The best treatment for toenail fungus

Mycosis is an easy to acquire but difficult to treat disease. This is due to many factors. Pathogenic microorganisms quickly adapt to changing conditions, get used to the active components of medicines. They are able to stay on various surfaces for a long time. They multiply rapidly, capturing more and more new areas. They literally penetrate the horny plates, penetrating deeper and deeper. Treatment of nail fungus must be carried out comprehensively, in compliance with all the rules. Otherwise, you may be faced with a situation where the symptoms begin to pass, but everything quickly returns to its original position.

How can you get nail fungus?

Most often, the infection, according to statistics, occurs as follows:

1. Personal contact with a person suffering from a fungus;
2. Personal items: washcloths, towels, shoes;
3. When visiting saunas, beaches, showers, sports clubs;
4. With a pedicure performed with non-disinfected tools.

Infection can occur anywhere people walk barefoot. If a person with mycosis has walked on the floor, her skin scales remain on the surface. If they get healthy nails, a pathological process will begin. A similar route of infection occurs when using other people's belongings. Fungal microorganisms develop especially actively in warm places with high humidity. This is why they usually accumulate in saunas, baths, baths.

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

• Wounds and cuts on the feet, microcracks typical of dry skin: all these are access routes for infection;
• A weakened immune system
• Taking antibiotics that change the acidity of the feet
• Poor hygiene
• Sweating of the feet;
• Metabolic problems;
• Diabetes;
• AIDS;
• Overweight.

Factors that trigger the development of the disease can be:

• Lack of personal slippers when visiting public places;
• Using someone else's shoes;
• Use of tight synthetic materials;
• Ignoring 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.

Symptoms

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

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

With these signs, it is best to consult a doctor. They are not specific and therefore one disease can easily be confused with another. The symptoms of the later stages will be much more pronounced:

• The nail loses its natural luster, becomes cloudy;
• The dish takes on unnatural shades: yellow, green, blue;
• The nail begins to crumble, exfoliates, becomes much more fragile;
• The plaque begins to peel off the nail bed. Before 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 on them, manifested in the release of pus, redness;
• The space between the fingers peels off, cracks appear;
• 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 serious inconvenience, interferes with a normal lifestyle.

Is mycosis dangerous if not treated?

An untreated disease leads to the following problems:

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

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

Treatment depending on the stage of the disease

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

1. Phase 1.Good reviews can be found about the medicinal solution. It works great in the early stages of the disease. The solution is used to treat sick nails twice a day. Before processing, it is recommended to take a warm foot bath, cut the nails and work 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 instant absorption, fast action;
2. Phase 2.The free part of the nail is removed with scissors or a nail file. In the cavity, as well as on the entire surface of the plaque, a healing solution is applied. It is recommended that you start taking the pills. The treatment will take about 6 months;
3. Phase 3.In this case, the lesion affects not only the plaque, but also its root, the nail bed and the nearby skin. Treatment is carried out with drugs of systemic action. It is imperative to observe a doctor, as it is not possible to get rid of an advanced stage without the help of a specialist.

The success of nail fungus treatment is determined by the regrowth of a healthy plate, on which there are no signs of damage.

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 drugs. This category includes paints, solutions, ointments, gels;
• Systemic drugs.They are antifungals. 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 has ended. This prevents relapses.

It is best 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, have many contraindications and side effects. It is forbidden to receive pregnant women and children.

The use of medicinal paints

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 paint dries almost instantly;
• The tool creates a film on the surface of the nail that does not allow additional bacteria and infections inside;
• The varnish is transparent and therefore is not noticeable on the nails.

The characteristics of the course depend on the specific paint. Their significant drawback is their considerable 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, since the choice depends on the type of microorganisms that caused the disease.

Almost all tablets have inexpensive counterparts. The cost of medicines is different.

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:

• Painless;
• Effective destruction of fungal microorganisms;
• No damage to healthy tissues;
• The ability to cure a disease in a severe stage in just 4-6 procedures.

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

Remove the nail

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

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

Removal can be done at home. For this, there are special preparations. Removal is carried out due to the urea content in the products. Also in the composition there are auxiliary components that block 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 spoonful of baking soda. They need to be dried. Then a patch is glued to the integument near the nail. The product must not come into contact with the skin, as this would cause burns. The composition is applied to the nail with 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.

Traditional methods of treatment

It makes sense to apply folk techniques in the early stages. They have an additional effect. However, it should be borne in mind that these funds do not replace local drugs. 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 warm bath for 15-20 minutes. The procedure is carried out daily. After that, the feet should be thoroughly dried. The effect can be seen after 2 weeks. If not, the product must be replaced with another;
• Tea tree oil.It is applied to the affected nails in a pure form three times a day. One drop is needed for each dish. There are contraindications: childhood and pregnancy;
• Fresh celandine.The plant must be chopped. The juice is squeezed out of the gruel. 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 carried out 3-4 times a day. The course is 10-12 days;
• Iodine.Apply a drop of iodine to the affected area daily. Don't forget to cut the growing nail. If there is a burning sensation, you should stop the procedure. This effect indicates a tissue burn;
• Tea mushrooms.Compresses can be made from it. For this, a piece of mushroom is placed on the nail. The finger is wrapped in cellophane and bandage. Then wear cotton socks. The procedure is carried out at night. In the morning, the compress is removed, the leg is washed under hot 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 an auxiliary tool. However, the main therapy should be taking 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 borne in mind that the tool must be used regularly for a long time. Without this, mycosis will reappear immediately.

Celandine is also effective. People note that the visible effect can be observed already 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 the negative reviews. They usually warn against the misuse of remedies. For example, patients, when using iodine and acetic acid, received severe burns. Therefore, the use of these funds must be carried out in compliance with safety 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 the articles that claim pain is a sign of healing. This is usually a sign of severe processes that can leave more complications behind than after a fungus.

Additional measures

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

• Particles from the patient's skin remain on the socks and shoes. If a person is completely healed, interacting with him, you can become infected again. Therefore, the socks need to 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 should be taken to stimulate the immune system;
• All funds are used regularly, during the prescribed course. Otherwise, the treatment will be completely useless.

A careful attitude to all recommendations is the key to a quick cure.

Preventive measures

In order not to contract mycosis again, preventive measures are applied:

• Before visiting baths, saunas and other public institutions, it is recommended to lubricate the nails with antifungal varnishes;
• You shouldn't be wearing someone else's shoes;
• It is possible to perform hot foot baths once a week, where sea salt and soda 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 comes back, it will stop quickly.

It is more difficult to protect yourself from illness when living with a sick person. In this case, regular disinfection of the bathroom and all surfaces in the house is important. The patient must store and wash their personal effects separately from other clothing. Families can use local mycosis remedies once a week for prophylaxis.

Mycosis is difficult to treat. His therapy must be taken very seriously. At the first sign, it is advisable to consult a doctor. He takes a scraping from the affected area. Next, you can determine which microorganisms caused the disease. Based on this information, drugs are prescribed. Individual factors also play a role in drug choice. 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. Typically, nail removal is used in conjunction with topical treatments.