The best treatment for toenail fungus.

Mycosis is an easy disease to acquire but difficult to treat. This is due to many factors. Pathogenic microorganisms quickly adapt to changing conditions, get used to the active components of drugs. They are capable of being on various surfaces for a long time. They multiply rapidly, capturing more and more new areas. They literally penetrate hot plates, penetrating deeper and deeper. Treatment of nail fungus should be carried out comprehensively, according to all the rules. Otherwise, you may face a situation where the symptoms begin to disappear, but everything quickly returns to its original position.

yellow nail with fungal infection

How can you get onychomycosis?

Most of the time, the infection, according to statistics, occurs as follows:

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

The infection can occur anywhere people walk barefoot. If a person with mycosis has walked on the ground, the scales on her skin remain on the surface. If they get healthy nails, a pathological process will begin. A similar route of infection occurs when other people's personal belongings are used. Fungal microorganisms especially actively develop in warm places with high humidity. That is why they tend to accumulate in saunas, bathrooms, bathtubs.

Even if a fungus has stained the nails, this does not mean the appearance of the disease. The body's defenses are sufficient to fight infection. However, there are factors under the influence of which the fungus more actively enters and spreads. If they are present, the risks of detecting this disease in oneself increase many times. Consider these factors:

  • Wounds and cuts on the feet, typical micro-cracks of dry skin: these are all gateways to infection;
  • A weakened immune system;
  • Take antibiotics that modify the acidity of the feet;
  • Poor hygiene
  • Sweating of the feet;
  • Metabolic problems;
  • Diabetes;
  • AIDS;
  • Over weight.

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

  • Lack of personal slippers when visiting public places;
  • Wearing someone else's shoes;
  • Use of tight synthetic materials;
  • Ignore the need for regular bathroom disinfection;
  • Lack of proper foot hygiene.

Based on these observations, it is easy to deduce methods for the prevention of mycosis.

damage to toenails with fungus

Symptoms

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

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

With these signs, it is better to consult a doctor. They are not specific and therefore one disease can easily be mistaken 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 hues: yellow, green, blue;
  • The nail begins to crumble, exfoliates, becomes much more brittle;
  • The plaque begins to peel off the nail bed. Given this, free spaces arise between him and the bed;
  • The structure of the nail is changing. Thickening appears. The nail can be bent, growth pathologies are observed;
  • The disease spreads to the skin. An inflammatory process develops in them, manifested in the release of pus, redness;
  • The space between the fingers peels off, cracks appear;
  • The itching and burning intensify;
  • An unpleasant odor appears.

In the more advanced stages, the fungus severely destroys not only the nails, but also the skin. Abscesses may appear. All this causes great discomfort, interferes with a normal lifestyle.

nail damage with advanced fungal infection

Is mycosis dangerous if not treated?

An untreated disease carries the following problems:

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

In the later stages, the disease is very uncomfortable. There is a discharge of pus, cracks appear. It hurts to walk. A pronounced odor arises. All of this makes it difficult to lead a normal life. Also, pathogens enter the bloodstream and can affect the entire body. This is extremely dangerous and is fraught with disability or even death.

Treatment according to the stage of the disease.

Nail fungus has several stages, depending on the extent of the injury. The therapy methods will depend 90% on the stage. Consider the features of treatment depending on the stages of development of the disease:

  1. Level 1.Good reviews can be found on the medicinal solution. It works very 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 make a hot foot bath, 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 instantaneous absorption, fast action;
  2. Stage 2.The loose part of the nail is removed with scissors or a nail file. In the cavity, as well as the entire surface of the plate, a curative solution is applied. It is advisable to start taking pills. The treatment will last approximately 6 months;
  3. Stage 3.In this case, the injury affects not only the plaque, but also the root, nail bed, and nearby skin. The treatment is carried out with drugs of systemic action. It is imperative to observe a doctor, since you cannot 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 plaque, in which there are no signs of damage.

toenail fungus treatment

Fundamentals of mycosis treatment

How to cure toenail fungus? Therapy is carried out using two groups of funds:

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

It is better to treat nail fungus early. This is due to the fact that in this case only local preparations can be used. Tablets are very effective, but they are also toxic, they have many contraindications and side effects. It is forbidden to receive pregnant women and children.

The use of medicinal varnishes.

Varnishes are great in the early stages of nail fungus. They have the following advantages:

  • It is not necessary to apply the product daily. Enough twice a week;
  • The varnish dries almost instantly;
  • The tool creates a film on the nail surface that does not allow the entry of additional bacteria and infections;
  • The varnish is transparent and therefore does not show on the nails.

