You may be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common, and the most common nail infection is shingles. It seems to you that this is something far away and will never affect you no matter what.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of planet Earth suffers from a similar disease.
How can you be one of the lucky 9 and not get such a nuisance in 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 methods of combating antibiotics and methods of traditional medicine.
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-fungal deformation, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to shed light on this point through laboratory studies. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but the cunning infection is difficult to influence and returns with flare-ups and inflammatory processes.
Among the main causes of the appearance of the disease on the hands and feet, doctors distinguish the following:
- Warm and humid environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on hands and feet. It is strongly recommended to dry wet shoes thoroughly and use socks made of natural materials.
- Reduced immunity. Sometimes just walking barefoot is enough to get an infection. A vitamin regimen, resilience, and a reverent attitude toward one's health will help boost the immune system.
- Active spores that are so easily infected in public areas. Getting into the indentations between the nails and fingers, they can remain inactive for a long time, suddenly wake up and spread with an instantaneous speed of defeat. Under no circumstances should you try on someone else's shoes, and certainly not. Dangers may be waiting for you in the pool, sauna, bathroom, fitness center shower room, etc.
- Building. Especially for lovers of extravagant manicure. The fact is that lengthening leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the nails of the hands. Once inside, the infection settles and hosts, causing a lesion. Doctors advise doing the lengthening procedure at most every 6 months, then you are more likely to avoid getting a fungus on your hands.
You can identify the fungus on hands and feet at home if you know the symptoms of the problem. The nails become thicker or, conversely, brittle and thin. They begin to crack not only at the edges, but also over the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape begins to deform, the structure becomes scaly.
The first thing to notice is that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Blackening often occurs, which should certainly warn you. A problem as common as skin ingrowth 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, fungal disease is easily recognized by itching between the toes on the feet. The skin around the nails and on the feet can tear to blood and cause pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of anger?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat fungus on the hands and feet. Be patient because treating nail fungus is a long and financially costly process. A rundown of the best techniques for effectively treating onychomycosis at home, just for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise treating the nuisance with an antifungal drug of oily and varnish-like consistency. In the initial stages, such a toenail fungus cure is what you need.
It effectively fights the lesion and shows tangible results after just seven days. The drug is applied to the nails at home daily, after cleaning the nail surface from the previous layer of medicinal antifungal drug or oil.
Local antifungal agents, such as creams and solutions, are not inferior to them in effectiveness.
They are more suitable for complex treatment of the fungus coupled with oral remedies aimed at treating or preventing various forms of Candida. Oral drugs, ie internal use, are very effective against fungi.
These drugs are great for treating fungal infections. However, if the case is sufficiently neglected, only a combined treatment regimen of lotions, gels, ointments and other nail treatments can help at home.
With a severe lesion, you need to seek help from a surgeon. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to lime and treat it at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Of the modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser fungus removal are recommended. Remember that in addition to the desired elimination of the disease, there is also damage to the skin under the nail plate.
Alternate 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.
- Bow.
- Sparkling water.
- laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice a day to the surface of the nail plate and the surrounding skin dries up and destroys the growing spores. A proven method of treating fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a folk recipe that will save you a lot of trouble, and nail fungus is no exception.
Wipe your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will start noticing the first dramatic changes. For 4-5 liters of water, 250 ml of vinegar is enough. You can pour a bowl of cold water and add apple cider vinegar and hold the legs there for a little. In addition to fighting a fungal infection, this method does a great job of relieving excessive sweating of the feet and the unpleasant odor that comes with 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 mushy mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator and applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas in the morning.
Treating the fungus with celandine is just 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 manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee copes with the spread of fungus? You can win the fight against aggressive yeast with a bath in strong coffee. Prepare a strong drink, wait for it to cool to an acceptable temperature and lower your arms or legs for a few minutes. Improvements won't keep you waiting long. After a dozen procedures, there will be no trace of the fungus.
A kind of mask of chopped onions and a spoonful of honey works wonders and saves from the fungus in a couple of days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and the surrounding area, cover, leave for several hours. After a week of daily use, you can say goodbye to the symptoms of the fungus.
In children suffering from itching due to a fungal infection, soda comes to the rescue. This gentle nail treatment is not only suitable for children, but also for pregnant and breastfeeding women. A teaspoon of baking soda is a tablespoon of water. With this mass, the affected surface is treated at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. They're still a treat for a yeast infection because you haven't had time to fully recover from onychomycosis. Competent preventive measures play a key role today.
Using antibiotics increases your risk of fungal infection, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also lead to fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help avoid the active spread of yeast.
Remember that you need to not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding space from fungus. A general cleaning is therefore essential. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you come into contact with.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than the advice of a professional. Don't treat yourself. The doctor will prescribe you this or that drug, and with a high degree of probability will also recommend something from folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is to apply varnish to cover defects. Know that doing so will only make the situation worse. By masking errors, you don't solve the problem that needs to be addressed.
A good preventive measure against infection is regular mint broth baths for hands and feet. You can also add twine, chamomile and other herbs.
The fungus is contagious, so tactfully inform your family members about the problem so that they take more care of themselves and take care of maintaining their health. The preventive methods described above are more appropriate than ever in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Which one to give preference to exactly, only the doctor will say. Don't start a mushroom.It is better to engage in 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 condition, do not paint over the fungus with varnish, do not ignore the disease. After the transferred fungus, be sure to take preventive measures that will help avoid infection in the future.