You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common, and the most common nail infection is herpes zoster. It seems to you that it is something far away and will never affect you no matter what.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of the planet Earth suffers from such a disease.
How to be among the lucky 9 and not earn such trouble on your hands or 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 toenail fungus? Proven ways to fight antimicrobial agents and methods of 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 deformity, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to shed light on this question through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but the cunning infection is difficult to influence, returning with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors distinguish the following among the main causes of hand and foot disease:
- A moist warm environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on the hands and feet. It is strongly recommended to dry wet shoes, use socks made of natural materials.
- Reduced immunity. Sometimes just walking barefoot is enough to catch an infection. A course of vitamins, hardening and a reverent attitude to one's own health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores that are so easy to infect in common areas. Getting into the cavities between the nails and fingers, they can remain dormant for a long period of time, waking up suddenly and spreading with an instantaneous speed of defeat. In no case do not try on and even more so do not wear someone else's shoes. Danger can be lurking in the pool, sauna, bathroom, fitness center shower, and more.
- A building. Especially true for lovers of extravagant manicure. The fact is that lengthening leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the fingernails. Once inside, the infection settles down tight and hospitable, causing a lesion. Doctors advise to perform the lengthening procedure no more than once every 6 months, then it is more likely to avoid fungus on your hands.
You can identify hand and foot fungus at home by knowing the symptoms of the problem. The nails will begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become brittle and thin. They will begin to tear not only on the edges, but also on the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape will begin to deform, the structure will become flaky.
Initially, it can be noted that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Blackening often occurs, which should certainly alert you. Such a common problem as growth under the skin can also be a symptom of fungus.
Against the background of the infection, the digestive organs can also suffer, in particular, dysbacteriosis is observed, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness and a decrease in immunity are characteristic. In children, it is easy to recognize a fungal disease by an itching sensation between the toes. The skin around the nails and on the feet may crack to the point of bleeding, causing pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of trouble?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat hand and foot fungus. Be patient, as the treatment of nail fungus is a long and financially expensive process. Review of the best techniques for effective treatment of onychomycosis at home especially for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise you to treat the discomfort with an antifungal medicine with an oily and varnish consistency. At the initial stage, such a remedy for toenail fungus is what you need.
It effectively fights the lesion, showing tangible results in just seven days. The medicine at home is applied daily to the nails, after cleaning the surface of the nails from the previous layer of medical antifungal varnish or oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior to them in effectiveness.
They are more suitable for complex treatment of fungi, combined with oral drugs aimed at the treatment of various forms of candida or prevention. Oral medications, i. e. internal use, are very effective against fungus.
These medications are great for treating yeast infections. However, if the case is neglected enough, only a combined treatment regimen including lotions, gels, ointments and other nail treatments can help at home.
In case of a severe lesion, you will need to seek help from a surgeon. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to lime and treat at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Among the modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser removal of fungi are recommended. Remember that in addition to the desired removal 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.
- yellow flowers.
- coffee.
- A bow.
- Carbonated drinks.
- Laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice daily to the surface of the nail plate and surrounding skin will dry and kill the growing spores. A proven way to treat fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a folk recipe that saves you from many troubles, and nail fungus is no exception.
Wipe your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will notice the first dramatic changes. 250 ml of vinegar is enough for 4-5 liters of water. You can pour a bowl of lukewarm water and add apple cider vinegar and keep your feet there for a while. In addition to fighting a fungal infection, this method also does an excellent job with 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. You need to mix a glass of vinegar with a chicken egg and 150 ml of oil. The resulting mixture as porridge is kept overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning it is smeared on the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treating the fungus with celandine is as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the liquid squeezed from the plant to the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start the manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee can fight the spread of fungus? You can win the battle against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Prepare a strong drink, wait until it cools down to an acceptable temperature and lower your hands or feet for a few minutes. Upgrades won't keep you waiting long. After a dozen procedures, there will be no trace of the fungus.
A kind of mask of chopped onion and a spoonful of honey works wonders and saves from the fungus for a few days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and surroundings, cover, leave for several hours. You can say goodbye to the symptoms of the fungus after a week of daily use.
For children who experience itching from a fungal infection, baking soda comes to the rescue. Such gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but even 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 symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. You are still spicy for a yeast infection, as you have not yet had time to fully recover from suffering from onychomycosis. Competent preventive measures now play a key role.
Using antibiotics increases the risk of developing yeast infections, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also lead to fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help to avoid the active spread of yeast.
Remember that you should not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding space from fungus. This means that general cleaning is indispensable. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you come into contact with.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than consulting a professional. Do not self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe you this or that drug, and also, with a high probability, will recommend some of the folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is varnishing in order to hide defects. Know that doing so will only make the situation worse. By masking the flaws, you are not solving the problem that requires treatment.
A good preventative measure against infection is regular mint broth hand and foot baths. You can also add string, chamomile and other herbs.
Fungi are contagious, so tactfully inform your loved ones about the problem so that they can be more attentive to themselves and take care of maintaining their health. The preventive methods described above will be more relevant than ever in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. To whom exactly to give preference, only the doctor will say. Don't start fungus.It is better to use folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not bring yourself to a serious condition, do not paint the fungus with varnish, do not ignore the disease. After the transferred fungus, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infection in the future.