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The best treatment for toenail fungus

Mycosis is a disease that is easy to acquire but difficult to treat. This is due to many factors. Pathogenic microorganisms adapt quickly to changing conditions and get used to the active ingredients of drugs. They are able to be on different surfaces for a long time. They multiply quickly and are conquering more and more new areas. They literally penetrate the hot records and penetrate deeper and deeper. Treatment of nail fungus should be carried out comprehensively in compliance with all regulations. Otherwise, you may face a situation where the symptoms begin to pass, but everything quickly returns to its original position.

yellow toenail with fungal infection

How can you get onychomycosis?

According to statistics, the infection most often occurs as follows:

  1. Personal contact with a person suffering from a fungus;
  2. Personal items: washcloths, towels, shoes;
  3. When visiting saunas, beaches, showers, sports clubs;
  4. With a pedicure with instruments that have not been disinfected.

Infection can occur anywhere people go barefoot. When a person with mycosis has walked the floor, the scales of their skin remain on the surface. When they get to healthy nails, a pathological process begins. A similar route of infection occurs when using other people's personal items. Fungal microorganisms develop particularly actively in warm places with high humidity. That is why they usually accumulate in saunas, baths, baths.

Even if a fungus got on the nails, it does not mean the outbreak of the disease. The body's defenses are sufficient to fight infections. However, there are factors under the influence of which the fungus is introduced and spreads more actively. If they are present, the risk of discovering this disease on your own increases many times. Take these factors into account:

  • Wounds and cuts on the feet, microcracks typical of dry skin - all of these are gates for infection;
  • A weakened immune system;
  • Taking antibiotics that change the acidity of the feet;
  • Bad hygiene
  • Sweating of the feet;
  • Metabolic problems;
  • Diabetes;
  • AIDS;
  • Obesity.

The factors that provoke the development of the disease can be:

  • Lack of personal slippers when visiting public places;
  • Use someone else's shoes;
  • Use of dense synthetic materials;
  • Ignoring the need for regular bath disinfection;
  • Lack of adequate foot hygiene.

Based on these observations, methods for preventing mycosis can easily be derived.

Damage to the toenails with fungus

Symptoms

Signs of the disease will only become visible when the fungus is already in a moderate stage. However, it is possible to determine the disease in the first stage. To do this, you just need to carefully monitor the condition of the nails. The following symptoms should alarm:

  1. Peeling feet;
  2. The appearance of white spots on the nails;
  3. Mild itching;
  4. Dry feet.

With these signs, it is better to see a doctor. They are not specific and it is therefore easy to mistake one disease for another. The symptoms of the later stages will be much more pronounced:

  • The nail loses its natural shine, becomes cloudy;
  • The plate takes on unnatural colors: yellow, green, blue;
  • The nail begins to crumble, flake off, becomes much more brittle;
  • The plate begins to detach from the nail bed. Before that, there are spaces between him and the bed;
  • The nail structure changes. Thickening occurs. The nail can be bent, growth pathologies are observed;
  • The disease spreads to the skin. An inflammatory process develops on them, which is manifested in the release of pus and redness.
  • The space between the fingers becomes peeled off, cracks appear;
  • Itching and burning worsen;
  • An unpleasant odor occurs.

In the most advanced stages, the fungus severely destroys not only the nails, but also the skin. Abscesses can occur. All of this causes severe discomfort and interferes with a normal lifestyle.

Damage to the nails with advanced fungal infection

Is mycosis dangerous if left untreated?

An untreated disease brings the following problems:

  • The appearance of infectious complications;
  • The occurrence of severe allergic reactions;
  • Causing exacerbations of various diseases, including diabetes mellitus;
  • The defeat of internal organs by fungal microorganisms.

In the latter stages, the disease is very uncomfortable. Pus appears, cracks appear. It hurts to walkA distinctive smell is created. All of this makes it difficult to lead a normal life. In addition, pathogens enter the bloodstream and can affect the entire body. This is extremely dangerous and can be handicapped or even fatal.

