The best treatment for toenail fungus

Ringworm is an easy disease to acquire, but difficult to treat. This is due to many factors. Pathogenic microorganisms adapt quickly to changing conditions, get used to the active components of medicines. They are able to be on various surfaces for a long time. They multiply rapidly, capturing more and more new areas. They literally penetrate the horny plates, penetrating deeper and deeper. The treatment of nail fungus must be carried out comprehensively, obeying all standards. Otherwise, you may be faced with a situation where the symptoms start to go away, but everything quickly returns to its original position.

How can you get onychomycosis?

Most of the time, the infection, according to statistics, occurs as follows:

1. Personal contact with a person suffering from fungus;
2. Personal items: cloths, towels, shoes;
3. When visiting saunas, beaches, showers, sports clubs;
4. With pedicure performed with instruments not disinfected.

The infection can occur anywhere people walk barefoot. If a person with ringworm walked on the floor, the scales on their skin remain on the surface. If they get into healthy nails, a pathological process will begin. A similar route of infection occurs when using other people's personal belongings. Fungal microorganisms develop especially actively in hot places with high humidity. That is why they usually accumulate in saunas, baths, baths.

Even if a fungus strikes the nails, it does not mean the onset of the disease. The body's defenses are sufficient to fight infections. However, there are factors under the influence of which the fungus is introduced and spreads more actively. If they are present, the risks of detecting this disease in itself are often increased. Consider these factors:

• Wounds and cuts on the feet, microcracks typical of dry skin - all of these are portals of infection;
• A weakened immune system;
• Take antibiotics that alter the acidity of the feet;
• Poor hygiene
• Sweating in the feet;
• Metabolic problems;
• Diabetes;
• ASSISTS;
• Overweight.

The factors that trigger the development of the disease can be:

• Lack of personal slippers when visiting public places;
• Using someone else's shoes;
• Use of compact synthetic materials;
• Ignore the need for regular bath disinfection;
• Lack of proper foot hygiene.

Based on these observations, it is easy to deduce methods for the prevention of ringworm.

Symptoms

The signs of the disease become apparent only when the fungus is already at a moderate stage. However, it is possible to determine the disease in the first stage. To do this, you just need to carefully monitor the state of the nails. The following symptoms should alert:

1. Peeling of feet;
2. The appearance of white spots on the nails;
3. Mild itching;
4. Dry feet.

With these signs, it is best to see a doctor. They are not specific and, therefore, one disease can easily be mistaken for another. The symptoms of the later stages will be much more pronounced:

• The nail loses its natural luster, it becomes cloudy;
• The sign takes on unnatural tones: yellow, green, blue;
• The nail begins to crumble, exfoliates, becomes much more brittle;
• The plaque begins to detach from the nail bed. Before that, free spaces appear between him and the bed;
• The structure of the nail is changing. The thickening appears. The nail can bend, growth pathologies are observed;
• The disease spreads to the skin. An inflammatory process develops in them, which manifests itself in the release of pus, redness;
• The space between the fingers loosens, cracks appear;
• The itching and burning intensifies;
• An unpleasant odor appears.

In the most advanced stages, the fungus severely destroys not only the nails, but also the skin. Abscesses may appear. All of this causes great discomfort, interferes with the normal lifestyle.

Is ringworm dangerous if left untreated?

An untreated illness causes the following problems:

• The appearance of infectious complications;
• The emergence of severe allergic reactions;
• Causing exacerbations of various diseases, including diabetes mellitus;
• The defeat of internal organs by fungal microorganisms.

In the last stages, the disease is very uncomfortable. There is a secretion of pus, cracks appear. It hurts to walk. A pronounced odor appears. All of this makes normal life difficult. In addition, pathogens enter the bloodstream and can affect the entire body. This is extremely dangerous and fraught with deficiencies or even death.

