The fungus of the nail on the big toe is manifested by a thickening of an unsightly appearance. Statistics say that more than a quarter of the entire population is affected by onychomycosis.
It is laborious and long to treat the disease, after the course there will be relapses.
Why does the fungus appear
All factors contributing to the infection of the fungus of the thumb are due to the fact that pathogenic spores of the fungus penetrate the skin.
You can get infected through infected objects when in contact with them, for example, using other people's things - shoes, towels
The risk group for onychomycosis on the thumbs includes people suffering from flat feet, having excessive sweating, sloppy, sloppy at home.
Causes of infection with a fungal infection:
- The use of tight, uncomfortable shoes helps the development of pathogenic flora and the reproduction of bacteria, as sweating increases. The biggest toe is attacked the most. Spores of the fungus, multiplying, fall on socks, other things and spread across the floor. Infecting others.
- Shoes made of low-quality artificial materials, dense, not breathable, "suffocate" the legs, contributing to the growth of bacteria.
- Ignoring hygiene rules in public places. Wear shoes when visiting saunas, pools and showers - this will protect you from foreign bacteria.
- Never wear someone else's socks, tights, or shoes, or lend your own. If you are trying on shoes, make sure you have a personal sock to try on.
- Fungal infection is caused by immune problems. Weakened immunity is difficult to cope with viruses and fungus. It is difficult to treat the fungus in people suffering from diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins, obesity, HIV-infected.
- Neglect of such elementary rules as washing feet with soap every day, changing socks, treating nails, helps the development of fungal infections.
- Improper treatment and care of corns, cracks and corns can provoke the reproduction of fungal spores on the big toe.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Fungal disease occurs due to infection with fungal spores. The infection will not lead to a fatal outcome, but it can move from the nail to the foot and neighboring fingers.
The disease is initially almost not noticeable, suspicion arises when a yellow tint appears on the nails, and then brown with seals and delaminations. Compacted, exfoliated nails cause severe discomfort when wearing shoes.
Medicine divides onychomycosis into 3 levels:
- Initial - the nail plate is covered with spots and stripes of a yellow tint, the feet are not yet affected during this period.
- The second stage - the shine disappears, the color becomes brownish, an unpleasant smell comes from the legs.
- Advanced level - the nail exfoliates from the skin, becomes loose, crumbles. There are pains. This stage is dangerous, spores, falling off, spread to the surrounding space.
With symptoms such as peeling of the skin on the toes, the periodic appearance of blisters, redness, cracks, one should be alert and take preventive measures to prevent mycosis.
Features of the treatment of the disease
Fungal infection of the feet begins with the nail of the thumb. The spores of the fungus are comfortable in the upper layer of the nail plate, from where their path to the matrix begins.
Since the thumb nail is affected first, treatment is started at this site. The method of action of drugs has a local-external and systemic effect. The approach should be individual, taking into account the signs of pathology and the condition of the patient's internal organs.
The approach to treatment is complex. Disinfectants, antifungal agents of the bacterial type, pulse therapy are used.
Pulse therapy involves a long-term exposure scheme with periodic changes in the types of treatment. In this regimen, there are oral preparations for a week with a repeat after 3 weeks.
Every day, agents are used that suppress the reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
The use of a systematic approach allows you to increase the chances of recovering from the disease completely. Complex therapy includes taking vitamins and immunostimulating drugs.
The use of drugs is based on the accumulative principle. Medicines are concentrated and provide protection from the disease for a long time.
Ointments for getting rid of
Preparations for external use are different ointments and more options - varnishes and lotions.
The mechanism of action of ointments is based on the destruction of the cell membrane of fungal spores. The course of treatment is long and is carried out until the final deliverance. Dead layers are cleaned with a file.
Iodinol is used as a lubricant. The result is obtained if the sock of the infected person’s shoe is lubricated from the inside, a cotton swab soaked in medicine is applied to the nail.
Tar and sulfur ointments proved to be quite effective as antifungal drugs.
All ointments when used give a good result. But the treatment should be prescribed by a specialist. Different ointments purposefully affect the fungus of a different nature. Only a doctor after conducting research in the laboratory can choose the most effective remedy.
We get rid of at home with the help of folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers many recipes for getting rid of fungal diseases. Treatment of onychomycosis on the big toe at home is carried out in the following ways.
With the use of iodine
Onychomycosis is successfully treated with iodine baths. Water is poured into a basin at a temperature of about 40-45 degrees, alcohol iodine is poured into it drop by drop.
For 1 liter of water, 3 drops of iodine are needed - depending on the volume of the container, you can calculate the right amount.
Put your feet in the water and hold until the water cools. Peroxide-treated scissors cut off the affected part of the nail plate. After the procedure, the nail and the skin around it are treated with peroxide. The effect will be enhanced if an antibacterial bandage with ointment is applied.
