Nail fungus is medically called onychomycosis. Almost everyone is exposed to fungal spores. Most likely to be infected in public places: swimming pools, saunas, baths. But infections can also occur when you use someone else's towels, slippers, or nail accessories at home.
The skin and toenails can easily become infected. Most often, the disease occurs in people with weakened immunity. If a person suffers from chronic diseases, especially gastrointestinal diseases, and is forced to treat these diseases, suffer from stress, and work in a dangerous industry, the immunity is weakened.
fungal cause
People who take aggressive drugs such as antibiotics for a long time are at risk.
Age-related changes in the pH balance of the skin, decreased blood circulation in the extremities, toe injuries and diabetes also create very favorable conditions for the development of fungus in the body.
stage of disease development
The fungus begins to grow on the skin between the toes, where small cracks develop.
In addition, the infection spreads to the skin of the feet, causing itching, burning, throbbing, and congestion. If you don't pay attention to these symptoms, the fungus can develop and eventually affect the nail plate.
External signs of incipient leg fungus
In the initial stages of the disease, the nails do not lose their luster and remain pink, but yellow streaks and spots appear on the edges of the nails.
What does the fungus on the leg look like in disrepair?
With advanced onychomycosis in the family, it was too late to treat the fungus by any means. Toenails change structure, thicken, fall off, crumble and develop a characteristic unpleasant smell.
Changes in nail color and structure depend on the type of fungus affecting the nail. In a state of extreme neglect, the nail becomes very thick, deformed, claw-like, and then the nail plate is destroyed. The skin was flaky and the dead layers were constantly falling off.
Medicines for foot fungus
Many patients ask themselves: If toenail fungus is detected, how can it be treated at home, without removing the nail plate?After you notice the first signs of fungus, you need to see a doctor to prescribe the correct treatment.
Depending on the stage of the disease, topical preparations are prescribed: ointments, varnishes, solutions or tablets of complex action. However, the most important thing about treating fungus is discipline, as any course of treatment can last for weeks.
local application
For the treatment of nail fungus, medicinal varnishes and liquids are produced:
- Lacquers from the morpholine group.
- Varnish belonging to the oxypyridone class.
- Varnish whose active substance is a mixture of formaldehyde and enzyme proteins.
- Spray from the Allylamine group.
- Serum products based on rye enzyme filtrate are sold with disposable nail files. The kit includes a diary and templates for monitoring changes in your nails.
- Drops belonging to the class of allylamines.
- Reagents from the imidazole group are provided in the form of a kit: a waterproof patch, a dispenser and a spatula are attached to the ointment.
systemic effect
Systemic drugs are taken orally. They affect the entire body, so use them only on prescription from a doctor, taking into account contraindications. For onychomycosis, all medications are taken for several months while the nail plate changes.
- Broad-spectrum drug from the class of triazoles. Released by prescription. For onychomycosis, take within 3 months.
- In the initial stages of the disease, doctors do not recommend the use of antibiotics of the grisans group.
Traditional Ways to Treat Leg Fungus
If you have toenail fungus, traditional medicine tells you how to treat it at home. Folk remedies must be combined with drugs.
The treatment will work if, before each use, steam the legs in a hot bath for 15-20 minutes with laundry detergent or tar soap, salt or soda, and then remove the skin layer and diseased nails. nail file
If, according to the prescription, the product must be applied to the nail with a cotton swab or stick, a separate cotton swab must be used for each nail.Manicure tools must be sterilized after each procedure.
iodine
Iodine is the most popular fungal folk remedy. For nail treatment, a 5% iodine solution is applied to the affected nail twice a day for one month. Skin contact with 5% iodine solution can cause burns.
Therefore, another commonly used method is the iodine bath. Add a few drops of iodine to a bowl of hot water to change the color, then let soak for a full 20 minutes. After bathing, dry your feet and apply an antibacterial ointment.
IMPORTANT: For people with thyroid problems, iodine therapy is contraindicated!
vitriolic
Vinegar, which can be found everywhere in the home, is very effective in treating toenail fungus, as scientific research shows that the fungus is afraid of acidic environments and dies quickly. In order not to have to treat the burn, apple cider vinegar should be used, although it is not as good as 9% vinegar essence.treatment solutions:
- Put vinegar on your nails, put on cotton socks and go to bed.
- Pour 250ml of vinegar into a bowl of hot water and leave it on for 10 minutes before going to bed before applying the prescribed ointment.
ammonia
Ammonia has a disinfectant effect. Compresses are used for healing. Dilute 1 tablespoon of ammonia in a cup of warm water.
Moisten the resulting solution with a cotton cloth, wrap it around the foot, put a plastic bag and socks on it. Take this compress to bed.
