Toenail fungus, or as it is also known, onychomycosis, is a very common disease transmitted by contact. It is provoked by epidermophytes, which, in fact, are pathogenic microorganisms. Getting on the human skin, the fungus affects the upper layers of the epidermis of the feet and the nail plate. In addition to the fact that this disease causes aesthetic discomfort, if not treated for a long time, it can provoke the onset of complications.
The main symptoms of the disease
Before deciding how to get rid of nail fungus, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a symptom complex that is characteristic only for this disease. It includes the following signs:
- changes the usual color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or even black;
- itchy sensation between the toes, feet;
- brittleness and detachment of the nails;
- irritated skin on the legs, there may be peeling, blisters or sores;
- unusual thickening and unevenness of the nail plate.
In the initial stages of the disease, nail fungus appears almost imperceptibly. After all, some people may not even pay attention to a slight itch and slight discoloration. But if you don't get rid of the toenail fungus in time, it leads to the complete destruction of the plate. Therefore, it is very important to immediately contact a specialist when alarming symptoms appear. It will help to quickly remove the fungus and return the nails to their former health.
Medical treatment of omnicomycosis
The use of drugs is an effective way to quickly get rid of nail fungus. There are now a large number of drugs in different forms of release. The most common among them are:
- Medicinal varnishes - their use is effective only at the initial stage, when the fungus did not have time to spread to the growth line of the nail plate. Such funds are quite simple to use and very effectively help get rid of the disease in a short time;
- ointments and creams are the most common topical preparations. Using such tools, you can remove the fungus that develops under the nails. Due to their consistency, creams and ointments envelop the affected area, helping not only to block the progression of mycosis, but also to tissue regeneration;
- pills - unfortunately, the fungus not only affects the nails, but also generally negatively affects the state of the human immune system. Medicines that should be taken orally help to forget about the disease for a long time. But it should be understood that they can adversely affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment of the fungus with vinegar
Acetic acid will help get rid of nail fungus at home. This method is one of the most common in traditional medicine. Its significance is that epidermophytes die under the influence of an acidic environment. To achieve the best effect, it is necessary to dilute the vinegar in the right proportion with water. In the fight against nail fungus at home, a low-concentrated acid solution will suffice.
Before proceeding with the procedure, clean and steam the skin of the legs. Dead and fungal nail areas should be removed with small scissors. This will allow for a deeper penetration of the acid. There are several ways to remove nail fungus with vinegar, these include:
- baths - a 9% solution of vinegar should be heated to a temperature of about 36-37 degrees. The affected fingers are immersed in a warm liquid for 15 minutes. Do not clean your feet after the procedure or rinse them with water;
- compresses - you should fold the bandage several times and moisten it with plenty of vinegar. Then such a compress is applied to the affected areas. To achieve a better effect, you can wrap your legs with a bandage, put on warm socks and leave them overnight;
- ointments - vinegar can be an integral part of a remedy, for example, it can be mixed with vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate in equal proportions. Apply this mixture before bedtime.
In addition to the fact that the lesions are treated with vinegar, special attention should also be paid to the patient's shoes. It must be cleaned regularly with a slightly acid solution.
Treatment of the fungus with iodine
Iodine solution is excellent for nail fungus. It has an antiseptic effect, thanks to which it is often used to disinfect the affected skin areas. In addition, iodine exhibits cauterizing properties, which is important in preventing further spread of the infection. It is sometimes used for preventive purposes.
To understand how to deal with toenail fungus with iodine, you should understand the mechanism of its effect on mycosis cells. In fact, the work of the solution is based on the coagulation (coagulation) of proteins. Based on the fact that fungal cells have a protein structure, iodine, entering the affected areas, destroys them and prevents their further spread. It is through this that a complete cure takes place.
You can use iodine to fight toenail fungus in several ways:
- Dotted - the agent is applied directly to the center of the infection. In this case, the probability of a speedy recovery is quite high.
- Baths - iodine is added to clean, boiled water, after which the legs rise for 10 minutes. This method can be used as a disease prevention. After all, it's much easier to prevent a problem than to think about how to remove the fungus later.
Other popular treatments
Alternative medicine is very popular nowadays. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help alleviate the course of the disease and ensure a speedy recovery. In the fight against fungal nail diseases, the following methods are often used:
- tar soap - has an antimicrobial effect. For medicinal purposes, it is used by soaping the affected area. To increase efficiency, you can wear a warm sock and leave it on all night;
- tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic. This method is best used in conjunction with others to speed up recovery. The oil can be used for baths, wraps or lotions;
- garlic is a very simple, but very effective remedy. After a week of regular procedures, the result will be noticeable. To the lesions should be applied a gruel of garlic or a compress with its juice;
- celandine - usually take baths with herbal infusion. The procedure must be repeated every two days until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear;
- kombucha: used as a lotion. On a sore finger, you should put a small piece of peroxidized mushroom and fix it well with a film. This remedy has a softening effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut the affected nail;
- use of smoke: the sore finger is fumigated with the smoke of the cotton fabric. As a result of the procedure, the nails affected by mycosis fall out, and after a while healthy ones grow;
- propolis - used as an infusion for a compress. To prepare it, mix alcohol and grated propolis. After the mixture is infused, it is applied to clean gauze and wrapped around the sore finger.
Toenail fungus appears very often for no apparent reason. It brings considerable inconvenience to a person's life. Therefore, you should not postpone his treatment for a long time. To learn how to get rid of toenail fungus, you should consult a dermatologist. It will help you choose those funds that will have a quick and positive effect.