How to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies at home

Hello dear readers. Nail fungus is one of the most common forms of mycotic damage to the body. The disease is quite unpleasant and it is not easy to recover from it. The disease cannot be started, because this is not a cosmetic problem, but a serious pathology. But not everyone knows which approach will be correct. It should be noted right away that self-medication is not the best choice in this situation. But information about what the disease is and how to quickly get rid of nail fungus will not be superfluous for anyone.

What causes nail fungus infection

Nail fungus, or as it is called in medicine, onychomycosis, is a disease that causes damage to the nail plates and adjacent areas by parasitic fungal microorganisms. This is one of the subspecies of mycoses. If we consider all the diseases that the feet can only be subject to, onychomycosis is the most common.

You can catch the infection in public places where the humidity is excessive. This includes baths, steam rooms, swimming pools, beaches.

Wooden objects (benches, sunbeds, etc. ) are widely used here. Due to the porosity of the wood, the fungus is difficult to kill there.

In addition, physicians distinguish several risk groups. For people belonging to one of them, the likelihood of infection increases dramatically.

• cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy;
• after a course of treatment with antibiotics or steroids;

It is not always possible to get rid of the disease quickly. The rate of cure depends on the variety of the parasite that caused it, the stage of development of the disease, the area of the lesion, the presence of complications and concomitant ailments, and the general condition of the body.

Symptoms of onychomycosis

Damage to the nails by a parasitic fungus cannot go unnoticed. Symptomatic changes in the nail plates are quite pronounced and boil down to the following.

1. Lost natural shine, transparency.
2. The color is changing. It can be yellowish, brownish, whitish, bluish, greenish, grayish.
3. Surface roughness appears.
4. Stripes, spots and thickenings are clearly distinguishable.
5. Layering is observed.
6. There is exfoliation from the nail bed.
7. Different areas are painted and crumbled.
8. Surrounding tissues may become red, swollen, and itchy.
9. There are pain sensations.
10. Feet exude an unpleasant odor.

Despite all this, self-diagnosis can be difficult. At the beginning of development, the signs of onychomycosis are similar to the symptoms of some other lesions: trauma to the nail area.

How to quickly get rid of toenail fungus with folk remedies and medicines

You should be realistic and understand that the fungal infection of the nail and nail areas is not treated in a week. According to doctors, the healing period can last from 6-8 weeks to six months, and sometimes 8-12 months.

It depends on many factors, as well as on the growth activity of the nails. On the hands, this process proceeds much faster than on the legs, and therefore the cure here comes earlier.

The best and fastest positive results can be obtained if you follow the recommendations below.

1. Use a variety of therapeutic measures in the complex. Do not rely on the effectiveness of any one miracle remedy. Competently combine pharmacological preparations and traditional medicine recipes.
2. Treatment should be active, but gentle - aggressive agents, often used for therapeutic purposes, should not affect healthy areas of the body located in close proximity to the affected ones.
3. Strictly adhere to hygiene requirements so that the fungus does not spread, also in order to avoid re-infection soon after the cure. And the likelihood of this is very high.
4. Watch for dryness of the affected extremities. Remember that humidity and heat are ideal conditions for the active reproduction of the fungus.
5. Eliminate all the causes that caused the appearance of onychomycosis and eliminate them.
6. Every day, gently, but as much as possible, cut off the growing nail edge affected by the disease. If possible, go through the procedure of laser exposure, which very effectively inhibits the pathological activity of pathogens.

Pharmacological agents

Means acting against pathogens are usually divided into three subgroups depending on the active components. Each of them has in its arsenal both external ointments and tablets of general action on the entire body.

It should be borne in mind that the latter have an extensive list of side effects. Therefore, you should not self-prescribe medications. To minimize the risks, you need to undergo an examination, identify which varieties of the fungus caused the disease, and act with medicines "targeting".

Subgroups of antimycotic drugs

1. Azole agents. They are based on triazole or imidazole, as well as their derivatives. Depending on the concentration, they exhibit fungistatic or fungicidal effects. They are effective in the fight against mold and yeast-like fungi.
2. allylamine agents. The active ingredients can be terbinafine, naftifine, butenafine. They are able to stop the growth of the fungus, and also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Other drugs. They act on the basis of flucytosine, morpholine, griseofulvin, chlornitrophenol additives. They are distinguished by a narrower activity aimed at certain types of fungal pathogens.