Treatment depending on the stage of the disease

The nail fungus has several stages, depending on the extent of the lesion. Therapy methods will be 90% dependent on the stage. Consider the characteristics of the treatment depending on the stages of development of the disease:

1. Stage 1.Good reviews can be found about the medicinal solution. It works very well in the early stages of the disease. The solution is used to treat diseased nails twice a day. Before processing, it is recommended to make a hot bath for the feet, trim the nails and process them with a file. The cost of the solution is approximately 500 rubles. The advantage of the solution in the form of a solution is its instant absorption, fast action;
2. Step 2.The loose part of the nail is removed with scissors or a nail file. A healing solution is applied to the cavity, as well as to the entire surface of the plaque. It is advisable to start taking pills. The treatment will last approximately 6 months;
3. Step 3.In this case, the lesion affects not only the plaque, but also its root, nail bed and nearby skin. Treatment is carried out with systemic drugs. The observation of a doctor is essential, as you cannot get rid of an advanced stage without the help of a specialist.

The success of nail fungus treatment is determined by the growth of a healthy plaque, in which there are no signs of damage.

Fundamentals of ringworm treatment

How to cure nail fungus? Therapy is carried out using two groups of funds:

• Local preparations.Used in the first and second stages of the disease. It can be combined with systemic drugs. This category includes varnishes, solutions, ointments, gels;
• Systemic drugs.They are antimycotics. They can be tablets, capsules. They prevent the spread of the disease, destroy pathogenic microorganisms. They have an accumulation effect. That is, the active components of the drug remain in the integument even after the end of therapy. This prevents relapse.

It is best to treat the nail fungus as soon as possible. This is due to the fact that, in this case, only local preparations can be used. The pills are very effective, but also toxic, have many contraindications and side effects. It is forbidden to receive pregnant women and children.

The use of medicinal varnishes

Varnishes are great in the early stages of nail fungus. They have the following advantages:

• You do not need to apply the product daily. Enough twice a week;
• The varnish dries almost instantly;
• The tool creates a film on the nail surface that does not allow additional bacteria and infections inside;
• The varnish is transparent and therefore is not noticeable on the nails.

The characteristics of the course depend on the specific varnish. Its significant disadvantage is its considerable cost.

Antifungal Pills

Antifungal pills will be needed if the ringworm spreads to more than 1/3 of the nail. The specialist should prescribe a remedy for nail fungus, as the choice depends on the type of microorganism that caused the disease.

Almost all tablets have cheap counterparts. The cost of medicines is different.

Laser therapy

In some cases, the nail fungus does not respond to medication. In that case, you can use laser therapy. The following advantages should be noted:

• Painless;
• Effective destruction of fungal microorganisms;
• No damage to healthy tissues;
• The possibility of curing a serious disease in only 4-6 procedures.

It is advisable to complement the action of the laser with systemic drugs, in addition to vitamin complexes designed to increase the body's defenses.

Removing the nail

Removal of the nail is usually indicated in advanced stages of nail fungus. Using this method in a relatively healthy dish is not recommended. Removal has the following advantages:

1. No pain (removal occurs due to the maximum softening of the plaque);
2. Stop the spread of pathological processes;
3. Better penetration of drugs in the focus of the disease.

Removal can be done at home. For this, there are special preparations. Removal is performed due to the urea content in the products. Also in the composition there are auxiliary components that prevent the reproduction of the fungus and have an antiseptic effect: stearic acid, tea tree oil.

Before use, the feet are steamed in a bath with a spoon of baking soda. They need to be wiped away. Then, a plaster is glued to the integument next to the nail. The product must not come into contact with the skin, as it may cause burns. The composition is applied to the nail with a thick layer and then sealed with a plaster. After 4 days, the adhesive is removed. If the nail does not come out, the event can be repeated.

