How to treat nail fungus

The fungus of the nail plate (Onykhomicosis) is a fairly common dermatological disease, of which up to 20% of the planet's population suffers in one way or another.

One or more nails can be affected by any of the varieties of dermatophytes (parasitating microorganisms in the human body), both in the arms and legs. Onicycosis pathogens multiply rapidly in a humid and warm environment, in shaded places. Infectious dermatophyte fungi can corrode not only nails, but also skin and hair. Older people have a higher level of disease spread.

Consider in more detail why the fungus appears, and we will also review the 5 most effective medications for the treatment of nail fungi in the legs at home.

The source of infection can be:

1. Sick person. Some types of fungi are parasites only in one person, so it can be infected only from the patient. It can be infected with a nail fungus on the legs both with direct contact with the patient and when he uses common objects: shoes, towels, etc.
2. Animals. There are types of fungi that surprise both people and animals. People, as a rule, infect in contact with sick pets.
3. Wednesday. Another variety of fungi can multiply outside of living organisms. It can be infected in contact with the soil or water.

Therefore, it can be infected anywhere. But, of course, not all contact with the pathogen ends with the fact that the fungus develops on the nails of the legs. The following trained factors can lead to the development of onylomycosis:

• age after 60 years;
• diabetes mellitus;
• circulatory violation in the lower extremities;
• weakening of immunity caused by chronic disease or other factors;
• Use an awkward shoe that does not pass the air.

How does the nail fungus begin? The initial stage of the leg fungus does not cause physical discomfort, the changes are related to the appearance of the nail plate. The fungus of the nails in the initial stage is manifested by the appearance of spots or stripes of an unnatural color. If the nail fungus is not treated in the legs in the initial stage, the progression of the disease will begin.

The stages of the fungus

All fungi are prone to the aggressive colonization of its bearer. The germination of the mycelium in the fabric is similar to the growth of the root roots in the building. When branched, the body of the fungus destroys the cellular structure of the tissues, causing destruction.

It is its way to absorb food. The mycelium distinguishes enzymes that destroy dead keratinocytes, nail plate cells and absorb nutrients. Unfortunately, these enzymes affect not only dead cells, but also violate the work of healthy.

The progression of the disease takes place in five stages:

1. Infection. The fungus adheres to dead skin scales, gradually reaching the nail. No symptoms are observed.
2. Normotorophic. The nail fades and turns at the edges, thickens a bit in the corners. The unpleasant smell and sensations appear.
3. Hypertrophic. The yellow covers the entire nail, the nail plaque is deformed with the transverse coloration appearance. In 60 % of cases, it is accompanied by a thickening of the entire nail. The edge of the nail plate is loosen, it is deelxa.
4. AtrophicThe pieces of the nail plate disappear, exposing the bed of the nail, covered with loose horn masses. The nails are boring, yellowish gray.
5. Onicolysis. The nail plate becomes thinner and disappears. If the matrix is not injured, the nail will grow.

For us, the good news is that Mycelium does not penetrate living fabrics. He dead enough, and if he enters the nail bed, the fungus immediately attacks with immunity and dies. However, with a prolonged infection, the deteriorated trophic of the nail leads to a weakening of the barrier function, and mycelium pieces can enter the blood torrent in search of a new fertile place. In addition, the constant fight against fungus exhausted immunity reserves.

Diagnosis

To confirm the diagnosis, the specialist gives the patient a reference for the tests:

1. Microscopy. The scraping deleted from nail plate processes a special substance to destroy keratin. In this way, the material is easier to study under a microscope. The disadvantage of microscopic research is the impossibility of determining the type of fungus. However, the analysis responses already serve as the basis for the appointment of antimicotics of a broad spectrum of action.
2. Cultural research. In laboratory conditions, the material is placed in the nutrient medium of the saburo, planting for the rapid fungus development. The causal agent is identified by color, growth rate and the shape of the parasite colonies. The technique also reveals the sensitivity of the strains to drugs. But the patient receives the results of the analysis only 3-5 days after his behavior.
3. DNA diagnosis. The detection of DNA cells of fungal infection occurs when there is a scraping of a nail affected by dermatophytes or candidate fungi. The method does not determine the molds. The results of the patient analysis are administered within 1 to 2 days. The disadvantage of the diagnosis of DNA of stops of the stop is the high cost due to the need to use special equipment.

The external symptoms of the fungus are not specific, they only indicate damage to the nails on the legs. The cause of the disease becomes clear only after diagnostic studies. To prescribe adequate therapy, the onychomycosis of the stop differs from flat red lichen, nail psoriasis, keratoderma and other diseases that cause nail nutrition violation.

How to treat a fungus at home

I don't hope the fungus passes on his own. The more a person of this disease is suffered, the more complicated the additional treatment will be.

The duration of the treatment course and the selection of medicines depends on:

1. Stages of the disease.
2. The degree of damage to the nail.
3. Clinical form of the disease.

Before the beginning of active actions, it is necessary to minimize the negative impact of the external environment, eliminates the reasons why the fungus appeared under the nails on the legs:

1. A warm and humid atmosphere is ideal for the growth of several microorganisms, try to dry the shoes all the time after walking, use socks only of natural materials that provide normal heat and air exchange;
2. The fungus of the foot often appears due to bad immunity, can step on the floor with the barefoot and collect infection, take vitamins to avoid this;
3. The frequent extension of the nails can become one of the causes of onychomycosis, limit the procedure up to 1 session in six months;
4. The most complicated is the sympathetic: this is a fungus caused by active disputes. They penetrate the holes between nails and fingers, can be in a sleeping stage for some time and then grow sharply. Most of the time, they are infected in places of public use (swimming pools, showers, solarium), during the operation of other people's shoes, etc.

