You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common, and the most common nail infection is shingles. It seems to you that this is something far away and will not affect you, no matter how it is.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of planet Earth suffers from the same disease.
How to be among the lucky 9 and not get a disorder in your hands or feet? Why does the disease appear and how does it manifest itself? How to get rid of nail fungus at home? What is the best remedy for toenail fungus? A proven way to fight with antimicrobial methods and traditional medicine.
Diseases: causes and symptoms
Onychomycosis, also known as dermatophyte onychomycosis, also known as herpes zoster, is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Often, the infection is confused with non-fungal deformities, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to explain this through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but insidious infections are difficult to influence, return with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors among the main causes of the appearance of diseases on the hands and feet distinguish the following:
- A warm and moist environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on the hands and feet. It is highly recommended to dry wet shoes thoroughly, using socks made of natural materials.
- Reduces immunity. Sometimes just walking barefoot is enough to catch the infection. A course of vitamins, hardening and respect for one's health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores, which are highly contagious in general areas. Entering the cavity between the nails and fingers, they can remain inactive for a long period, wake up suddenly and spread with an instantaneous speed of defeat. In any case, don't try and especially don't wear other people's shoes. Dangers can await you in swimming pools, saunas, baths, bathrooms in fitness centers, etc.
- Building. Especially true for lovers of luxurious manicure. The fact is that the joint leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the fingernails. Once inside, the infection settles tightly and becomes a host, causing lesions. Doctors advise to carry out advanced procedures no more than once every 6 months, then you are more likely to avoid fungus on your hands.
You can determine the fungus on the hands and feet at home, knowing the symptoms of the problem. The nails will begin to thicken or, on the contrary, become brittle and thin. They will begin to tear not only on the edges, but also on the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape will begin to change shape, the structure will become scaly.
At first, it can be noticed that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Often a blackout occurs, which necessarily warns you. Common problems such as growths under the skin can also be symptoms of fungus.
Against the background of infection, the digestive organs may also suffer, in particular, dysbacteriosis is observed, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness, and decreased immunity are characteristic. In children, it is easy to recognize a fungal disease with an itchy sensation between the toes on the feet. The skin around the nails and on the feet can crack and bleed, causing pain. Frequent rashes. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of the problem?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat fungus on hands and feet. Be patient, because the treatment of nail fungus is a long process and costs money. An overview of the best techniques on how to effectively treat onychomycosis at home just for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise treating the disorder with an antifungal drug with an oily and lacquer consistency. In the early stages, a cure like toenail fungus is what you need.
It is effective against lesions, showing significant results after just seven days. Home remedies are used daily on the nails, after cleaning the nail surface from the previous layer of medicated antifungal varnish or oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior in effectiveness.
They are more suitable for the complex treatment of fungi, coupled with oral drugs aimed at treating various forms of candida or preventing it. Oral medicine, that is, internal use, is very effective for fungi.
These medicines are good for treating fungal infections. However, if the case is sufficiently neglected, only a combined treatment regimen, including lotions, gels, ointments and other nail treatments, can help at home.
You should seek help from a surgeon in case of severe lesions. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to whitewash and treat it at home. The nail will most likely be removed. Of the modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser fungus removal are advised. Remember that in addition to the elimination of the desired disease, you will face damage to the skin under the nail plate.
Alternative recovery
Traditional medicine is always ready to offer natural analogues in the fight against any problem. To treat nail fungus at home, you can:
- Iodine.
- Garlic.
- Vinegar.
- Celandine.
- coffee.
- Bow down.
- Soda.
- Soap.
Iodine solution used twice a day on the surface of the nail plate and the skin around it will dry and destroy the growing spores. A solid way to treat fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a folk recipe that saves you from many problems and nail fungus is no exception.
Wipe your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week, and you will see the first dramatic changes. For 4-5 liters of water, 250 ml of vinegar is enough. You can pour a bowl of cold water and add apple cider vinegar and hold your feet there for a bit. In addition to fighting fungal infections, this method does an excellent job of dealing with excessive sweat on the feet and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it.
Reviews say that vinegar is also used as a component of therapeutic compresses. You need to mix a glass of vinegar with a chicken egg and 150 ml of butter. The resulting porridge-like mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning is used for the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treating fungus with celandine is as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the liquid squeezed from the plant to the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start the manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee can overcome the spread of fungus? You can win the battle against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Brew a strong drink, wait until it cools down to an acceptable temperature and lower your hands or feet for a few minutes. Improvements won't keep you waiting long. After a dozen procedures, there will be no traces of fungus.
A mask of chopped onion and a spoonful of honey works well and gets rid of the fungus in a few days. Apply the mass to the inflamed area and the surrounding area, cover, leave for several hours. You can say goodbye to fungal symptoms after a week of daily use.
For children suffering from itching due to fungal infections, soda comes to the rescue. Such gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but also for pregnant and lactating women. One teaspoon of baking soda is one tablespoon of water. The affected surface is treated with this mass at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
General recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. You're still good news for a fungal infection, because you haven't had time to fully recover from onychomycosis. Efficient preventive measures now play an important role.
The use of antibiotics increases the risk of getting a fungal infection, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also cause fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help to prevent the active spread of yeast.
Remember that you need to not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding space from fungus. This means general cleaning is essential. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you touch.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than consulting a professional. Do not self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe you this or that drug, and also, with a high probability, will recommend something from folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is varnish coating to hide the defect. Know that by doing this you will only make things worse. By covering up the weakness, you don't solve the problem that needs treatment.
A good preventive measure against infection is a regular bath for hands and feet from mint broth. You can also add tali, chamomile and other herbs.
This fungus is contagious, so tell your family members about the problem wisely so that they are more concerned about themselves and take care of their health. The prevention methods described above will be more appropriate than ever in such situations.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Which one to give priority exactly, only the doctor will tell. Don't start the fungus.It is better to do folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not take yourself to a serious situation, do not paint over the fungus with varnish, do not ignore this disease. After the fungus is transplanted, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infection in the future.