Many people have raised the question of how to cure nail fungus, but not everyone chooses the right solution for the problem, and only turns to traditional medicine. Sometimes it may be useful to use homemade products, but it is better to trust an expert than to try your own health.
Another misunderstanding is that nail fungus is not a serious disease that should be treated immediately, but this is not the case. Fungus or onychomycosis is related to the spread of bacteria on the keratinous plate. If they cannot prevent its spread, the infection will penetrate all surrounding tissues and bodies. In this case, you will not have to decide how long the nail fungus should be cured, but how to save the limb and overall health.
How the fungus behaves
In the initial stage, it is much easier to deal with infections. It is possible to omit the use of special treatment agents and prevent the nails from being damaged, resulting in the complete or partial removal of the keratinous plate.
In principle, anyone who pays attention to their feet and regularly cares for their toes can detect a fungal infection. The following signs indicate this:
- The appearance of areas that differ from the natural color of the nails. Changes will depend on the type of infection. These can be light stripes or brown, yellow "dots". Other shadows may be formed, which should be the reason for finding out the reasons for such changes;
- brittleness. If the toenails are chipped and peeled off, then it is probably time to decide how to cure nail fungus. In some cases, brittle nails are caused by other diseases, vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition. Therefore, in any case, consultation with a specialist will not cause harm;
- The cuticle is deformed. The growth of bacteria and lack of treatment can lead to obvious modification and deformation of the nails. Not only the appearance of the feet deteriorates, but also discomfort when walking with shoes;
- Itching and soreness in the affected area;
- Smelly. When a specific smell has been emitted, there are signs of suppuration, and the process of inflammation, it is very undesirable to bring the state of the nails to the stage. These symptoms may not only indicate that it is time to cure nail fungus, but also that measures have been taken to prevent the spread of infection.
According to the development of nail disease, the physical signs have different manifestations, which leads to the proper classification of fungal lesions:
- The first stage. Initially, only a very careful person or a professional dermatologist can detect it. The color change is small, and slight itching may occur;
- Phase II. The nail will be deformed, the color will change, and the stratum corneum will be partially destroyed. There is still a chance that nail fungus can be cured without surgery, but the delay will only exacerbate the situation.
- The third phase. It is considered to be one of the late stages of fungal infection. It is no longer necessary to treat only the nail, but it is possible to treat the surrounding tissues as well as the root itself, because the infection is very deep at this stage. Various inflammations, suppuration, etc. may become accompanying factors. It is very dangerous to bring the leg condition to such an advanced stage, because this treatment will require a lot of physical strength and economic costs, and there is no guarantee that the restored nail will be uniform.
What is the treatment for fungus on the feet
Modern drugs on the market of medical products for various infections make it possible to effectively treat fungi at home. According to the stage, type and degree of infection, the best medicine can be selected.
In addition, certain drugs have complex effects. Their use can not only solve the treatment of nail fungus, but also stimulate cell regeneration and speed up healing.
Among the many drugs that are actively promoted, evaluated positively, or only recommended for nail diseases, the following subgroups can be distinguished:
- lucky. It is recommended to use varnish as an additional treatment method, for example, during periods when ointment, pressing or other external means cannot be used. There are some varnishes that promote the gradual shedding of the affected area, which is essential for better penetration of active compounds to destroy the infection. The main advantage of varnish is that it can hide fungi, because decorative varnish can be temporarily applied to medicinal varnish. The comments on this solution are contradictory; it is not recommended to use varnish at the advanced stage;
- drop. The solution is applied to clean nails and even after it is removed, the active compound penetrates the infected area. If there is obvious damage to the nails, prescribe it with other medicines;
- Ointments and creams. The most common types of drugs are ointments and special creams. They differ not only in efficiency, complexity of actions, and price. As part of each drug, the active ingredients, concentration, and possible side effects are indicated. Since bacteria with different types of action (yeasts, dermatophytes) can excite fungi, the method of dealing with them must be selected accordingly. There are ointments and ointments that have complex effects, that is, they are allowed to be used for various infections. In addition to preventing the spread of infection, the ointment can also help better cure. The uses of these drugs vary, as they are recommended to remove nails and end with the usual prevention. In this regard, it is best to visit an expert before use, conduct a review, and read the instructions carefully in order to remove the fungus in the near future;
- band Aid. They are mainly used for partial or complete removal of nails. In the later stages, such a procedure is necessary because it is impossible to restore diseased nails. The patch is impregnated with special substances that slowly dissolve the stratum corneum affected by the infection. After multiple uses, it is enough to clean the peeled particles on the nails and apply ointment. All of these can be done easily at home;
- Oral preparations. If the infection not only spreads to a nail, but also has the risk of the infection entering the body, then special drugs are recommended. In fact, this treatment is mainly carried out in the third stage. In addition to antifungal suspensions or tablets, vitamin-mineral complexes can also be prescribed to maintain systemic function and enhance immunity.