Effective use of ordinary vinegar
Water at room temperature is diluted with 9% vinegar in a ratio of 2 to 1. The bath time is 15 minutes. Then the damaged nail must be filed or cut off. The duration of manipulations is at least 2 weeks.
Lemon and potatoes help
- Fresh lemon should be doused with boiling water - so it will have more juice. Cut off the slices and apply to the damaged nail. Citrus is fixed with a plaster. A good result will be if the compress is done every evening and kept all night.
- Peel from potatoes. The component is boiled, the water is poured into a bowl and crushed to a puree state. Legs soar in the broth, then the softened growths are cut off. After cleaning, the gruel is applied for half an hour and washed off.
Medicinal plants in the fight
- Celandine. The fresh juice of this amazing plant can cure almost all types of fungal diseases. Within 2 weeks, a fresh plant (the leaf and stem are kneaded) is applied to the affected nail plates and skin. If possible, change the compress every 2-3 hours.
- Aspen bark. Baths for nails are prepared based on 200 g of ingredient per liter of water. Manipulation is performed for 15 minutes in water that the leg can tolerate. After the bath, a mixture of mild laundry soap and soda is applied to the nails. The proportion is 1: 1. After 30 minutes, everything is washed off with warm water. The nail after such a procedure will begin to renew itself.
As an additional prophylactic, baths with sea salt are used.
The nail comes off the thumb
Fungal disease of the nail is characterized by external manifestations such as exfoliation of the nail plate from the skin. The lagging part of the nail darkens or turns blue.
This is because an air layer accumulates in the cavity under the nail, which becomes larger over time.
The further the process develops, the more pain a person feels. The nail lifts up, pustules and blood discharge appear.
With detachment, the treatment is used:
- The use of local treatment - ointments, together with drugs in tablet form, external and internal use will give the best result;
- You can use laser methods of treatment, such procedures are done in beauty parlors;
- With complete detachment, you should immediately contact the surgeon.
To treat the nail, if it leaves the finger without a fungus or with a fungus, you must drink gelatin solutions, follow hygiene requirements and do not do a pedicure.
Effective fungus treatment
Drugs recommended for these lesions:
- Means of local influence. General purpose drugs can be bought without prescriptions. But it is necessary to use the rules of application specified in the instructions. Otherwise, there will be no effect.
- Means of systemic influence. These are tablets and pills, which, along with ointments, are prescribed by a dermatologist.
- Laser treatment is quite effective. The treatment does not cause pain. The procedure does not cause harm to the patient's body. There are no recurrences after laser cleansing.
- The hardware pedicure procedure is less popular than laser therapy, but the effect of it is wonderful. More often, this method is used in advanced cases.
- Surgical manipulations have not yet received sufficient popularity, but the effect of them is quite strong. The disadvantages of this manipulation are soreness and a long rehabilitation period.
Which tool is better
Medical varnishes and serums are recognized as effective and effective drugs in antifungal therapy.
The price of such drugs is higher than for conventional ointments, but the effectiveness of the drugs is high.
Mycosis appeared on the arm
Fungal diseases on the nails of the fingers are less common. The most common infection is caused by the fungus Candidiasis. Fingernails are also affected by filamentous fungi.
You can get infected even through shaking hands, through other people's infected mittens, even from yourself. By receiving spores from other parts of the body.
Treatment of fungal infections on the hands is prescribed depending on the type of fungus, the age of the infected person and the stage of the disease.
Initially, you need to get rid of the causes of the disease, strengthen the immune system, get rid of bad habits.
It is not necessary to be treated with antibiotics during this period. The patient must change the diet - remove from the foods used those that help the reproduction of the fungus, these are sweets and an abundance of carbohydrate foods.
The doctor prescribes research and, depending on the type of fungus, prescribes drugs and prescribes a course of treatment. More often, it is a combination therapy.
If the patient has an acute inflammatory process, then local treatment should be avoided. Exacerbation must be removed.
For the patient, it is necessary to eliminate the interaction with those means and household items that provoke the development of the disease. Acute inflammation can be removed with such time-tested drugs as brilliant green, fukortsin, potassium iodide.
For fingernails, it is convenient to use varnishes for treatment. With a fungal infection of the nails on the hands, the spores quickly spread through the skin and fall into the folds between the fingers.
Antifungal drugs will enhance their effect if folk remedies are used in the treatment. But they should be used only after consulting a doctor.
The most important and surest advice for those who do not want to contract this unpleasant infection or dream of getting rid of it forever is strict adherence to hygiene requirements and preventive measures to prevent the disease.
The result can be obtained if you follow the rules of personal prevention - do not put yourself in such conditions where you can get infected with fungal spores - have a personal comb, personal slippers, never use other people's things.
If such a nuisance has already happened, then it is not necessary to allow it to spread, but to start treatment on time in the early stages. If you experience any symptoms similar to a fungal infection, you should immediately consult a doctor.