External means

At the beginning of the development of onychomycotic lesions, one should resort only to the help of ointments. Only if they turn out to be ineffective, the administration of tableted antimycotics is introduced.

The difference between creams and ointments:

• have a direct effect on the lesions;
• have fewer contraindications;
• adverse reactions are limited.

If you catch the disease at the beginning of development, then it will be possible to cope with it within a month.

The most popular antifungal creams and ointments

1. Ointment zinc. Allows you to relieve inflammation, dry the affected areas, get rid of itching, get an adsorbing effect.
2. Clotrimazole. Broad spectrum substance. Duration of use - from 2 weeks to six months. It also has an antiseptic effect. May cause skin dryness, burning, allergic manifestations on the skin. Contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as young children under the age of three.
3. Naftifin. Fights inflammation, has an antimicrobial effect. The agent is prone to accumulation in the treated surfaces. Use the ointment no more than twice a day. The tool is not used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Use of tablets

To provide a systemic effect on the entire body, the doctor prescribes oral tablets. Broad-spectrum drugs are prescribed.

1. Substances fluconazole, medoflucon. It is enough to take it only once a day. The agent is well tolerated. In rare cases, intestinal disorders and rashes on the body may occur. The course of treatment can be 1-4 weeks.
2. Substances orungal, sporanox. Can be used for pulse therapy. The drug is not prescribed for renal failure, pregnancy, hypersensitivity to the action of the drug. May cause allergic reactions, dizziness, hypokalemia, abdominal pain.

All medicines for nail fungus on the hands or feet should be taken only after consulting a doctor.

How to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies at home

First of all, you should strictly adhere to all medical recommendations, do not skip taking medications and bring the treatment to the end, and not interrupt the course after the elimination of particularly harassing symptoms.

In addition, you need:

• regularly use local baths;
• apply a specialized varnish that blocks the spread of the fungus, and also has a therapeutic effect;
• daily remove the protruding parts of the growing nail, which is affected by the disease;
• use special means to soften the nail plate in order to remove it;
• steam out hands or feet before using external topical agents;
• take measures to prevent infection of households.

Special lacquers

Lacquers have a number of advantages. The active ingredients penetrate well deep into the affected nails, but at the same time they harden and do not leave marks on clothes, sheets, shoes.

The hardened layer reliably blocks the oxygen supply to pathogens, which blocks their activity. But varnish products are effective only at the initial stage of onychomycosis.

Before using varnishes, you should resort to using a warm local bath. Soaked plates affected by a fungus are cut to the maximum, treated with a file or other grinding device. The surface is wiped dry

Lacquer is recommended to cover healthy nails too. The procedure is repeated every evening for a long period - from several months to six months.

Help from a surgeon

Both part and the entire plate can be removed. But this is not a guarantee of complete relief from the disease. The likelihood of further spread of a fungal infection is very high.

After surgery, the finger heals for a long time. In addition, suppuration may develop. A newly growing nail may be deformed. A preferred alternative to such a method is laser therapy.

After the surgical removal of the damaged nail formation, special emphasis is placed on the drug treatment of the fungus. In some, especially severe cases, the growth zone can be removed, after which the finger will remain "naked" - the nail will not be able to grow here anymore.

Traditional medicine

Alternative methods are slower than medical ones, but have fewer side effects. They can be effective only for the treatment of the early stage of the development of the disease.

Later, folk recipes are used exclusively in combination with pharmacological preparations as auxiliary measures.

For the treatment of nail fungus, such remedies are used.

1. Garlic. Apply garlic gruel in the form of applications on sore nails. A fixing bandage is placed on top. A nightly repetition of the procedure is practiced. You can also use squeezed garlic juice in an equal mixture with alcohol. Nails are treated with the resulting balm twice a day.
2. Vinegar. Acetic acid acidifies the environment, which inactivates pathogens. This tool lubricates damaged nails every day. You can use vinegar compresses. To do this, clods of cotton wool are moistened in vinegar and fixed on the desired fingers in the affected area. Compresses withstand all night, removing in the morning.
3. Peroxide. Like vinegar and other similar products, apply directly to nails or cotton swabs. Peroxide acts as an antiseptic.
4. Alcohol solution of iodine. They can cover the nail plates, including healthy ones, 1-2 times a day. In addition, an iodine supplement is suitable for any bath. To do this, just add a few drops of the product.
5. Propolis tincture. It can be used for lotions, as well as injected into local baths for hands or feet. Compresses are left on the nails overnight. You can prepare an ointment, which is a mixture of propolis and butter. The composition is superimposed on gauze and placed on the desired area. The agent is left for 10 hours.
6. Burning remedies from vegetables. For the treatment of onychomycosis, onions or horseradish are suitable. They have antimicrobial activity. Herbal products are used in the form of gruel. You can also make a kind of ointment by mixing liquid pomace with butter or rendered chicken fat.
7. Essential extracts. These funds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerative effects. For the preparation of local baths or as part of mixtures for compresses, fir oils and some others can be used.

