You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are among the most common, and the most common nail infection is herpes. It seems to you that this 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 can you be among the lucky 9 and not get such a nuisance in your hands or feet? Why does the disease appear and how does it appear? How to get rid of nail fungus at home? What is the best remedy for nail fungus? Proven ways to fight with antimicrobials and traditional medicine methods.
Disease: causes and symptoms
Onychomycosis, also known as dermatophyte onychomycosis, also known as herpes zoster, is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Often, the infection is confused with non-mycotic deformation, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to shed light on this point through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but the insidious infection is difficult to influence, returning with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors distinguish the following among the main causes of the appearance of the disease in the hands and feet:
- Warm moist environment as a breeding ground for fungus and other microorganisms on hands and feet. It is strongly recommended to completely 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, strengthening and a respectful attitude to health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores, which are so easy to infect in common areas. Inserting themselves into the cavities between the nails and fingers, they can lie dormant for a long period, awakening suddenly and spreading with an instant defeat speed. In no case do not try it and even more so do not wear someone else's shoes. Danger can await you in the swimming pool, sauna, spa, shower of the fitness center, etc.
- Building. Especially true for lovers of extravagant manicure. The fact is that stretching leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the fingernails. Once inside, the infection settles in firmly and waits, causing a lesion. Doctors advise to perform the extension procedure no more than once in 6 months, then you are more likely to avoid a fungus on your hands.
You can determine the fungus on the hands and feet at home, knowing the symptoms of the problem. The nails will begin to thicken or, conversely, become crumbly and thin. They will begin to tear not only at the edges, but also on the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape will begin to deform, the structure will become scaly.
At first it can be noticed that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Tanning often occurs, which should certainly alarm you. Such a common problem as growth under the skin can also be a symptom of a fungus.
Against the background of 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 the itching sensation between the toes. The skin around the nails and on the feet can crack and bleed, causing pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get out of trouble?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat fungus on hands and feet. Be patient, as treating nail fungus is a long and costly process. A summary of the best techniques on how to effectively treat onychomycosis at home, especially for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise treating the discomfort with an antifungal medicine with an oily consistency and spray. In the initial stage, such a cure for toenail fungus is what you need.
It effectively fights the lesion, showing tangible results after just seven days. The home remedy is applied daily to the nails, after cleaning the surface of the nails from the previous layer of varnish or medicinal antifungal oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior to them in effectiveness.
They are more suitable for the complex treatment of fungi, accompanied by oral drugs aimed at the treatment of different forms of candida or their prevention. Oral drugs, that is, internal use, are very effective for fungi.
These drugs are excellent for treating fungal 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.
You will need to seek help from a surgeon in case of a serious injury. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to lime and treat it at home. Most likely the nail will come off. Among modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser mold removal are recommended. Do not forget that in addition to the desired 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.
- Bend over.
- Soda.
- Laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice daily to the surface of the nail plate and the surrounding skin will dry and destroy the growing spores. A well-established way to treat fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a popular recipe that saves you from a lot of trouble, 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 cool water and add apple cider vinegar and keep your feet in there for a while. In addition to fighting a fungal infection, this method does an excellent job of dealing 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 butter. The resulting porridge-like mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator and in the morning is applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treatment of 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 the manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee can withstand the spread of fungi? 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 arms or legs 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 with chopped onion and a spoonful of honey works wonders and gets rid of the fungus in two days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and the surrounding area, cover it, leave it for several hours. You can say goodbye to fungal symptoms after a week of daily use.
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 measure at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. You are still a good thing for a fungal 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 fungal 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 need not only to treat the affected area, but also to clean the surrounding space from the fungus. This means that general cleaning is necessary. 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 something from folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is a layer of varnish to hide the defects. Know that by doing this you will only make the situation worse. By masking flaws, you don't solve the problem that needs treatment.
A good preventative measure against infection is regular hand and foot baths with mint juice. You can also add thyme, chamomile and other herbs.
Fungi are contagious, so tactfully notify family members of the problem so that they can be more attentive to themselves and take care of their health. The preventive methods described above will be more appropriate than ever in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Which one to prefer, only the doctor will tell. Do not start mushrooms.It is better to do with 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 state, do not paint the fungus with varnish, do not ignore the disease. After transferred mushrooms, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infection in the future.