Treatment depending on the stage of the disease

Nail fungus has several stages depending on the extent of the lesion. The therapy methods are 90% stage-dependent. Consider the features of treatment depending on the stages of development of the disease:

  1. Stage 1.You can find good reviews on the medical solution. It works well in the early stages of the disease. The solution is used to treat diseased nails twice a day. Before processing, it is recommended to do a hot bath for the feet, trim the nails and process them with a file. The cost of the solution is about 500 rubles. The advantage of the solution in the form of a solution is its instant absorption and quick action;
  2. Level 2.The loose part of the nail is removed with scissors or a nail file. A healing solution is applied in the cavity and on the entire surface of the plate. It is advisable to start taking pills. The treatment lasts about 6 months;
  3. Level 3.In this case, the lesion affects not only the plate, but also the root, nail bed, and nearby skin. Treatment is carried out with drugs with a systemic effect. It is imperative to see a doctor, since you can not get rid of an advanced stage without the help of a specialist.

The success of the treatment of nail fungus is determined by the regrowth of a healthy plate on which there are no signs of damage.

Treatment of toenail fungus

Basics of mycosis treatment

How do you cure toenail fungus? Therapy is carried out using two groups of means:

  • Local preparations.Used in the first and second stages of the disease. Can be combined with systemic drugs. This category includes varnishes, solutions, ointments, gels;
  • Systemic drugs.They are antifungal drugs. These can be tablets, capsules. They stop the spread of the disease, destroy pathogenic microorganisms. They have an accumulating effect. That is, the active components of the drug remain in the integument even after the therapy has ended. This prevents relapse.

Nail fungus is best treated early. This is due to the fact that only local preparations can be used in this case. The tablets are very effective, but they are also toxic, they have many contraindications and side effects. Forbidden to take in pregnant women and children.

The use of medical varnishes

Varnishes are great for the early stages of nail fungus. You have the following advantages:

  • You don't have to use the product every day. Enough twice a week;
  • The paint dries almost instantly;
  • The tool creates a film on the surface of the nail that does not allow bacteria and additional infections.
  • The varnish is transparent and therefore not noticeable on the nails.

The characteristics of the course depend on the paint used. Their main disadvantage is their considerable cost.

Antifungal pills

Antifungal pills are needed when the mycosis has spread to more than 1/3 of the nail. A specialist should prescribe a remedy for nail fungus, since the choice depends on the type of microorganisms that caused the disease.

Almost all tablets have inexpensive counterparts. The cost of drugs varies.

Toenail mushroom tablets

Laser therapy

In some cases, nail fungus does not respond to medication. In this case, you can use laser therapy. Please note the following advantages:

  • Painlessness;
  • Effective destruction of fungal microorganisms;
  • No harm to healthy tissue;
  • The ability to cure a disease at a severe stage in just 4-6 procedures.

It is advisable to supplement the laser action with systemic drugs, as well as vitamin complexes, which are designed to strengthen the body's defenses.

Remove nail

Toenail removal is usually indicated in advanced stages of toenail fungus. Using this method on a relatively healthy plate is not recommended. Removal has the following advantages:

  1. Painlessness (removal is carried out due to the maximum softening of the plate);
  2. Curb the spread of pathological processes;
  3. Better drug penetration in the focus of the disease.

Removal can be done at home. There are special preparations for this. Removal is due to the urea content in the products. Also in the composition there are auxiliary components that stop the fungus from multiplying and have an antiseptic effect: stearic acid, tea tree oil.

Before use, the feet are steamed in a bath with a spoon of baking soda. They need to be wiped dry. Then a plaster is stuck on the integument near the nail. The product must not come into contact with the skin, as this can cause burns. The composition is applied to the nail with a thick layer, and then sealed with a plaster. The patch is removed after 4 days. If the nail does not come off, the event can be repeated.