Those who are uncomfortable sleeping on a bag in socks may suggest applying a 1: 1 ratio of ammonia and glycerin to the affected area. Apply the resulting mixture to nails and skin twice a day, morning and night.
hydrogen peroxide
Experts recommend the use of hydrogen peroxide in the initial stages of the disease, when the fungus has not yet deeply affected the nails.
- Dampen a cotton swab with a 3 percent peroxide solution, apply to the affected nail and leave on for at least half an hour. Afterwards, the dressing is removed, the softened skin area is cut with scissors, the nail is removed with a nail file and an antifungal is applied.
- A very effective remedy is to make a paste by mixing club soda (2 tablespoons), table salt (1 tablespoon) and hydrogen peroxide (1 teaspoon) with 4 tablespoons of warm water. Apply the mixture to your nails and cover with a bandage. 40 minutes twice a day for a month.
propolis
In addition to its useful properties, propolis has a pleasant aroma. People who are allergic to honey and other bee products should not use this product. For the treatment of onychomycosis, use propolis itself and its 20% tincture.
Apply pure propolis to the affected nails for half an hour several times a day.
Propolis tinctures are available at drugstores or you can make your own.
To make at home, pour 20g of propolis into 80ml of alcohol and soak for 2 weeks.
The resulting tincture lubricates the skin around the affected nail and compresses the nail itself.
If the fungus is running, you can increase the concentration by pouring in a 1: 1 ratio of propolis to alcohol.But in this case, compresses should be performed only on the nails, and the skin must be protected with a cream to avoid burns before the procedure. In addition, tincture of propolis can be added to the bath, steaming the legs before using the medicine.
asphalt
Birch tar is obtained by boiling birch bark in a special boiler. To treat nail fungus at home, you can buy tar at the pharmacy. It is anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and dries out the skin more than the drugs listed above.
Apply the tar to the skin and nails for two hours. The skin may be damaged with cracks and abrasions, but this is not dangerous. After two hours, remove residue with a cotton swab, apply moisturizer, and put on socks. Cons of this product include dark color and strong unpleasant smell which makes it difficult to use this product before going out.
Tar has a drying effect, so people with dry skin should use it with caution.Using tar soaps in addition to pure tar also works well.
For compresses, rub soap on a grater, mix with water, you can also add baking soda. The resulting paste is applied to the nails, the fingers are wrapped in a film, and a sock is placed on it. After a few hours, the compress can be removed and the residue washed off with warm water.
lemon
Lemons are a reasonable solution for fungus as they are afraid of acids.
- A squeeze of lemon slices is the easiest way to deal with the fungus in its initial stages. Apply sliced fruit to nails, cover with film, put on socks and leave overnight.
- Small lemons can be worn on fingers like a hat, secured with a bandage and left overnight.
- Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to your nails morning and night. It's important to remember that lemon juice is highly acidic, so people with sensitive skin may find it irritating. You can also mix lemon juice with olive oil and apply this mixture to your nails.
Egg
Raw eggs are also used to treat fungus. A common folk recipe is to dissolve eggs in vinegar. To do this, pour the washed eggs into the vinegar essence so that it is completely covered.
Seal the container and store in a cool place for a few days, but not in the refrigerator, until the crust is completely dissolved. This usually takes about a week. The egg film is removed from the solution, and the liquid itself is mixed with a fat, such as butter.
The resulting ointment is applied to the diseased nail and wrapped with a film.A mixture of chicken egg whites, vinegar essence, and vodka can also help.Egg products should be stored in the refrigerator.
garlic
It is necessary to use garlic very carefully to treat fungus, because the juice of garlic can cause burns.
On the affected area, you can use pure gruel and garlic juice, or an alcoholic tincture diluted with vegetable oil. For making a 50ml Garlic Tincture. Vodka needs 4 cloves.
Celandine
As a systemic treatment for toenail fungus, use celandine alcohol tincture. At home, an alcoholic tincture is prepared at a ratio of 1 part celandine to 10 parts vodka.
It's important to remember that celandine is highly toxic, so it should be treated with more caution than with other herbs.
Take 20 drops of wine tincture orally half an hour before meals. People with bronchial asthma should not take celandine orally. Effective is the topical application of celandine. Nails affected by onychomycosis can be lubricated with fresh celandine juice. At the same time, the juice should not come into contact with healthy skin, as it can cause severe burns.
To prevent burns, you can lubricate the skin around the nail with cream. A milder remedy is celandine oil, but it should also not be used on damaged skin. Celandine oil is available at the pharmacy or you can make your own.