In addition to home care, you can also use hardware to remove fungi. These measures include laser treatment, cosmetic surgery, and the application of combined solutions to eliminate the source of infection and restore nails in a natural way.
You can choose the medicine that appears on your nails to treat the fungus. The media, pharmacy advertisements, pharmacist’s advice and comments on the Internet facilitate this situation. In order not to be misunderstood, the best option is to see a doctor. But even in this case, you can also inquire about alternative treatments, because some funds are similar in composition, but the cost is very different, and the effect on the disease is complicated.
If the medicine is selected correctly, the effect will be obvious after a period of time. When there is pulsation, redness, onychomycosis has developed in other areas, and the unpleasant odor becomes obvious, and then you should contact a specialist immediately. Due to this phenomenon, further self-medication may be dangerous.
Traditional medicine fights nail fungus
Decades ago, there was no universal treatment for the complex treatment of fungi, and there was no way to find reviews about medicines, and then mainly use traditional medicine formulations. Iodine is particularly popular, and it is still an excellent preventive method to prevent the spread of infections from various sources. The most common ways to treat fungal diseases at home are:
- Warm bath. The solution is composed of many ingredients, but its role is mainly to soften the affected area and disinfect it. Use sea salt, diluted vinegar, celandine, weak potassium permanganate bath to achieve good results. Each option has a certain effect, there is the possibility of allergic reactions. Usually, after performing these steps, it is recommended to clean the nails mechanically (with a special brush, pumice stone), use iodine or special antifungal drugs;
- vinegar. It is believed that the vinegar solution can deal with such lesions well, mainly by diluting the suspension in an appropriate ratio without burning the injured tissue.
- compression. A variety of products are used in such procedures. This is a baking powder diluted with water, potatoes, garlic, chopped onions, aloe vera leaves, mouthwash, mountain ash, etc. When conducting such experiments, you need to understand many serious consequences, including acquired allergies, burns or the most harmless result-no effect;
- Essential oil, traditional Chinese medicine decoction. Essential oils, especially tea tree oil, are natural preservatives. It can be used during treatment and also as a preventive or cosmetic treatment for the feet. Marjoram, also uses eucalyptus oil;
- Salicylic acid can be used to fight onychomycosis, but it is mainly used in the early stages of disease development.
Whether it is feasible to use self-prepared drugs at home is still controversial. Because for some people, such treatment ends successfully, and for others, it not only prolongs nail recovery time, but also prolongs overall health.
Prevent nail fungus or how to not infect others
If you have determined how to treat the problem of fungal diseases, knowing certain rules will help reduce the risk of unpleasant nail infections and protect your loved ones and others from infection.
The basic rules for preventing fungus and prevention include:
- Regular sanitation and personal washing facilities;
- Use special slippers in public places (sauna, swimming pool);
- Strengthen immunity. A weak body cannot fight the infection, and the infection will spread;
- Cleaning and regular disinfection of shoes, especially when feet sweat frequently;
- The cleanliness of hosiery should be changed every day, and natural fibers should be used first;
- Dry your feet thoroughly after washing. High humidity can cause fungi to grow.
- Only use your own shoes and clothes;
- Disinfect the pedicure or manicure tools regularly, of course, only use them individually. If we are more professional offices, we use special sterilizers for these purposes.
- Correct foot care. Not only need to clean the feet regularly with special equipment, but also need to nourish the skin of the feet and nails. If possible, you should go to a beauty salon for professional nail care to supplement the keratinocytes and skin.
These simple rules, accuracy and attention to health will help protect you from further problems with fungal treatment. If the disease is already being treated, similar rules must be followed. This will help prevent others from becoming infected and speed up the healing process.
If a fungal infection occurs, it may not appear immediately after a few months. It is important to find the focal point of the infection in time and take measures that help maintain the health and beauty of the legs.