The essential extract is mixed with vaseline in a ratio of 1: 1. It should be rubbed into damaged nail plates. As always in such cases, the remedy will have a stronger effect if the nails are first steamed out.

What is a fungal nail infection?

Fungal nail infectionsalso known asdermatophytic onychomycosis. The initial fungus that affects the skin of the feet is a common infection of the skin of the feet, especially between the toes. On the skin of the feet, the original fungus lives in the keratin that makes up the outer layer of the skin. When the fungus spreads to the keratin of the nails,fungal nail infection.

What causes fungal infections?

Fungispreading from the foot (known as"dermatophyte fungi"), cause most fungal nail infections. Less commonly, nail infections are caused by other types of fungi, usually yeasts (eg,Candida) andmold.

These fungi tend to attack nails that are already damaged, as it is easier for the fungus to enter. Fungal infections of the toenails are very common (1 in 4 people may be affected at any given time), less common is toenail fungus. Both types are most common in older people, people with weakened immune systems, and people with diabetes and poor peripheral circulation. A warm, humid environment helps fungi grow and cause infection. Wearing tight shoes or using showers, bathrooms, or changing rooms can increase your risk of fungal infections.

Are they hereditary?

Absolutely not. However, in some extremely rare cases, there is a genetic risk factor, and other family members may also be susceptible to infection.

What are the symptoms of fungal nail infections?

Initially, there are usually no symptoms. Later, the nails may thicken and become painful when pressed against the inside of the shoe. Then they are difficult to trim. The sight of an infected nail, especially a fingernail, can be embarrassing. An affected nail can ruin socks and tights, and it can also chafe adjacent skin. The skin nearby may also have a fungal infection; it may itch, crack, blister, or appear whitish, especially between the toes.

What do fungal nail infections look like?

Nail fungususually starts at its free edge and then spreads along the side of the nail to the base of the cuticle. Eventually, the entire nail may be affected. Infected areas become white or yellowish, become thickened and flaky. Less commonly, there may be white inclusions on the surface of the nail. The nails on the big toes and little fingers are most susceptible to damage by fungal infections. Sometimes, especially in those who regularly do wet work, such as a housewife or cleaner, the skin around the nail becomes red and swollen. This is called paronychia and can allow infection to enter the nail easily.

How are fungal nail infections diagnosed?

Fungal nail infectionsusually diagnosed clinically. Your doctor may take a piece from an infected nail and send it to a lab to see if the fungus can be seen under a microscope or cultured. Sometimes repeat samples may be required.

Many nail problems can only look likefungal infection, - for example, changes seen in psoriasis after a bacterial infection or an old injury, but antifungal pills will not help. Proper treatment may depend on knowing which fungus is causing problems; it may take several weeks to get results.

Can fungal nail infections be cured?

Yes. However, for successfulfungal nail infection treatmentlong-term treatment is required, which can take up to a year. Fingernails are easier to handle.Fungal nail infectionsusually recur, especially on the toes.

How can fungal nail infections be treated?

Fungal nail infectionsby themselves do not bother, not all of them need treatment. Some people with infected toenails don't worry about them at all. In this case, they can sometimes be left alone (although the patient must remain careful and try not to spread the infection to other parts of the body and nails, as well as other people).

On the other hand, ifinfected nailscause embarrassment or discomfort, they are usually treated. It is important to treat people whose infections can cause serious health problems, such as diabetes or reduced immunity, to prevent potentially serious health problems.

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the fungus: then the nail usually returns to normal. However, if the nail was damaged before it was infected, it will be harder to clean and may return to its original state.Nail infectionscaused by mold and yeast can be very resistant to treatment.