For this, the collected plant stems, leaves and flowers are sun-dried, placed in glass containers and poured with an equal amount of warm vegetable oil. After keeping the container in a cool place for a week, filter the oil and dilute 1: 1 with vegetable oil.
rowan
An effective remedy is to compress fresh rowan leaves. The leaves are washed, crushed, and the resulting slurry is applied to the affected nail and covered with a bandage.
The results of this treatment will be visible within a month.
tea tree oil
Essential oils are widely used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Tea tree oil is considered the most effective for nail fungus. You can simply rub it onto your nail plates, or add 15-20 drops to a tub of steamed legs. The best results are when tea tree oil is used in the initial stages of the disease.
tea mushroom
Kombucha is a symbiont of acetic acid bacteria and yeast. It was introduced from Japan, so people also call it Japanese mushroom or jellyfish mushroom. Kombucha is grown in lightly sweetened teas.
If you keep a mushroom in a container for several weeks, it will grow and the liquid will carbonate and develop a sour taste.Bacteria secrete acid and even ethanol. Therefore, kombucha is effective in treating fungus in the home.
Separate a small piece from the top layer, put it on your nails, cover with plastic wrap and go to sleep. In the morning, remove the dressing and clean the softened part of the nail and skin. Repeat the pressure until a healthy nail grows. You can also rub kombucha on your nails and grind it into a gruel.
Golden Beard Tincture
Golden beard has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Golden Beard Tincture is easy to prepare at home.
For this, 50 plants are poured into 2 glasses of vodka and steeped for 10 days. Apply in the form of a compress.
longevity
Common names for this houseplant are home healers or flower of life. It is well known for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. To treat nail fungus, remove the skin from fresh kalanchoe leaves, apply to the nails, secure with tape and leave overnight.
In the morning, remove the compresses and use a nail file to remove the softened areas of the nail. Repeat the process until the nail plate is completely renewed. If a burning sensation is felt, the compress must be removed to avoid an allergic reaction.
lilac
Alcoholic tincture of lilac, preferably white, prepared in the proportion of half a cup of flower for every glass of vodka. After 2 weeks, the tincture is ready. Rub into nails daily until healthy nails grow.
peppermint salt
One of the main symptoms of fungus is itching. The cooling effect of peppermint can relieve this. A combination of chopped fresh mint leaves and kosher salt works well.
Also useful are mint leaf baths that are brewed, dried, and salts dissolved in infusions. For 2 liters of infusion, you need 4 tablespoons of salt. Such baths should be performed 2 times a day.
poplar buds
A tincture of fungi from poplar buds contributes to vodka. For this, one cup of poplar buds is poured into two glasses of vodka and left to steep for 10 days in a dark place. Apply tincture compresses at night. In the morning, cut off the softened part of the nail.
soda
Baking soda is a base that does not kill the fungus, but it perfectly softens the nail plate and the skin of the feet, allowing subsequently applied methods to penetrate as deeply as possible. For this, it is necessary to take a bath with a hot soap-soda solution before using the remedies prescribed by the doctor or traditional medicine.
Afterwards, the softened layer of the nail or skin may be removed and the medication applied to those areas. Soda alone does not produce effective results.
white
Whiteness is a bleach known to housewives.The main ingredient is chlorine. This tool is highly corrosive and must be used with care.
The room where the surgery is performed must be well ventilated. Under no circumstances should pregnant women and nursing mothers use this remedy.
Also, do not use this medication on asthmatics, allergy sufferers, and anyone who has inflamed or damaged skin around the nails.
Apply the agent to the nail plate with a cotton swab. This product is for use on nails only, contact of Whiteness with skin can cause severe chemical burns.
To protect the skin around the nails, you need to apply a rich cream. Wash the product off after a few hours. Whiteness is used only in the most neglected situations, when other methods are no longer useful.
Garden Horseradish
Horseradish has antiseptic properties. To treat fungus, apply freshly grated horseradish root to the affected skin and nails, previously steamed in hot water, wrapped in foil and put on a sock. Keep the compression on for at least two hours.
Vodka
Most of the folk remedies mentioned are in the form of alcoholic solutions. Ethanol is a disinfectant.
coffee
In addition to the beauty effect, coffee also has a therapeutic effect and is also used to treat onychomycosis. Need to brew very strong coffee, let it brew for half an hour or so.
Then brew coffee diluted with hot water. After steaming the skin, the affected areas of the nails and skin must be removed with a nail file, and then the remaining coffee grounds should be applied. A coffee bath strengthens nails and improves skin condition.
Official and traditional medicine offers many remedies for the treatment of fungi. To be successful, it is necessary to start acting at the first symptoms of the disease, especially if the skin and toenails are affected.
The sooner you start treatment, the better it will work at home. Nail fungus treatment requires patience and discipline, as all described remedies must be applied for weeks or even months until the nail plate changes.