You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common diseases and the most common nail infection is shingles. It seems to you that it is something far away and will never affect you anyway.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of the planet Earth suffers from a similar disease.
How to be among the lucky 9 and not bring such discomfort to your hands and feet? Why does the disease appear and how does it manifest itself? How to get rid of nail fungus at home? What is the best remedy for nail fungus? Proven ways to fight antimicrobials and traditional medicine.
Disease: causes and symptoms
Onychomycosis, also known as dermatophytic onychomycosis, also known as herpes zoster, is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Often, the infection is confused with non-fungal deformation, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to clarify this point with laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but it is difficult to affect the insidious infection, it returns with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Among the main causes of the appearance of the disease in the hands and feet, doctors distinguish the following:
- A moist warm environment for the growth of fungi and other microorganisms on the hands and feet. It is recommended to thoroughly dry wet shoes and use socks made of natural materials.
- Decreased immunity. Sometimes walking barefoot is enough to get infected. A course of vitamins, hardening and respect for health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores that are easy to infect in common areas. Entering the spaces between nails and fingers, it can remain asleep for a long time, wake up suddenly and spread with the speed of an instant defeat. Never try and wear someone else's shoes again. The danger is that you are in the swimming pool, sauna, bath, fitness center shower room, etc.
- building. It is especially true for lovers of extravagant manicure. The fact is that the extension causes the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the nails of the hands. Once inside, the infection is densely located and causes a lesion. Doctors advise to carry out the extension procedure no more than once in 6 months, then it is more likely to avoid a fungus on your hands.
Knowing the symptoms of the problem, you can determine the fungus on the hands and feet at home. The nails will begin to thicken or, on the contrary, they will be broken and thin. They will begin to tear not only on the edges, but also on the entire surface of the nail plate. The form will begin to deform, the structure will become scaly.
First of all, it can be noted that the brightness and elasticity are lost. Blackouts often occur, which should definitely alert you. A common problem such as a growth under the skin can also be a sign of a fungus.
Against the background of infection, digestive organs can also suffer, especially dysbacteriosis is observed, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness and reduced immunity are characteristic. In children, it is easy to recognize fungal disease by the feeling of itching between the toes. The skin around the nails and on the feet can crack and bleed and cause pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of trouble?
Official medicine offers several methods for the treatment of fungus on the hands and feet. Be patient as nail fungus treatment is a long and financially costly process. An overview of the best methods on how to effectively treat onychomycosis at home, especially for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise to treat the discomfort with an antifungal drug of oily and varnish consistency. A treatment like this is what you need for early stage toenail fungus.
It effectively fights the lesion, showing noticeable results after just seven days. At home, the drug is applied to the nails daily, after cleaning the nail surface from the previous layer of drug antifungal varnish or oil.
Local antifungal preparations such as creams and solutions are not inferior to them in terms of effectiveness.
They are more suitable for complex treatment of the fungus together with oral means aimed at treating or preventing various forms of candidiasis. Oral drugs, that is, internal use, are very effective for fungus.
These medications are great for treating fungal infections. However, if the case is neglected enough, a home-only combination treatment regimen including lotions, gels, ointments, and other nail treatments can help.
In case of severe injury, you will need to seek help from a surgeon. If the fungus has taken root, it cannot be limed and treated at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Among modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser removal of fungi are recommended. Remember that in addition to any elimination of the disease, you will encounter damage to the skin under the nail plate.
Alternative recovery
Traditional medicine is always ready to offer a natural analogue in the fight against any problem. To treat nail fungus at home, you can:
- Iodine.
- garlic.
- vinegar.
- Celandine.
- Coffee.
- Summer.
- soda.
- Laundry soap.
Iodine solution applied twice a day to the surface of the nail plate and the surrounding skin will dry and destroy the growing spores. A well-established method of treating fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a folk recipe that saves you from many problems, and nail fungus is no exception.
Wipe your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will see the first dramatic changes. 250 ml of vinegar is enough for 4-5 liters of water. You can pour cool water in a bowl and add apple cider vinegar and hold your feet in it for a while. In addition to fighting the fungal infection, this method does an excellent job of combating excessive sweating of the feet and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it.
Reviews say that vinegar is also used as a component of a therapeutic compress. One glass of vinegar should be mixed with one chicken egg and 150 ml of butter. The resulting porridge-like mixture is taken out in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning it is applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treating fungus with celandine is as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the juice squeezed from the plant to the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee is able to cope with the spread of fungi? You can win the fight against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Brew a strong drink, wait until it cools down to an acceptable temperature, and lower your arms or legs for a few minutes. Upgrades won't keep you waiting long. After many procedures, there will be no trace of the cork.
A mask of some kind of chopped onion and a spoonful of honey works wonders and gets rid of the fungus in a few days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and around, cover, leave for several hours. After a week of daily use, you can say goodbye to the symptoms of the fungus.
For children experiencing itching from a fungal infection, baking soda comes to the rescue. Such gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but also for pregnant and lactating women. One teaspoon of baking soda is one tablespoon of water. The affected surface is treated with this mass at the first signs of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
Do not rush to rejoice after recovery. Since you have not yet had time to fully recover from onychomycosis, you are still on the lookout for a fungal infection. Authorized preventive measures now play a key role.
The use of antibiotics increases the risk of developing fungal infections, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also cause fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help prevent the active spread of yeast.
Do not forget that it is necessary not only to treat the affected area, but also to clean the surrounding areas from fungi. This means that general cleanliness is indispensable. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you come in contact with.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than consulting a specialist. Do not self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe you this or that medicine, and also most likely recommend something from folk remedies.
A common mistake with nail fungus is a varnish coating to hide imperfections. Be aware that doing so will make the situation worse. By masking the flaws, you are not solving the problem that needs treatment.
A good preventive measure against infection is regular baths of mint broth for hands and feet. You can also add chives, chamomile and other herbs.
Fungus is contagious, so politely warn family members about the problem so they can take extra care of themselves and stay healthy. The preventive methods described above will be more appropriate than usual in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Only the doctor will tell which one is preferred. Don't start on mushrooms.It is better to do folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not put yourself in a serious situation, do not paint mushrooms with varnish, do not neglect the disease. Pay due attention to preventive measures after transplanted fungus, they will help prevent infection in the future.