How to deal with toenail fungus

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

The main symptoms of the disease

Before deciding how to get rid of nail fungus, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a complex of symptoms that is characteristic only for this disease. It includes the following signs:

• change in the usual color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or even black;
• itchy feeling between the toes, on the feet;
• fragility and detachment of nails;
• irritated skin on the legs, there may be peeling, blisters or sores;
• uncharacteristic thickening and unevenness 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 a slight itching and slight discoloration. But if you do not get rid of the toenail fungus on 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 medications is an effective way to quickly get rid of nail fungus. Now there are a large 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 growth line 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. Using such tools, you can remove the fungus that develops under the nails. Due to their texture, creams and ointments envelop the affected area, contributing not only to blocking the progression of mycosis, but also to tissue regeneration;
• pills - unfortunately, the fungus not only affects the nails, but also generally negatively affects the state of the human immune system. Drugs that should 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 fungus 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, an acidic solution of low concentration will suffice.

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

• baths - a 9% solution of vinegar must be heated to a temperature of approximately 36-37 degrees. The affected fingers are dipped in a warm liquid for 15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure or rinse them with water;
• compresses - you should 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 bed.

In addition to the fact that the lesions are treated with vinegar, special attention should also be paid to the patient's shoes. It must be regularly wiped with a slightly acidic solution.

Treatment of fungus with iodine

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

To understand how to deal with toenail fungus with iodine, you should understand the mechanism of its effect on mycosis cells. 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 further spread. It is through this that a complete cure occurs.

You can use iodine to fight the fungus on the toenails in several ways:

1. Dotted - 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 and boiled water, after which the legs soar for 10 minutes. This method can be used as a disease prevention. After all, it is much easier to prevent a problem than to think about how to remove the fungus later.

Other folk treatments

Alternative medicine is very popular nowadays. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help alleviate 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 lathering 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 up recovery. The oil can be used for baths, compresses or lotions;
• garlic is a very simple, but very effective remedy. After a week of regular procedures, the result will be noticeable. To the lesions should be applied gruel of garlic or a compress with its juice;
• celandine - usually make baths from herbal infusion. The procedure must be repeated every two days until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely;
• kombucha - it is used as a lotion. On a sore finger, you should put a small piece of peroxidized mushroom and fix it well with a film. This remedy has a softening effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut off the affected nail;
• use of smoke - the sore finger is fumigated with smoke from cotton fabric. As a result of the procedure, the nails that were affected by mycosis fall off and healthy ones grow in their place after a while;
• 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 very often appears for no apparent reason. It brings significant inconvenience to a person's life. Therefore, you should not postpone its treatment for a long time. To learn 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.