Fungus on the toenails is often seen in men, and in women, the hands are more susceptible to the disease. The medical name for this problem is onychomycosis. It usually starts with the thumb. The defeat of just one nail does not guarantee that the infection will not spread. So you want to be barefoot while visiting or in the summer. You often have to restrain yourself and wait for the problem to evaporate on its own, feeling uncomfortable.
Regardless of the type of fungus that causes nail disease, it will show similar symptoms and require the same treatment. Because nail fungus infection is not life-threatening, most patients do not rush to treatment, considering the problem only cosmetic. This approach is fundamentally wrong, because long-term exposure to fungi begins to suffer from immunity, which opens the door to many diseases.
When the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, therapy should begin with the use of drugs or folk remedies. Both are very effective, so the patient must decide for himself which treatment to prefer.
How to get rid of the problem?
It should be noted that the fungus is difficult to treat, so it is extremely important to determine the extent of the disease and its causes in the first place. Often the problem is in the environment. A fungal disease can occur as a result of prolonged exposure to closed shoes in hot weather at high humidity. Also, staying in the pool for a long time can damage the nails.
People with weakened immune systems and circulatory problems are more likely to be attacked. In addition, diabetics and housewives who are in constant contact with water while cleaning the apartment and washing dishes may be at risk.
It is not difficult to understand that the nail is affected by fungal bacteria. You just have to look at its color. It usually takes on a yellowish color, but in some cases may even be black, brown or gray. The nail becomes denser and rougher. Progressive infection causes it to stop growing and may fall off. At this time, the skin begins to redden, itch and swell.
Before treating the disease, the cause of the disease, the negative factors must be eliminated.
It is important!You should not walk barefoot in public places where there is a high risk of infection.
You can eliminate the infection in different ways. At present, both drug treatment and traditional medicine are used in practice. It happens that a certain ointment may not be suitable for a person, its use may not give a positive result, but the skin of the feet will respond perfectly to a cheap herbal treatment. In addition, not all people can use drugs. Many drugs have contraindications. For example, pregnant women should refrain from taking medication.
Sometimes doctors purposefully offer patients to combine traditional medicine with drugs.
Use of folk remedies
The most popular and effective traditional medicine in the fight against fungal infections are:
- iodine;
- vinegar;
- tea fungus;
- sea salt;
- potassium permanganate;
- ammonia;
- Boric acid;
- tea tree oil;
- propolis tincture.
Home remedies are used primarily in cases where there is a risk of using drugs that can cause an allergic reaction and are not suitable for everyone. The main thing is to know in what proportion they will be used.
It is very important not to start treatment, otherwise the nails will not only be ugly, but also lead to consequences such as skin diseases, sensitivity to allergens, mucosal disease and inflammation of internal organs. The fact is that the fungus is very poisonous and all family members are at risk, especially if you have a habit of changing shoes at home.
Many people can not get rid of this problem with folk remedies, but it is enough to remember the usual disinfectant tinctures or decoctions.
Use of iodine
Iodine has long been used in self-healing processes. It is also able to eliminate skin diseases, including fungal infections. Can be used in pure form. Just pre-clean the skin under the nail and wipe with iodine at the site of infection. No further dressing is required. Iodine must evaporate on its own. As a rule, it takes a few minutes. So you can wait. Otherwise, you can get chemical burns.
It is important!Yoda is not recommended for use in the treatment of any disease in people with individual intolerance.
If someone does not know how his body reacts to this substance, then a painless experiment can be performed at home. Apply a few drops of iodine to the elbow flexion and watch the skin reaction. Obviously, if the wrinkled hand starts to turn red or stained, then you should not use iodine at all.
You can prepare a special antifungal mixture containing iodine, table vinegar and glycerin. These ingredients should be mixed in equal parts and 2 times more boiled water should be added in proportion. Now you can start lifting your feet and rubbing the antifungal mixture on the sore nail. These actions must be repeated within ten days.
Vinegar treatment
Vinegar is the most popular antifungal agent among the people. Even doctors recommend wiping the inside of shoes to prevent such diseases. Simply soak a cotton swab in vinegar, put it in a shoe that needs to be wrapped in a plastic bag, and send the shoes in this form to the wardrobe one day. Then you can pick it up, ventilate it and walk quietly.
You can treat infected areas of the skin with vinegar. To start, the nails should be thoroughly washed and cleaned with a file, then the toes should be wiped with a towel dipped in vinegar. A sore nail should be covered with a bandage so that the vinegar evaporates freely.
The personal tolerance of this product should be checked before using vinegar. You need to apply a drop of vinegar to the area of the skin and observe the reaction of the body.
How to use propolis tincture?
Traditional medicine prescriptions are gentle on the human body, so people turn to them before going to the clinic. Propolis has antiseptic properties and can be obtained as an ointment, ointment or tincture.
When dealing with nail fungus, the main thing is to be patient, because it is a long process. You can prepare a special foot bath by adding propolis. A tablespoon of tincture in a small bowl of water is enough. The legs should be steamed for 10 minutes. Then you need to get rid of keratinized skin and put a propolis cap on a sore finger where you can mold yourself from softened propolis.
It is important!In the process of treating nail fungus, you should pay more attention to personal hygiene and use clean socks daily.
Use of boric acid
Boric acid has a disinfectant effect. He should be as careful as possible. Treatment with this drug should be short-lived, because a person can be poisoned by the accumulation of large amounts of substances in the blood. Not suitable for everyone. It can be used in both liquid and dry form. There are several ways to treat this substance.
- Pour 30 grams of powder into a bowl of water with a temperature not exceeding 60 degrees. The feet should be steamed for about 15 minutes, then wiped with a towel. This procedure should be performed no more than once every 4 days.
- Moisten a cotton swab in a 3% solution of this acid and apply to the sore finger for a few minutes.
- You can sprinkle boric acid powder on your nails and then wear socks.
Medicines for fungi
Now manufacturers are working on the release of therapeutic ointments for fungus, creams. Also, remember to take only disposable pills and the most modern medical varnishes for 3-6 days.
It is important!It is better not to self-medicate without consulting a doctor, because there are contraindications for certain groups of people.
There are many medications on the pharmacy counter, but how relevant are they to your problem? There is still work to be done. If the fungus has recently appeared, it will be easier to get rid of it.
Disease prevention
To avoid such an infection, you just need to keep your feet clean and follow the rules of personal hygiene. You should also listen to the opinions of people who give advice:
- do not use other people's scissors when manicuring;
- do not go to the gym or shower without shoes;
- use cotton socks that allow your feet to breathe;
- do not wear tight shoes;
- If you're "lucky" to get caught in the rain, don't walk in wet shoes for long.
In principle, there are no special measures to prevent this scourge. You just need to wash your feet more often, wash your socks.
