The best treatment for toenail fungus

Mycosis is a disease that is highly contagious but difficult to treat. This is due to many factors. Pathogenic microorganisms quickly adapt to changing conditions, accustomed to the active components of drugs. They are able to be on various surfaces for a long time. They multiply rapidly, seizing more new areas. They literally penetrate into the horn plate, penetrating deeper and deeper. Nail fungus treatment should be done thoroughly, in accordance with all rules. Otherwise, you may face a situation where the symptoms start to pass, but everything quickly returns to its original position.

How can you get onychomycosis?

Often, infections, according to statistics, occur as follows:

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

Infections can occur anywhere people walk barefoot. If a person with mycosis has walked across the floor, a pile of skin remains on the surface. If they get healthy nails, the pathological process will begin. A similar path of infection occurs when using other people’s personal belongings. Fungal microorganisms grow actively in hot places with high humidity. That is why they usually gather in the sauna, bath, shower.

Although the fungus affects the nails, this does not mean the onset of the disease. The body's defenses are enough to fight infection. However, there are factors under the influence of which fungi are introduced and spread more actively. If there is, the risk of detecting the disease in oneself increases many times over. Consider these factors:

• Wounds and sores on the legs, special microcrack for dry skin - all this is the gateway to infection;
• Weak immune system;
• Taking antibiotics that alter the acidity of the feet;
• Poor hygiene
• Sweat feet;
• Metabolic problems;
• Diabetes;
• HELP;
• Overweight.

Factors that drive the development of this disease may be:

• Lack of personal slippers when visiting public places;
• Using other people's shoes;
• Strict use of synthetic materials;
• Ignoring the need for regular bath disinfection;
• Lack of foot hygiene.

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

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are only visible when the fungus is already at a moderate level. However, it is possible to diagnose the disease in the first stage. To do this, you just need to monitor the condition of the nails carefully. The following symptoms should be warned:

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

With these symptoms, it is better to see a doctor. They are not specific, and therefore one disease is easily confused with another disease. Symptoms at a later stage will be more obvious:

• Nails lose their natural luster, become cloudy;
• Plates take on unnatural colors: yellow, green, blue;
• Nails begin to crumble, flake off, become more brittle;
• The plate begins to detach from the nail bed. Previously, free space arose between him and the bed;
• The structure of the nail changes. Thickening appears. Nails can be bent, growth pathology is observed;
• The disease spreads to the skin. The inflammatory process develops in them, which is manifested in the release of pus, redness;
• The space between the fingers is flaky, cracks appear;
• Itching and burning are increasing;
• An unpleasant odor appears.

At the most advanced stage, the fungus damages not only the nails, but also the skin. Abscesses may appear. All of this causes severe discomfort, disrupting a normal lifestyle.

Is mycosis dangerous if left untreated?

Untreated diseases bring the following problems:

• The emergence of infectious complications;
• The emergence of severe allergic reactions;
• Causes exacerbation of various diseases, including diabetes mellitus;
• Defeat of internal organs by fungal microorganisms.

In the last stage, the disease is very uncomfortable. There is a discharge of pus, cracks appear. It hurts to walk. A noticeable odor arises. All this makes it difficult to live a normal life. In addition, pathogens enter the bloodstream and can affect the entire body. It is very dangerous and fraught with disability or even death.

Treatment depends on the stage of the disease

Nail fungus has several stages, depending on the extent of the lesion. The method of therapy will be 90% dependent on the level. Consider the characteristics of treatment depending on the stage of development of the disease:

1. Level 1.Good reviews can be found on drug solutions. It works well in the early stages of the disease. The solution is used to treat sore nails twice a day. Before processing, it is recommended to make a hot bath on the feet, cut the nails and process them with a file. The cost of the solution is about 500 rubles. The advantages of solutions in the form of solutions are immediate absorption, fast action;
2. Level 2.The loose part of the nail is removed with scissors or nails. In the cavity, as well as on the entire surface of the plate, a healing solution is applied. It is best to start taking the pill. Treatment will take about 6 months;
3. Level 3.In this case, the lesion affects not only the plate, but also the roots, nail beds, and nearby skin. Treatment is carried out with systemic action drugs. It is important to see a doctor, because you can not get rid of advanced levels without the help of a specialist.

The success of nail fungus treatment is determined by the regrowth of healthy plates, where there are no signs of damage.

Basics of mycosis treatment

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

• Local preparation.Used in the first and second stages of the disease. Can be combined with systemic medications. This category includes varnishes, solutions, ointments, gels;
• Systemic medicine.They are antimycotics. These can be in the form of tablets, capsules. They stop the spread of disease, destroy pathogenic microorganisms. They have a cumulative effect. That is, the active component of the drug remains in the device even after therapy is completed. This prevents recurrence.

It is best to treat nail fungus early. This is due to the fact that, in this case, only local preparations can be used. The tablet is very effective, but also toxic, it has many contraindications and side effects. It is forbidden to accept pregnant women and children.

