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 caused by epidermophytes, which are actually pathogenic microorganisms. Coming to the human skin, the fungus affects the upper layers of the epidermis on the feet and nail plate. In addition to causing aesthetic discomfort, this disease, if left untreated for a long time, can cause complications.

Main symptoms of the disease

Before you decide 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. Includes the following characters:

• a change in the usual color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or even black;
• itching sensation between the toes, on the feet;
• fragility and separation of nails;
• irritated skin on the legs, peeling, blisters or sores may appear;
• 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 the slight itching and slight discoloration. But if you do not get rid of toenail fungus in time, it leads to the complete destruction of the plate. Therefore, it is very important to contact a specialist immediately when alarming symptoms appear. It will help to quickly remove the fungus and return the nails to their previous health.

Medical treatment of omnichomycosis

Using medication is an effective way to get rid of nail fungus quickly. Now there are a large number of drugs in different forms of release. The most common among them are:

• medical varnishes - their use is effective only in the initial stage, when the fungus has not had time to spread to the growth line of the nail plate. Such means 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;
• tablets - unfortunately, fungi do not only affect the nails, but also negatively affect the state of the human immune system in general. Medicines to be taken orally help to forget the disease for a long time. But it should be understood that they can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment of fungi 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 ratio with water. In the fight against nail fungus at home, an acid solution of low concentration will be sufficient.

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

• baths - 9% vinegar solution must be heated to a temperature of approximately 36-37 degrees. The affected fingers are immersed in warm liquid for 15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure or rinse them with water;
• dressings - the bandage should be folded several times and moistened with a lot of vinegar. Then such a dressing 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;
• fats - vinegar can be an integral part of the medicine, for example, it can be mixed with vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate in equal proportions. Apply this mixture before going to bed.

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

Treatment of fungi with iodine

Iodine solution is excellent for nail fungus. It has an antiseptic effect, which is why it is often used to disinfect affected areas of the skin. Also, iodine exhibits cauterizing properties, which is important for preventing the 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 action on mycosis cells. In fact, the work of the solution is based on coagulation (coagulation) of proteins. Based on the fact that fungal cells have a protein structure, iodine, entering the affected areas, destroys them and prevents further spread. Through it comes complete healing.

You can use iodine in several ways to fight toenail fungus:

1. Spot - the agent is applied directly to the focus of the infection. In this case, the probability of a quick recovery is quite high.
2. Baths - iodine is added to clean and boiled water, after which the feet float for 10 minutes. This method can be used as a disease prevention. After all, it is much easier to prevent the problem than to think about how to remove the fungus later.

Other folk treatments

Alternative medicine is very popular today. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help alleviate the course of the disease and ensure a quick recovery. In the fight against fungal nail diseases, the following methods are most often used:

• tar soap - has an antimicrobial effect. For medical purposes, it is used by foaming the affected area. To increase the effectiveness, you can put on a warm sock and leave it 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, poultices or lotions;
• garlic is a very simple but very effective remedy. After a week of regular procedures, the result will be noticeable. Garlic mash or a poultice with its juice should be applied to the lesions;
• celandine - they usually make baths from herbal infusion. The procedure must be repeated every two days until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely;
• kombucha - used as a lotion. A small piece of peroxided mushroom should be placed on the painful finger and fixed well with a film. This medicine has a softening effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut off the affected nail;
• use of smoke - the painful finger is fumigated with smoke from cotton fabric. As a result of the procedure, the nails that were affected by mycosis fall off and after some time healthy ones grow in their place;
• propolis - used as an infusion for poultices. To prepare, mix alcohol and grated propolis. After the mixture is absorbed, it is applied to a clean gauze and wrapped around the painful finger.

Toenail fungus very often appears for no apparent reason. It brings significant inconvenience in a person's life. Therefore, you should not delay 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.