In this article we will look at the symptoms of an advanced form of fungal disease of the toenails, treatment with medicinal and traditional methods, indications for nail removal, recommendations for preventing infection.
Chronic toenail fungus is a reason to immediately run to the doctor and start treatment immediately.The disease is detected at a late stage if the initial symptoms are mistaken for a simple mechanical injury to the nail.The problem sometimes does not manifest itself at all in the initial stage.If it is not treated or done incorrectly without consulting a doctor, the disease progresses.Fungus is much more dangerous than many people think.Such an infection, accompanied by loosening and destruction of toenails, is a parasitic infection of the entire body, immunity is impaired, allergic manifestations are possible, and there is a risk of developing bronchitis, asthma, chronic sinusitis, and conjunctivitis.
With old onychomycosis, the nail is opaque, white, yellow or bluish.In the most severe cases, it turns black, becomes loose, flakes off, cracks, thickens, and its shape changes.The adjacent skin is red, inflamed, pain, burning, and itching are felt.Painful sensations are caused by mold and yeast-like fungi.Other varieties do not cause physical suffering or discomfort; they can only be identified by the shape and color of the nails.The inability to wear open shoes or walk barefoot causes difficulties.An unpleasant, nauseating smell becomes a constant companion.
Treatment methods
An advanced form can only be treated under the supervision of a doctor - a dermatologist or mycologist.He will take scrapings from infected toenails, classify the problem, and prescribe treatment.Amateur activity is unacceptable here!It is impossible to cure the disease with home remedies.You can only drive the disease inside, temporarily suppress the source of infection.But the more terrible the consequences will be.
When the disease is advanced, patience is required.The treatment is complex and complex.Failure to complete this will inevitably lead to relapse.The tips are simple.You will be able to recover if you follow the rules of simultaneous implementation of a set of measures:
- Use of external agents (varnishes, ointments, sprays, gels).
- Taking oral medications (tablets, capsules).
- If necessary, the doctor will prescribe intravenous injections.
- Taking immunostimulating agents, complexes of vitamins and minerals.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Application of traditional medicine methods.
- If your feet sweat excessively, do foot baths every day with the addition of a tablespoon of sea salt per five liters of water.Before applying ointments, wash your feet with hot water to speed up the treatment.
- Regular treatment of shoes with antiseptic preparations.
If you follow these measures, curing fungus is not as difficult as it seems.
Preparations for topical use
Official medicine offers many different drugs for external treatment in the treatment of fungus on the legs.The doctor will prescribe the ones you need, no need to experiment, trying everything.
Healing varnishes:
- Ciclopirox.Antimycotic agent.Destroys yeast and mold fungi.Apply every four days.Duration – six months.At the same time, take terbinafine tablets orally (it is safe for pregnant women).
- Terbinafine based varnish.Apply a coat of polish to affected toenails every four days.Treatment lasts 9-12 months.
Antifungal ointments:
- Terbinafine.Stops the growth of parasitic yeast and mold fungi.With the simultaneous administration of tablets of the same name, it has a destructive effect on the fungus.
- Ketoconazole.Blocks the proliferation of fungus and destroys it.Apply in the morning, evening, course - a month.It is not absorbed into the blood and is not detected in plasma, therefore it is recommended for pregnant women.Contraindicated for children under three years of age.
- Naftifine - to destroy advanced toenail fungus, it is recommended to use it in the form of drops.Designed to combat dermatophyte, yeast and mold fungi.
- Clotrimazole destroys advanced foot fungus at the cellular level.
Preparations for oral administration
Tablets are prescribed in short but frequent courses due to the negative effect on the human liver and kidneys.
- Fluconazole.Available in capsules.Take 150 milligrams.Duration of treatment – 56 days.The toenails are then scraped to determine whether further treatment is necessary.
- Itraconazole capsules.With their help, chronic onychomycosis can be cured in six months.
- Griseofulvin.Antifungal antibiotic.Accumulates in skin cells from which keratin is formed, making growing healthy toenails immune to onychomycosis.Treatment lasts 8 months.
