seen under a microscope or cultured. Repeat samples may sometimes be required.
Many nail problems can only be seenfungal infection, - for example, changes seen in psoriasis after a bacterial infection or an old injury, but antifungal tablets will not help. Proper treatment may depend on which fungus is causing the problem; it may take several weeks to achieve results.
Can nail fungus infections be cured?
Yes. However, for successfultreatment of fungal nail infectionlong-term treatment is required, which can last up to a year. Nails are easier to handle.Fungal nail infectionsit usually recurs, especially on the toes.
How can fungal nail infections be treated?
Fungal nail infectionsthey are not bothersome in themselves, not everyone needs treatment. Some people with infected toenails don't worry about them at all. In this case, they can sometimes be left alone (although the patient must be careful and try not to spread the infection to other parts of the body and nails, as well as to other people).
On the other hand, ifinfected nailscause discomfort or discomfort, they are usually treated. It is important to treat people whose infections can cause serious health problems, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system, to prevent potentially serious health problems.
The aim of the treatment is to get rid of the fungus: then the nail usually returns to normal. However, if the nail is damaged before it becomes infected, it will be more difficult to clean and may return to its original state.Nail infectionscaused by mold and yeast can be very resistant to treatment.
Treatment options include:
Nail treatment (local procedures)
Treatments applied to the nails do not work as well as oral treatments. They are most effective if the infection is in an early stage. The most commonly used methods are nail polish based on amorolfine, ciclopirox and tioconazole solution.
They may not be able to clean the deeper parts of the infected nail on their own, but regularly removing the damaged part of the nail with scissors or sanding can help. Oral medications, used in combination with an antifungal agent, increase the chances of a cure. They may need to be used for 4-12 months before an effect is noticed.
Forhand nail infectionsshorter course of treatment. The cure rate with only local treatments is around 15-30%. Local treatment is safe. Redness and irritation may occur.
Before starting to take the pills, the doctor must send part of the nail to the laboratory to check if the diagnosis of fungal infection is confirmed.
Substances available for use in the treatment of fungal nail infections include:
- The substance griseofulvin has been used for many years and is the only one of the three drugs licensed for use in children. It is fully absorbed only with fatty foods (such as milk and dairy products) and usually requires long treatments (6 to 9 months for fingernails and up to 18 months for toenails). However, only about three-quarters of infected fingernails and one-third of infected toenails clear up. Frequent relapses are also possible.
- The substances terbinafine and itraconazole have now come a long way from griseofulvin. They work better and much faster, although only about 50% of nail infections are cured. Terbinafine should be considered a first-line treatment for dermatophyte fungi (ie, those affecting the feet). It is taken daily for 6 weeks for nail infections and 12-16 weeks for foot infections.
- The substance itraconazole is effective in the treatment of dermatophytes; it is also useful for treating other fungi such as yeast. It is usually taken in periods - one week each month - because it is absorbed into the nail cuticle and continues to work for several weeks. Two weekly courses lasting 21 days are usually sufficient for nail infections and three for finger infections.
- The substance fluconazole can be effective for Candida fungal infections. It is not currently licensed for fungal nail infections. It appears to be less effective than itraconazole and terbinafine, but remains an alternative for intolerance to these two drugs.
- Other procedures
Laser and photodynamic therapy can be helpful, but are less effective than the topical and systemic treatments listed above.
Herbal products are also promoted fortreatment of fungal nail infection, but there is no convincing evidence that it is safer or more effective than standard treatments.
Are there any side effects from the treatment?
Oral treatments are more likely to cause side effects than topical treatments.
Terbinafine sometimes causes a potentially very severe allergic reaction, can slightly worsen the condition of the skin, and sometimes affects the taste buds.
Itraconazole is not indicated for people who are already taking certain medications. Your doctor will inform you about this. Both terbinafine and itraconazole can affect the liver, and your doctor may order blood tests to check this before and during treatment.
Although griseofulvin is the only licensed drug for children, many dermatologists prefer to use terbinafine because it is much more effective.
How do I know if the treatment is working?
The new nail will slowly grow from its base and it may take 6 months to a year after the treatment is completed before the nails look normal again. Foot infections disappear faster and more completely than toenails; it can take up to 18 months for the foot to fully recover.
Surgical removal of nails
Sometimes very thick nails that do not respond to tablets alone can be removed by surgeons under local anesthesia, but this is rarely done because the degree of success of treatment does not justify surgery.
Self care
- Keep your nails short, dry and clean. Use one clipper for infected nails and another for normal nails.
- Don't just treat your nails; use an anti-fungal cream to treat the skin of the feet.
- Avoid trimming your cuticles, either by yourself or by a manicurist, as this increases the risk of nail damage and infection.
For a fungal infection on the toes:
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit well without high heels or tight socks.
- Keep your feet dry, wear cotton socks and change them daily and use breathable shoes. Regular washing in hot water cleans most contaminated socks, but can be made more effective by using an antifungal spray before washing. Other clothing generally cannot be contaminated.
- Maintain foot hygiene, including treating any infections.
- Wear clean shower shoes when using the communal shower.
- Pay special attention to the hygiene of affected feet.
- Consider seeking help from a podiatrist if thickened toenails make walking uncomfortable.
Prevention measures
The risk of re-infection with the fungus after the removal of the disease is very high. Therefore, you must clearly follow the simple rules:
- monitor foot hygiene;
- get rid of the shoes, towels and socks you used during the treatment;
- avoid sharing such things with other family members;
- avoid excessive foot moisture, use talcum powder;
- treat the inner surfaces of the shoes with antiseptics.
Do not forget, take all medicines for nail fungus after consulting a doctor.