The characteristics of the course depend on the specific varnish. Its major disadvantage is its considerable cost.

Antifungal pills

Antifungal pills will be needed if the fungal infection 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 is different.

toenail fungus tablets

Laser therapy

In some cases, nail fungus does not respond to medications. In this case, you can use laser therapy. The following advantages should be noted:

  • Painless;
  • Effective destruction of fungal microorganisms;
  • It does not harm healthy tissues;
  • The possibility of curing a disease in a serious stage in just 4-6 procedures.

It is advisable to complement the action of the laser with systemic drugs, as well as vitamin complexes designed to enhance the body's defenses.

Remove the nail

Toenail removal is generally indicated in the advanced stages of nail fungus. Using this method on a relatively healthy dish is not recommended. Elimination has the following advantages:

  1. Painless (removal occurs due to maximum softening of the plaque);
  2. Stop the spread of pathological processes;
  3. Better penetration of drugs to the focus of the disease.

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

Before use, the feet are steamed in a bath with a tablespoon of baking soda. They should be dried with a cloth. Next, a plaster is glued to the integument near the nail. The product should not come into contact with the skin, as this will cause burns. The composition is applied to the nail in a thick layer, and then sealed with a plaster. After 4 days, the patch is removed. 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 apply folk techniques in the early stages. They have an additional effect. However, it should be noted that these funds do not replace local drugs. Consider the most common popular methods for nail fungus:

  • Apple vinager.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 done daily. After that, the feet must be completely dried. The effect can be seen after 2 weeks. If not, the product must be replaced by another;
  • Tea tree oil.It is applied to the affected nails in pure form three times a day. One drop is needed for each plate. There are contraindications: childhood and pregnancy;
  • Fresh celandine.The plant must be chopped. Juice is squeezed out of the porridge. 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 is done 3-4 times a day. The course is 10 to 12 days;
  • Iodine.Apply a drop of iodine daily to the affected area. Don't forget to trim the growing nail. If there is a burning sensation, you need to stop the procedure. This effect indicates tissue burn;
  • Tea mushroom.Compresses can be made from it. To do this, a piece of the fungus is placed on the nail. The finger is wrapped in cellophane and bandage. Then put on cotton socks. The procedure is done at night. In the morning, the compress is removed, the leg is washed with warm water, and dead areas are removed.

What is the best treatment for toenail fungus? Folk recipes will not work for this. They can only be used as an auxiliary tool. However, the main therapy should be to take pills and topical medications.

Testimonials

People who have had nail fungus note the effectiveness of the medicinal solution, which is convenient to use. However, 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 note that the visible effect can already be observed after 3 weeks of use. The structure of the nail changes, the signs of damage disappear. However, this is only relevant for the early stages of the disease.

You can also see negative reviews. They generally warn against misusing the remedies. For example, patients, when using iodine and acetic acid, suffered severe burns. Therefore, the use of these funds must be done in accordance with security measures. In particular, the recommended dose should not be exceeded. If a burning sensation occurs, this indicates the appearance of a burn. Don't believe articles that claim that pain is a sign of healing. In general, this is a sign of serious processes that can leave complications greater than after a fungus.

Additional measures

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

  • Particles from the patient's skin remain on socks and shoes. If a person is completely cured, by interacting with him, he can become infected again. Therefore, the socks must be boiled for 5 minutes. All fungal microorganisms will be destroyed in boiling water. The shoes are treated with special compounds that can be found in pharmacies;
  • Vitamin complexes must be taken to stimulate the immune system;
  • All funds are used regularly, throughout the prescribed course. Otherwise, the treatment will be completely useless.

An attentive attitude to all the recommendations is the key to a quick cure.

shoe disinfection for fungal infections

Precautionary measures

In order not to become infected with mycosis again, preventive measures are applied:

  • Before visiting baths, saunas and other public institutions, it is recommended to lubricate your nails with antifungal varnishes;
  • You must not wear someone else's shoes;
  • You can do hot foot baths once a week, where sea salt and soft drinks are added;
  • 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 apply to all nails. Even if the infection returns, 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 her belongings separately from other clothing. Households can use local remedies for mycosis once a week for prophylaxis.

Mycosis is difficult to treat. Your therapy should be taken very seriously. At the first sign, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Take a scrape from the affected area. After that, you can determine which microorganisms caused the disease. Based on this information, medications are prescribed. Individual factors also play a role in the choice of medication. For example, if a woman is pregnant, pills are rarely prescribed. This is due to the fact that they enter the bloodstream and can harm the fetus. Nail removal is usually used in combination with topical treatments.