How to treat toenail fungus

Toenail fungus, or as it is also known, onychomycosis, is a very common disease that is transmitted by contact. It is provoked by epidermophytes, which, in fact, are pathogenic microorganisms. Coming into contact with human skin, the fungus affects the upper layers of the epidermis of the feet and the surface of the nail. In addition to the fact that this disease causes aesthetic discomfort, if left untreated for a long time, it can lead to the appearance of complications.

The main symptoms of the disease

Before deciding how to get rid of nail fungus, you need to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a symptom complex that is characteristic only of this disease. Includes the following signs:

• change in the usual color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or even black;
• itching sensation between the toes, on the feet;
• brittleness and detachment of nails;
• irritated skin on the legs, there may be peeling, blisters or sores;
• unusual thickening and irregularity of the nail plate.

In the initial stages of the disease, nail fungus appears almost imperceptibly. After all, some people may not even pay attention to mild itching and slight discoloration. But if you do not get rid of the toenail fungus in time, it leads to the complete destruction of the plate. Therefore, it is very important to immediately contact a specialist when alarming symptoms appear. It will help to quickly remove the fungus and restore the nails to their former health.

Medical treatment of omnichomycosis

The use of medication is an effective way to quickly get rid of nail fungus. Now there is a huge number of drugs in different forms of release. The most common among them are:

• medicinal varnishes - their use is effective only at the initial stage, when the fungus did not have time to spread to the line of growth of the nail plate. Such funds are quite simple to use and very effectively help to get rid of the disease in a short time;
• ointments and creams are the most common topical preparations. With these tools, you can remove the fungus that develops under the nails. Due to their texture, creams and ointments wrap the affected area, helping not only to block the progress of mycosis, but also to the regeneration of tissues;
• pills - unfortunately, the fungus not only affects the nails, but usually also negatively affects the state of the human immune system. Medicines that need to be taken orally help to forget about the disease for a long time. But it should be understood that they can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment of fungi with vinegar.

Acetic acid will help get rid of nail fungus at home. This method is one of the most common in traditional medicine. Its meaning is that epidermophytes die under the influence of an acidic environment. To achieve the best effect, it is necessary to dilute the vinegar in the correct proportion with water. In the fight against nail fungus at home, a low-concentration acid solution will suffice.

Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to clean and steam the skin on the legs. Dead and fungal areas on the nails should be removed with small scissors. This will allow deeper penetration of the acid. There are several ways to get rid of nail fungus with vinegar, these include:

• baths - a 9% vinegar solution should be heated to a temperature of about 36-37 degrees. The affected fingers are immersed in a warm liquid for 15 minutes. Do not clean your feet after the procedure or rinse them with water;
• compresses - you need to fold the bandage several times and moisten it with plenty of vinegar. Then such a compress is applied to the affected areas. To achieve a better effect, you can wrap your legs with a bandage, put on warm socks and leave them overnight;
• ointments - vinegar can be an integral part of a remedy, for example, it can be mixed with vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate in equal proportions. Apply this mixture before going to bed.

In addition to the lesions being treated with vinegar, special attention should also be paid to the patient's footwear. It should be cleaned regularly with a slightly acidic solution.

Treatment of fungus with iodine.

Iodine solution is excellent for nail fungus. It has an antiseptic effect, so it is often used to disinfect affected areas of the skin. Additionally, iodine exhibits cauterizing properties, which is important in preventing further spread of infection. It is sometimes used for preventive purposes.

To understand how to treat toenail fungus with iodine, you need to understand the mechanism of its effect on the cells of mycosis. In fact, the work of the solution is based on the coagulation (coagulation) of proteins. Based on the fact that fungal cells have a protein structure, iodine, getting into the affected areas, destroys them and prevents their further spread. It is through this that complete healing occurs.

You can use iodine to fight nail fungus in several ways:

1. Punctated: the agent is applied directly to the focus of infection. In this case, the probability of a speedy recovery is quite high.
2. Baths - iodine is added to clean, boiled water, after which the legs are raised for 10 minutes. This method can be used as disease prevention. After all, it is much easier to prevent a problem than to think about how to eliminate the fungus later.

Other popular treatments

Alternative medicine is very popular today. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help palliate the course of the disease and ensure a speedy recovery. In the fight against fungal diseases of the nails, the following methods are most often used:

• tar soap - has an antimicrobial effect. For medicinal purposes, it is used by soaping the affected area. To increase efficiency, you can put on a warm sock and leave it on overnight;
• Tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic. This method is best used in combination with others to speed recovery. The oil can be used for baths, compresses, or lotions;
• Garlic is a very simple remedy, but very effective. After a week of regular procedures, the result will be noticeable. Garlic porridge or a compress with its juice should be applied to the lesions;
• celandine - herbal infusion baths are usually made. The procedure must be repeated every other day until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear;
• kombucha - used as a lotion. On a sore finger you need to put a small piece of peroxidized fungus and fix it well with a film. This remedy has a softening effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut off the affected nail;
• smoke use: the sore finger is fumigated with cotton cloth smoke. As a result of the procedure, the nails that were affected by mycosis fall off, and healthy ones grow in their place after some time;
• propolis - used as an infusion for a compress. To prepare it, mix alcohol and grated propolis. After the mixture is infused, it is applied to clean gauze and wrapped around the sore finger.

Toenail fungus usually appears for no apparent reason. It brings significant inconvenience to a person's life. Therefore, you should not postpone your treatment for a long time. To find out how to get rid of toenail fungus, you should consult a dermatologist. It will help you choose those funds that will have a quick and positive effect.