The use of medicinal varnishes

Great varnish in the early stages of nail fungus. They have the following advantages:

• You do not have to use the product every day. Just twice a week;
• The varnish dries almost instantly;
• This tool creates a film on the surface of the nail that does not allow additional bacteria and infections in it;
• The varnish is transparent, and therefore it is not visible on the nails.

The characteristics of the course depend on the specific varnish. Their significant disadvantage is the huge cost.

Antifungal pills

Antifungal pills will be needed if the mycosis has spread to more than 1/3 of the nail. A specialist should prescribe a remedy for nail fungus, as the choice depends on the type of microorganism that causes the disease.

Almost all tablets have a cheap counterpart. Medication costs vary.

Laser therapy

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

• Not painful;
• Effective destruction of fungal microorganisms;
• Does not harm healthy tissue;
• The possibility of curing the disease at a severe stage only in 4-6 procedures.

It is recommended to supplement the action of the laser with systemic drugs, as well as vitamin complexes aimed at enhancing the body's defenses.

Removing nails

Toenail removal is usually indicated at an advanced stage of toenail fungus. It is not recommended to use this method on relatively healthy dishes. Removal has the following advantages:

1. Not painful (removal occurs due to maximum softening of the plate);
2. Stopping the spread of pathological processes;
3. Better drug penetration into disease focus.

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

Before use, the feet are steamed in a bathtub with a tablespoon of baking soda. They need to be wiped dry. Then the plaster is glued to the tool near the nail. The product should not come into contact with the skin, as this will cause burns. The composition is applied to the nails with a thick layer, and then covered with plaster. After 4 days, the patch was removed. If the nail is not missed, the incident can recur.

Traditional treatment methods

It makes sense to apply folk techniques at an early stage. They have an added effect. However, keep in mind that these funds do not replace local medicines. 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. This procedure is performed daily. After that, the feet must be thoroughly dried. The effect can be seen after 2 weeks. If not, the product must be replaced with another;
• The essential oil.It is rubbed on the affected nails in pure form three times a day. One drop is required for each plate. There are contraindications: children and pregnancy;
• Fresh celandine.The plant must be chopped. Juice is squeezed from the gruel. This can be done with gauze. A glass of juice is combined with a glass of 70%alcohol. The solution is injected throughout the day. Before processing, the legs are steamed. Then the infusion is applied to the plate. Processing is done 3-4 times a day. The course is 10-12 days;
• Iodine.Apply iodine drops daily to the affected area. Don't forget to cut the growing nails. If there is a burning sensation, you should stop the procedure. This effect indicates tissue burning;
• The mushrooms.Compresses can be made from it. For this, a piece of mushroom is placed on top of the nail. Fingers wrapped with cellophane and bandages. Then wear cotton socks. The procedure is performed at night. In the morning, compresses are removed, feet are washed under warm water, 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 aids. However, primary therapy should take pills and topical medications.

Witnesses

People affected by nail fungus pay attention to the effectiveness of the drug solution, which is easy to use. However, it should be remembered that the tool must be used periodically for a long period of time. Without this, mycosis will reappear.

Celandine is also effective. People know that the visible effects can be seen after 3 weeks of use. The structure of the nail changes, the signs of damage disappear. However, this is only related to the early stages of the disease.

You can also see negative reviews. They usually warn against drug abuse. For example, patients, while using iodine and acetic acid, suffered severe burns. Therefore, the use of these funds must be done in compliance with security measures. In particular, the recommended dose should not be exceeded. If a burning sensation occurs, this indicates the onset of a burn. Don’t believe articles that claim pain is a sign of healing. Usually this is a sign of a serious process that can leave larger complications than after the fungus.

Extra steps

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

• Patient skin particles remain in socks and shoes. If someone is completely healed, by interacting with them, you can be infected again. Therefore, socks must be boiled for 5 minutes. All fungal microorganisms will be 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 periodically, throughout the prescribed course. Otherwise, the treatment will not be fully useful.

A attentive attitude to all suggestions is the key to quick healing.

Preventive measures

In order not to be infected with mycosis again, preventive measures are used:

• Before visiting baths, saunas and other public institutions, it is recommended to lubricate the nails with antifungal varnish;
• You can’t wear other people’s shoes;
• You can do a hot foot bath once a week, in which sea salt and soda are added;
• It is desirable to exclude sweets from the diet;
• Sweaty feet should be avoided.

Once a week, after a recent cure, you can use a topical antifungal medication or a similar medication. They are rubbed on all the nails. Even if the infection reappears, it will quickly stop.

It is more difficult to protect yourself from illness when living with a sick person. In this case, disinfection of the bathroom and all surfaces of the house is important. The patient should store and wash his or her belongings separately from other clothing. Households can use local mycosis medication once a week for prophylaxis.

Mycosis is difficult to treat. His therapy must be given serious attention. At the first sign, it is recommended to see a doctor. He took the friction from the affected area. After that, you can determine which microorganisms are causing the disease. Based on this information, medications are prescribed. Individual factors also play a role in drug selection. For example, if a woman is pregnant, pills are rarely prescribed. This is due to the fact that they penetrate the bloodstream and can harm the fetus. Typically, nail removal is used in combination with topical treatments.