It is desirable to apply medications for external use after the keratolithic treatment of the nail plate.

Before each procedure to apply the medication, it is necessary:

• Make a soap and soda bath. A tablespoon of soda and salt and 50 g of laundry soap to a small bathroom is added. Keep your feet in the solution for about 15 minutes.
• Process a damaged nail. Using a special saw, the upper layer of the nail is undermined so that the medicine is better absorbed.
• Apply a medication. The drug applies to dry nails on the legs and skin around it.

When using solutions, ointments and creams, the drug is applied 2-3 times a day, varnishes 2 times a week. The treatment course is established by the doctor depending on the existing damage. If nail plates are completely affected and local medications do not have a positive effect, it is recommended to combine them with systemic antimicots. System preparations have a great contraindications list and must be prescribed by the treating doctor. Most of them are prohibited from taking during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in childhood and chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys.

In severe cases, a sub -gene fungus may require the extraction of the nail plate. The procedure can be carried out both surgically and using keratolithics that contain salicylic acid and urea. Eliminating the affected nail with keratolithic plasters is distinguished by its painless and convenience. After vaporizing the legs, the patch is perfectly applied to the affected nail plate and sealed with an adhesive plate. After a few days, the patch is eliminated, the affected areas of the plate are cut, one of the antifungal medications are applied. The procedure is performed several times.

To get rid of the leg fungus, it will not work so fast. It will take between 6 and 12 months for the treatment of onychomycosis, depending on the shape of the disease, the stage and its course. After all, complex therapy implies the use of several medications and the recovery period, during which the dermatologist prescribes a support course. The fungus of the nails is not only a cosmetic disadvantage, but a serious illness that reduces the protective functions of the body. In the context of weak immunity, dangerous pathologies can be developed. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment will avoid problems associated with onychomycosis. Therefore, you must follow your health carefully.

5 Best popular remedies for the treatment of nail fungus

Natural popular remedies are quite effective for onylomycosis in their early stages. Most of them are used at home really help get rid of the disease.

 Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide perfectly eliminates the fungus from the nails on the legs carelessly (chronic), but the treatment will be quite long. Dermatologists recommend lubricating the perhydrot daily (once every 2 days) and healthy nails in the process of getting rid of the pathology to prevent their infection.

So how to cure a careless nail fungus on the legs with hydrogen peroxide?

1. Method 1. In a basin (cube), steam the legs and try to remove (cut, scrape) from the nail plates the affected cortex. Dip the swab of gauze in the perhydrola and join the treated nail. Wrap with a movie at the top. Repeat the procedure twice a day before the growth of a healthy nail plate.
2. Method 2. Combine the perihydrol to apple cider vinegar in equal amounts. To permeate the gauze napkin with the resulting composition and join it to corrosive ailment to the nail. Wait for the end of the spike effect. Rinse legs with running water, dry well. Next, apply a pharmaceutical drug prescribed by doctors.
3. Method 3. Screw your feet in hot water with the addition of liquid laundry soap or copper sulfate, dry. A cotton pad, abundantly moistened with peroxide, is placed in the affected nail, covers with a film, fixes the bandage with a bandage strip. Keep the compress for 35-40 minutes, scrape the softened tissue, eaten by a fungus. Then, treat the surface with an antifungal drug prescribed by an infectious disease specialist.

 Vinegar

The treatment of onicycosis in an advanced vinegar (wine, apple) is a proven and effective way. To obtain the expected result, it is important:

1.  Use a natural product without chemical additives;
2. Observe proportions in the compositions;
3. Follow the treatment regime;
4. Use only your things.

We take sour baths

Prepare a basin (cube), where you can conveniently place your feet. Pour the water with heating and vinegar (in equal quantities). The fingers must be completely covered with purifying liquid. The duration of the session is 40-50 minutes. The sessions should be repeated until the injured cornea is completely replaced. In the complicated stage of onychomycosis, the bathroom must be carried out with the simultaneous use of pharmaceutical products that the mycologist will prescribe.

We make vinegar compresses

Pour in a bowl 2 tablespoons. tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, prepare a cotton swab (disc), polyethylene film. Punch cotton wool with vinegar, attached to the infected cornea, wrap (not too tight! ) A movie. Leave 3-3. 5 hours. The total duration of vinegar therapy is 2. 5-3 months. You can stop the sessions only when a new nail plate is completely formed. Even a small amount of left infected tissue can cause the return of the pathological process.

 Tea tree oil

Before using, make sure you have no allergy to this medicine. Apply some oil on your wrist and leave for 12 hours. If irritation did not occur, you can use safely. The entire course lasts two months and includes steam or direct application. For a bathroom, 5 drops of oil per liter of water are added. An uncleaned extract is applied with a cotton swab on the nail surface after vaporizing the legs in soapy water. It is not necessary to rinse it.

Fungal prevention

One of the most effective means that the fungus has "fear" is high quality prevention.

It is very important to maintain the normal function of the immune system, for which the correct diet (minimum alcohol and coffee, maximum vegetables, proteins) is necessary. In a weakened organism, the infection spreads very quickly. It must be known and clearly observe personal hygiene rules. Those who do this considerably reduce the probability of infection. There is no need to explain why you cannot wear someone else's shoes, use personal hygiene products. Nor can you walk barefoot in swimming pools, saunas, bathrooms, on the beach. You will have to clean your legs after a shower. You will know how to disinfect places where the fungus can be theoretically. In the absence of special products against the fungus, ordinary targets can be used for this. Remember that the manifestation of the fungus of the nails is always much easier to prevent getting rid of this unpleasant ailment.