Toenail fungus - how to treat it. What causes it and what remedies are effective

14 March 2021

Did you notice any cracks between your fingers? Feet endlessly itchy and itchy? Did the toenails suddenly lose color and start to deteriorate? These symptoms can not be ignored as they can signal a fungal infection of the foot. This disease is rare; It is especially common among military personnel, professional athletes, and visitors to pools. Unfortunately for us, fungal lesions of the skin are long and difficult to treat, and its "patron" causes significant discomfort. What you can do to prevent this disease, as well as how to deal with it after the purchase: we will tell you about all this in our article.

Causal link: Where does toenail fungus come from

Naturally, the fungus does not "hang" on a healthy person's feet for no reason at all. There are several types of fungi that are considered classics, ie they infect the largest percentage of patients. All of them are called by the common term "onychomycosis". This group may include candida fungal spores, dermatophytes, or trichophytes, the latter of which have several subspecies that are localized to different parts of the feet and nails.

Such complex, at first glance, names are characterized by an extremely unpleasant infection that reaches under the nail or "settles" between the fingers or in the place under them, at the foot. The most beautiful environment of fungal spores is the moist and warm folds of human feet, here they feel really comfortable and are constantly evolving, causing the affected area to expand.

What is the cause of toenail fungus?

In the absence of proper hygiene, fungi multiply and can affect large areas of the foot. At the same time, their spores are quite capable of getting to the surface of any shoe, "settling" there and infecting humans again and again, and besides, those who can wear those shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are a common breeding ground for controversy.
due to excessive sweating of the feet, which is called hyperkeratosis. Shoes for military personnel, miners or athletes are often damp. This is due to the increased load and "breathable" materials from which the boots or boots are sewn. This environment is a paradise for mushroom spores.
Sometimes the fungus gets under the nail during a pedicure procedure in any beauty salon. Without proper sterilization of pedicure tools, the master runs the risk of fungus, which is quite difficult to get rid of. This can happen to absolutely anyone when cutting with a pedicure tweezers that have not been treated with a special sterilizing solution.
Chronic diseases in the body can affect fungal infections. There is no need to start an inflammatory process that has become chronic. It is necessary to treat it.

Because mushroom spores are very fond of moisture and heat, they often "live" in baths, public showers and saunas. That is why in places where there is stagnant water, high humidity and high temperatures, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene. Be sure to wear only your own shoes in saunas, public showers and baths. Remember: if someone wears slippers several times in the sauna, it is quite possible that fungal spores have already settled inside the rubber porous structure and you may become infected with onychomycosis.

How to diagnose toenail fungus on yourself

It is not difficult to conduct a self-diagnosis, because with the most minor signs you can recognize the fungus and consult a doctor at an early stage. All you have to do is regularly examine your feet between the toes, at their feet, as well as the nails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of the foot after swimming in pools, saunas, baths or wearing someone else’s shoes.

The most common symptoms of fungal infections of the feet and nails are:

Cracked skin at the base of the fingers. At the same time, the wounds do not dry out, but get wet and are constantly inflamed.
Unusually shaped nails. Any separation of natural marigold from the skin, their deformation or discoloration should be avoided. In patients with onychomycosis, the nails become very thick, become very brittle, and may even break. At the same time, the color scale can change: yellow, white, gray or even blackened marigolds are not uncommon for such a disease.
Also, look for itching, scaly spots and rashes on the surface of the feet. If they do not go away within 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
You should also be careful about the sudden appearance of blisters on the skin of the foot. They are usually located in small clusters and have clean liquid inside.
A very important symptom is an unpleasant odor from the feet. If your feet have never had a sore throat, do not miss this factor as it may indicate the presence of fungal disease.

Because of the presence of such symptoms, you can independently diagnose fungal skin disease. If in doubt, you should visit a doctor, he will conduct a special examination and confirm or deny the existence of onychomycosis.

How is nail fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic

You will probably need a general blood and urine test to find out if there is an inflammatory process in your body. Your doctor will ask you to tell us more about what medications you are taking and whether you have any specific illnesses, such as diabetes. Due to the increased level of glucose in the blood, as well as excess weight, which is often accompanied by endocrine disorders, often occurs e. წ. This disease is characterized by coconut, corn, cracks and fungal lesions.

Laboratory analysis for the presence of fungal spores is mandatory. Usually, a few days before the diagnosis, you do not need to wash your feet and the areas where the nail plate separates should be closed with adhesive plaster. It is on the border of healthy skin and the affected area that a special scraping is obtained to determine the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when the disease recurs, the destroyed marigold particles are analyzed. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. Similarly, laboratory assistants, along with physicians, determine the type of fungus and can subsequently decide on further therapy.

Diseases of this nature are treated by narrowly specialized dermatologists and physicians - mycologists.

How to cure toenail fungus

Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never pass by itself. Disputes are quite resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: the fungus is considered one of the most persistent microorganisms on the planet. Like molds, fungal spores can outgrow this.

