Nail fungus often appears in men, in women the hands are more susceptible to this disease. The medical name for this problem is onychomycosis. It usually starts with the big toe. If only one nail is defeated, you cannot be sure that the infection will not spread. And so you want to cover your legs when you visit or in the summer. You often have to hold yourself back and wait uncomfortably for the problem to evaporate on its own.
Regardless of the type of fungus that causes nail disease, it shows similar symptoms and requires the same treatment. Given that fungal infections of the nails are not life-threatening, most patients are in no hurry to treat because the problem is purely cosmetic. This approach is fundamentally flawed, as prolonged contact with the fungus begins to weaken immunity and opens the door to many diseases.
When the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, therapy should be started with medication or folk remedies. Both are very effective, so the patient must decide for themselves which treatment to prefer.
How to get rid of the problem?
It is worth noting that the fungus is difficult to handle, so it is extremely important to first determine the extent and causes of the disease. Most often, the problem lies in the environment. Fungal illness can occur due to prolonged wearing of closed shoes during warm weather with high humidity. In addition, prolonged stays in the pool can lead to nail damage.
People with reduced immunity and circulatory problems are more likely to catch this attack. In addition, diabetics and housewives who are in constant contact with water while cleaning 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 the color. It usually takes on a yellowish tinge, but in some cases it can be black, brown or gray. The nail becomes thicker and rougher. In the case of a progressive infection, its growth stops and it may fall. Meanwhile, the skin starts to turn red, itchy and swollen.
Before treating the disease, the cause of the disease, the adverse factors must be eliminated.
Important!You should not walk barefoot in public places where there is a high probability of catching the infection.
There are various ways to remove the infection. At present, both medication and traditional medicine are used in practice. A particular ointment may not be suitable for a person, its use may not bring positive results, but the skin of the feet responds perfectly to the cheap herbal treatment. Also, not all people can use medication. Many drugs have contraindications. Pregnant women, for example, should avoid taking medication.
Sometimes physicians purposefully offer patients to combine traditional medicine with medication.
Use of folk remedies
The most popular and effective traditional medicine in the fight against fungal infections:
- iodine;
- vinegar;
- tea mushrooms;
- 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 medications that can cause an allergic reaction and are not suitable for everyone. The most important thing is to know how much you use them.
It is very important that you do not start treatment, otherwise your nails will not only be ugly, but will also lead to consequences such as skin diseases, hypersensitivity to allergens, diseases of the mucous membranes and inflammation of the internal organs. The situation is that the fungus is very toxic and all members of the family are at risk, especially if the household has a habit of changing slippers.
Not many people manage to 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 suitable for relieving skin diseases, including fungal infections. Can be used in its pure form. Only the skin under the nail should be pre-cleansed and wiped with iodine at the site of infection. No bandage is required after this. Iodine must evaporate on its own. This usually takes a few minutes. So you can wait. Otherwise, you may suffer chemical burns.
Important!It is not recommended for the treatment of any disease in patients with individual iodine intolerance.
If someone doesn’t know how your body responds to this substance, you can do a painless experiment at home. Apply a few drops of iodine to the elbow flexion and watch the skin react. Obviously, if the hand in the shoot starts to turn red or stained, don’t use iodine at all.
You can make a special antifungal mixture that contains iodine, table vinegar and glycerin. These ingredients should be mixed in equal parts and proportionally 2 times more boiled water should be added. Now you can start soaring your feet and rubbing the antifungal mixture into your sore nails. These operations must be repeated for ten days.
Vinegar treatment
Vinegar is the most popular antifungal agent among people. Even to prevent such diseases, doctors recommend wiping the inside of the shoe. All you have to do is moisten a cotton ball with vinegar, put it in the shoe, which should be folded into a plastic bag, and send the shoe in this form to the closet for a day. Then you can get it, ventilate it and walk calmly.
You can treat infected areas of the skin with vinegar. To begin, the nails should be washed thoroughly and cleaned with a file, then the toes should be wiped with a cloth dipped in vinegar. The sore nail should be covered with a bandage to allow the vinegar to evaporate freely.
The personal tolerance of this medicine should be checked before using vinegar. Literally a drop of vinegar should be applied to the area of the skin and the reaction of the body should be monitored.
How to use propolis tincture?
The recipes of traditional medicine are gentle on the human body, so people turn to them before going to the clinic. Propolis has antiseptic properties and can also be purchased as an ointment, oil or tincture.
Patience is the key to treating nail fungus because it is a long process. You can create a special foot bath by adding propolis. A spoonful of tincture in a small water tank will suffice. The legs should be steamed for 10 minutes. We then need to get rid of the keratinized skin and put a propolis cap on the sore finger, which we can shape ourselves from softened propolis.
Important!When handling 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. You have to be as careful as possible. Treatment with this medicine should be short-term, as a person may be poisoned by a large build-up of the substance in the blood. Not suitable for all people. It can be used in both liquid and dry form. There are several ways to treat this substance.
- 30 grams of powder should be poured into a bowl of water at a temperature not exceeding 60 degrees. The legs should be steamed for about 15 minutes and then wiped with a towel. This procedure should be performed every 4 days or less.
- Wet a cotton ball in a 3% solution of this acid and apply it to the sore finger for a few minutes.
- You can spray boric acid powder on your nails and then put on a sock.
Antifungal drugs
Now the manufacturers are working on the release of therapeutic ointments and creams. Also, don’t forget to take tablets and state-of-the-art medical varnishes that are used only once for 3-6 days.
Important!Without consulting a doctor, it is better not to take part in medication self-medication, as there are contraindications for certain groups of people.
There are plenty of medicines in the pharmacy, but how suitable are they for your problem? There is still work to be done. If the mushroom has recently appeared, it will be easier to get rid of it.
Disease prevention
In order not to pick up such an infection, just keep your feet clean and follow personal hygiene rules. You should also listen to the views of those who give advice:
- do not use other people's scissors when making a manicure;
- do not go to the gym or shower without shoes;
- use cotton socks that allow your feet to breathe;
- do not wear tight shoes;
- don’t walk in wet shoes for long if you’re so "lucky" to catch it in the rain.
In principle, there is no special measure to prevent this scourge. You just have to wash your feet more often, wash your socks.