Traditional methods of treatment
- Celandine oil - freshly squeezed plant juice has a cauterizing effect and destroys the body of the fungus.Treat daily until complete healing.
- Acetic acid is an affordable, powerful remedy against old onychomycosis.A special solution is prepared based on vinegar.Mix equal parts vodka and 70% vinegar essence, add three raw chicken egg whites.Mix.Place in the refrigerator.Moisten a gauze pad and place it on the sore nail.Leave for a quarter of an hour.Doing this for six months is enough time to cure the fungus.The product is aggressive and can cause burns to healthy tissue.Lubricate the skin around the affected nails with cream or sunflower oil.
- 20% alcohol infusion of propolis.Sold in a pharmacy.Wet a gauze cloth and make a compress.Do this daily until the fungus disappears.
- Golden mustacheTo prepare the tincture, pour vodka over the golden mustache and hide it in a dark corner.On the fifteenth day, dilute three parts of water with one part of the tincture.Treat the fungus in the mornings and evenings.Treatment lasts at least six months.
- Homemade antifungal ointment.Place a piece of butter (butter) weighing 200 grams, 100 milliliters of acetic acid (70%), and a raw chicken egg in the shell into a glass container.Do not stir.Place the mixture in a cool place.Wait a week.The shell will dissolve.Then you should stir, spread, cover with cling film, and bandage.
- Tincture of calamus rhizome: 15 g.Brew the root with a glass of boiling water.Leave for 30 minutes.A glass of tincture is drunk per day.At the same time, ten-minute baths are done daily.To do this, steam 30 grams of calamus rhizome with boiling water (one glass) and leave for 30 minutes.Nails will begin to crumble within seven days.And then lubricate with ointment.If you treat with this method, the fungus can be cured in a month and a half.In this case, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, and vitamin preparations are taken internally.
- Squeeze out toothpaste (with fluoride) the size of the knuckle of your little finger.Add the ashes of three cigarettes.Make a compress, leave it overnight, and wash it off in the morning.
- Take equal parts honey and onion juice and mix.Keep refrigerated.Treat neglected fungus daily.
- Lilac flowers and calendula - 30 grams each, celandine - 15 grams, oak bark - 45 grams.Add half a liter of water.Boil, leave for an hour and make a compress.Every day until the fungus is completely cured.
- One hundred milliliters of hydrogen peroxide, two liters of warm water - make a bath for a quarter of an hour.Blot with a paper towel and apply ointment.Repeat every day until it becomes clear that the fungus has receded.Hydrogen peroxide will protect healthy nails from infection and relieve healed nails from re-infection.
If traditional and folk medicine methods do not help, you can resort to laser therapy.Laser treatment is painless and gives an almost instant effect.Four treatments are enough to kill the fungus.In this case, the periungual skin is not damaged.
Nail removal
Surgery to remove a nail is rarely resorted to if conservative methods do not give the desired result.
- The surgical removal method is painful.It takes a long time for the nail plate to recover.
- The laser method of nail removal is easy and painless.The disadvantage is the high cost.
- Replacing surgical nail removal with medication.Under the influence of the drugs, the nail plates soften and are then painlessly removed.The process is lengthy and requires caution.
Treatment of onychomycosis during pregnancy
Treatment of chronic toe fungus with most medications is contraindicated during pregnancy!They can harm the intrauterine development of the fetus.A mycologist will prescribe safe remedies that will slow down the development of the disease and improve the appearance of the nails.And complete healing or removal will have to begin after the birth of the child.
It is better for pregnant women to resort to proven methods of traditional medicine.They act more gently and have fewer side effects:
- Make foot baths with warm water and sea salt.
- Wipe the skin around damaged nails with celandine juice.Continue for 3 months.
Recommendations and tips
An advanced fungus should be treated immediately!Do not allow the infection to affect the entire body, be patient, and be sure to complete the therapy.Treat only after examination, under the supervision of a doctor.Traditional medicine methods must be combined with medications recommended by a specialist.Advice for family members of the patient: observe good hygiene, take vitamins and medications that increase immunity.