Treatment options include:

Treatment applied to the nails (local treatments)

Treatments applied to the nails do not work as well as oral treatments. They are most effective if the infection is at an early stage. The most commonly used methods are amorolfine-based nail polish, ciclopirox, and thioconazole solution.

They may not be able to clean the deeper parts of the infected nail on their own, but regularly removing the damaged part of the nail with clippers or abrading can help. Medicines taken by mouth, used in combination with an antifungal agent, increase the chance of a cure. They may need to be used for 4-12 months before the effect is noted.

Forhand nail infectionsshorter course of treatment. The cure rate with local treatments alone is about 15-30%. Topical treatment is safe. Redness and irritation may occur.

Before starting to take the pills, the doctor must send the part of the nail to the laboratory to check if the diagnosis of a fungal infection is confirmed.

Substances available for use in the treatment of fungal nail infections include:

• The substance griseofulvin has been used for many years and is the only one of three drugs licensed for use in children. It is only fully absorbed with fatty foods (such as milk and dairy products) and long courses of treatment are usually required (6 to 9 months for fingernails and up to 18 months for toenails). However, only about three-quarters of infected fingernails and one-third of infected toenails are cleared. Frequent relapses are also possible.
• The substances terbinafine and itraconazole have now largely moved away from griseofulvin. They work better and much faster, although only about 50% of nail infections are cured. Terbinafine should be considered as a first line treatment for dermatophyte fungi (i. e. , those that affect the feet). It is taken daily for 6 weeks for handnail infections and for 12-16 weeks for foot infections.
• The substance itraconazole is effective in the treatment of dermatophytes; it is also useful for treating other fungi such as yeast. It is usually taken in periods - for one week each month - because it is absorbed into the nail cuticle and continues to act for several weeks. Two weekly courses given over 21 days are usually sufficient for fingernail infections and three for toe infections.
• The substance fluconazole may be effective for Candida fungal infections. It is not currently licensed for fungal nail infections. It appears to be less effective than itraconazole and terbinafine, but remains an alternative for intolerance to the two drugs.
• Other procedures

Laser and photodynamic therapy may be helpful but are less effective than the topical and systemic treatments listed above.

Herbal products are also promoted forfungal nail infection treatment, but there is no conclusive evidence that it is safe or more effective than standard treatments.

Are there any side effects from the treatment?

Oral treatments are more likely to cause side effects than topical treatments.

Terbinafine sometimes causes a potentially very severe allergic reaction, may slightly worsen skin conditions, and sometimes affects the taste buds.

Itraconazole is not indicated for people who are already taking certain medications. Your doctor will inform you about this. Both terbinafine and itraconazole can affect the liver, and your doctor may order a blood test to check this before and during treatment.

Although griseofulvin is the only licensed drug in children, many dermatologists prefer to use terbinafine because it is much more effective.

How do I know if the treatment is working?

The new nail will grow slowly from its base, and it may take 6 months to a year after treatment ends before the nails look normal again. Foot infections clear up faster and more completely than toenails; it may take 18 months for the foot to fully recover.

Surgical removal of nails

Sometimes very thick nails that do not respond to pills alone can be removed by surgeons under local anesthesia, but this is rarely done because the level of success of the treatment does not justify surgery.

Self Care

• Keep nails short, dry and clean. Use one clipper for infected nails and the other for normal nails.
• Don't just treat your nails; use an antifungal cream to treat the skin of the foot.
• Avoid cuticle trimming, either by yourself or by a manicurist, as this increases the risk of nail damage and infection.

For a fungal infection on the toes:

• Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes without high heels or tight socks.
• Keep your feet dry, wear cotton socks and change them daily, and use breathable shoes. A regular wash in hot water cleans up most contaminated socks, but it can be made more effective by using an antifungal spray before washing. Other clothing generally cannot be contaminated.
• Maintain foot hygiene, including treating any infection.
• Wear clean shower shoes when using a shared shower.
• Be especially careful about the hygiene of the affected feet.
• Consider seeking help from a podiatrist if thickened toenails make walking uncomfortable.

Prevention measures

The risk of re-infection with the fungus after getting rid of the disease is very high. Therefore, you need to clearly follow simple rules:

• follow the hygiene of the feet;
• get rid of shoes, towels and socks that were used during treatment;
• avoid sharing such things with other family members;
• avoid excessive moisture of the feet, use talcum powder;
• treat the inner surfaces of shoes with antiseptics.

Do not forget, all medicines for nail fungus, take after consulting a doctor.