Traditional methods of treatment

It makes sense to apply popular techniques in the early stages. They have an additional effect. However, it should be borne in mind that these funds are not a substitute for local medicines. Consider the most common popular methods for nail fungus:

• Apple vinegar.Vinegar is mixed with water in a one-to-one ratio. The feet are placed in a hot bath for 15-20 minutes. The procedure is performed daily. After that, the feet must be very dry. The effect can be seen after 2 weeks. If not, the product must be replaced with another one;
• Tea tree oil.It is applied to the affected nails in a pure form three times a day. One drop is required for each plate. There are contraindications: childhood and pregnancy;
• Fresh celandine.The plant must be chopped. The juice is squeezed out of the porridge. This can be done with gauze. A glass of juice is combined with a glass of 70% alcohol. The solution is infused throughout the day. Before processing, the legs are steamed. Then, the infusion is applied to the plates. Processing is carried out 3-4 times a day. The course is 10-12 days;
• Iodine.Apply a drop of iodine daily to the affected area. Don't forget to trim the growing nail. If there is a burning sensation, you should stop the procedure. This effect indicates burning of the tissue;
• Tea mushroom.Compresses can be made from it. For this, a piece of the mushroom is placed on the nail. The finger is wrapped in cellophane and bandaged. Then, put on cotton socks. The procedure is performed at night. In the morning, remove the compress, wash the leg with warm water, remove the dead areas.

What is the best treatment for nail fungus? Popular recipes will not work for this. They can only be used as an auxiliary tool. However, the main therapy should be taking pills and topical medications.

Testimonials

People who have had nail fungus observe the effectiveness of the medicinal solution, which is easy to use. However, it must be kept in mind that the tool must be used regularly for a long time. Without this, the ringworm reappears immediately.

Celandine is also effective. People notice that the visible effect can be seen after 3 weeks of use. The structure of the nail changes, the signs of damage disappear. However, this is only relevant for the early stages of the disease.

You can also see negative comments. They usually warn against the misuse of drugs. For example, patients, when using iodine and acetic acid, suffered severe burns. Therefore, the use of these resources must be carried out in compliance with security measures. In particular, the recommended dosage should not be exceeded. If a burning sensation occurs, it indicates the start of a burn. Do not believe articles that claim pain is a sign of a cure. This is usually a sign of serious processes that can leave behind greater complications than after a fungus.

Additional measures

Additional measures are needed to speed up treatment and also prevent relapse. Let's consider the main ones:

• Particles of the patient's skin remain in the socks and shoes. If a person is completely healed, by interacting with them, you can become infected again. Therefore, the socks should be boiled for 5 minutes. All fungal microorganisms will be destroyed in boiling water. The shoes are treated with special compounds that can be found in pharmacies;
• Vitamin complexes must be ingested to stimulate the immune system;
• All funds are used regularly, over the prescribed course. Otherwise, the treatment will be totally useless.

An attentive attitude to all recommendations is the key to a quick cure.

Preventive measures

In order not to become infected with ringworm again, preventive measures are applied:

• Before visiting baths, saunas and other public institutions, it is recommended to lubricate the nails with antifungal varnishes;
• You must not wear someone else's shoes;
• You can have hot foot baths once a week, where sea salt and soda are added;
• It is advisable to exclude sweets from the diet;
• Sweaty feet should be avoided.

Once a week, after a recent cure, you can use a topical antifungal or similar folk remedy. They are applied to all nails. Even if the infection recurs, it will stop quickly.

It is more difficult to protect yourself against illness when you live with a sick person. In that case, regular disinfection of the bathroom and all surfaces in the house is important. The patient must store and wash his belongings separately from other clothes. Families can use local remedies for ringworm once a week for prophylaxis.

Ringworm is difficult to treat. Your therapy should be taken very seriously. At the first sign, it is advisable to consult a doctor. It scrapes the affected area. After that, you can determine which microorganisms caused the disease. Based on this information, medications are prescribed. Individual factors also play a role in the choice of medication. For example, if a woman is pregnant, pills are rarely prescribed. This is due to the fact that they enter the bloodstream and can harm the fetus. Typically, nail removal is used in combination with topical treatments.