Mycoses should be treated without error, as they can spread to the surface of the skin, involving all large areas of the pathological process, and even settle in the airways, provoking asthma.

There are medicines called antifungals. Like antibacterial drugs, they kill the problem from within because they are often taken orally. Only a doctor can prescribe antifungals, because some of them can have many side effects. Certain groups of drugs can only fight one or more types of fungi, but there are also a wide range of antifungals.

Suitable for the effective treatment of onychomycosis are preparations with the following active ingredients:

terbinafine,
Clotrimazole,
ketoconazole,
fluconazole,
itraconazole.

Remember that only a doctor has the right to prescribe antifungals. Given the possibility of side effects, it is impossible to choose one antifungal that is suitable for absolutely all patients with onychomycosis.

Also, special ointments, applications and creams are prescribed for the high quality treatment of foot fungal infections. These remedies for toenail fungus are used both in the initial stage and in the start-up process. Depending on the degree and localization of the fungal lesion, your doctor may prescribe programs. They involve applying ointment to the affected areas of the skin, which are then sealed with plaster. Such an application is usually kept overnight, and in the morning the dead skin or nail particles are carefully removed and loosened.

The following treatment options also work well:

Treatment with antifungal sprays,
creams or emulsions,
Cover toenails with a special varnish against fungus.

Complex therapy of fungal disease, combining the use of ointments, antifungals and other procedures, gives the longest lasting effect. But we must not forget that onychomycosis therapy is a long process. In order to have an idea of how you can get rid of toenail fungus, one fact must be noted: As always, the nail grows completely in a period of 6 to 12 months. Until a new, healthy nail grows completely, you should not stop the treatment as sometimes spores may be present at the root of the nail. If you stop treatment early, the disease may recur.

Folk remedies for toenail fungus

Treatment of fungi will not be effective if only two or three treatments have been performed and forget therapy with a slight improvement in the clinical picture. The course of antifungal therapy should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes much longer to defeat an unpleasant disease. Be patient, otherwise the toenail fungus will return.

The mainstay of treatment is to remove as much of the affected skin and nails as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In the conditions of beauty salons a pedicure master will help to cope with mycosis. It removes the top affected layer of the nail with a special milling cutter, along with a rough nozzle, after which it will be possible to apply an anti-fungal agent. At home, you will probably not be able to completely remove the layer of dead cells, but it will be possible to soften it and remove it carefully.

Toenail fungus recipe:

Chicken eggs - 1 piece,
vinegar essence 70% or 80%,
Tea tree oil, butter or olives.

Acetic acid works well against many types of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, pour the essence of the chicken egg so that it is completely covered with the solution. For this it is better to use a glass. Now you need to place it in a dark place. Observe the egg: As soon as you notice that the shell is completely open, remove the container and add a little oil to it (in case you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops will suffice). Now you need to grind the mixture thoroughly so that the eggs turn into a homogeneous paste. The mixture should cover the areas affected by the fungus, wrap it in plastic wrap and wrap the legs with a bandage or gauze. It is advisable to leave the compress on for a few hours, after which the steamed marigold should be cut off. With regular use, the diseased nail can be removed almost completely, and the fungus can be eliminated forever.

Toenail fungus: treatment with folk remedies

If you want to defeat onychomycosis on your own, compresses made from different ingredients, such as garlic, chicken or kombucha, can help. Just be sure to soak your feet before steaming, or prepare them for a steam bath.

Baths with a solution of soda or potassium permanganate are considered the most effective. Both ingredients have antiseptic action, perfectly clean and disinfect the skin and toenails. The bath is simple to do: pour hot water into the pool and pour soda there, 1 tsp. K. Heard for 3 liters of water. Care should be taken to add potassium permanganate powder so as not to burn inflamed skin. The solution should not be purple or purple; Light pink water is enough. We put our feet in the bath and soak for about 1 hour. Dry your feet. Now you can perform other manipulations.

Grind the herring or garlic on a fine grater or squeeze through a press. Transfer the mass to a piece of gauze or bandage and apply to the affected area. Leave the compress on overnight, remember to wrap it in plastic and put on warm socks. Kombucha has an identical effect, you will need a little - a small piece, which should also be applied to the damaged area of the nail.

Prevention of fungi on the feet - how to prevent infection with fungal spores

A prophylactic measure against onychomycosis infection should follow a few simple rules:

Use your own shoes to visit the pool, shower, sauna or steam bath. Try not to walk barefoot in such places, especially if there is even minor damage to the skin.
Do not give strangers shoes and foot care items such as pumice or a home pedicure brush.
To never think about how to get rid of toenail fungus, change your underwear, socks or tights more often. Your health depends on it.
When it comes to pedicures, check out the master sterilized tools. Some salons have a service for buying your own pedicure tools. This significantly reduces the risk of contracting the fungus.
Do not forget to wear loose-fitting shoes that do not restrict movement for the prevention of calluses, corns and blisters. Remember: If there are no wounds, cracks or scratches on the surface of the skin, it is unlikely that fungal spores will penetrate you.