Removal of a toenail with a fungus

Traditional methods of treatment

It makes sense to use folk techniques at an early stage. They have an additional effect. However, it should be borne in mind that these funds do not replace local drugs. Consider the most common folk methods for nail fungus:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar.Vinegar is mixed with water in a one-to-one ratio. The feet are placed in a hot bath for 15-20 minutes. The procedure is carried out daily. After that, the feet should be dried thoroughly. The effect is visible after 2 weeks. If this is not the case, the product must be replaced with another.
  • Tea tree oil.It is applied to the affected nails in its pure form three times a day. One drop is required for each plate. There are contraindications: childhood and pregnancy;
  • Fresh celandine.The plant needs to be crushed. Juice is squeezed out of the pulp. This can be done with gauze. A glass of juice is combined with a glass of 70% alcohol. The solution is infused throughout the day. Before processing, the legs are steamed. Then the infusion is applied to the plates. Processing takes place 3-4 times a day. The course lasts 10-12 days;
  • Iodine.Apply a drop of iodine to the affected area every day. Don't forget to trim the growing nail. If there is a burning sensation, you should stop the process. This effect indicates tissue burn.
  • Tea mushroom.Compresses can be made from it. To do this, a piece of the mushroom is placed on the nail. The finger is wrapped in cellophane and bandage. Then put on cotton socks. The procedure is carried out at night. In the morning, the compress is removed, the leg is washed under warm water, dead areas are removed.

What is the best treatment for toenail fungus? Folk recipes for this do not work. They can only be used as an aid. However, the main therapy should be taking pills and topical medications.

credentials

People who have had nail fungus notice the effectiveness of the medicinal solution that is convenient to use. But it should be noted that the tool must be used regularly for a long time. Without this, the mycosis will reappear immediately.

Celandine is also effective. People notice that the visible effect can be seen after just 3 weeks of use. The structure of the nail changes, signs of damage disappear. However, this is only relevant for the early stages of the disease.

You can also see negative reviews. They usually warn about drug abuse. For example, patients received severe burns when using iodine and acetic acid. Therefore, the use of these funds must be in accordance with the safety measures. In particular, the recommended dosage must not be exceeded. When a burn occurs, this indicates the start of a burn. Do not believe articles that claim pain is a healing sign. Usually this is a sign of serious processes that can leave complications larger than after a fungus.

Additional measures

Additional measures are needed to speed up treatment and prevent relapses. Let's consider the main ones:

  • Particles of the patient's skin remain on the socks and shoes. When a person is fully cured, interacting with them allows them to become infected again. Therefore, the socks need to be boiled for 5 minutes. All fungal microorganisms are destroyed in boiling water. Shoes are treated with special compounds that are available in pharmacies.
  • Vitamin complexes should be taken to stimulate the immune system.
  • All funds are used regularly during the prescribed course. Otherwise, the treatment is completely useless.

Attentive attitude towards all recommendations is the key to a quick healing.

Disinfection of shoes in case of fungal infections

Precautions

In order not to get infected with mycosis again, preventive measures are taken:

  • Before going to baths, saunas and other public facilities, it is recommended to lubricate your nails with antifungal drugs.
  • You shouldn't wear someone else's shoes.
  • You can do hot foot baths with the addition of sea salt and soda once a week.
  • It is advisable to exclude sweets from the diet;
  • Sweaty feet should be avoided.

Once a week, after a recent cure, you can use a topical antifungal or similar folk remedy. They are applied to all nails. Even if the infection recurs, it will stop quickly.

It is more difficult to protect yourself from illness when you live with a sick person. In this case, regular disinfection of the bathroom and all surfaces in the house is important. The patient should store and wash their belongings separately from other clothing. Households can use local mycoses for prophylaxis once a week.

Mycosis is difficult to treat. His therapy must be taken very seriously. At the first sign, it is advisable to consult a doctor. He scratches the affected area. After that, you can determine which microorganisms caused the disease. Based on this information, drugs are prescribed. Individual factors also play a role in the choice of medication. For example, when a woman is pregnant, pills are rarely prescribed. This is because they can enter the bloodstream and harm the fetus. Typically, nail removal is used in combination with topical treatments.