Today we will talk about the treatment and prevention of nail fungus, so that you know how to get rid of it and prevent the recurrence of this disease.
Statistics show that nail fungus occurs in almost every tenth person in the world. This means that this infection is very common and extremely insidious. The disease is extremely unpleasant for the eyes, because areas infected with fungi look quite repulsive.
If you think that this disease will never affect you, do not promise it - it is easy to catch a fungal infection in any public place: on the beach, in the bathroom, sauna, swimming pool, gym and other crowds.
Signs and symptoms of nail fungus
In fact, few people know that yeast infections come in thousands of varieties. But many of them do not cause pain and are not visually visible.
Due to this peculiarity, in the initial stages of the disease, a person who is infected with the fungus may not even be aware of it. But several types of fungus can cause pain around and under the nail.
Note!
Since the painful symptoms of fungi are extremely rare, doctors are consulted only in the last, advanced stages of the disease, when there is a change in the color of the nail, its deformation and separation of the upper plate. In the last stage, the treatment is difficult, so it is necessary to adhere to the prevention of the disease. This will ensure that you avoid infection.
For the prevention and timely treatment of nail fungus, it is important to know that there are three stages of development of a fungal infection affecting the nail plate:
The first stage of the disease is the absence of clearly expressed symptoms on the nails;
Note!
Nail fungus (onychomycosis) can be diagnosed at an early stage only in a hospital, under laboratory conditions. Therefore, if you notice even the slightest change on the nail plate, consult a doctor immediately!
The second stage of onychomycosis is a change in the color of the nail plate, loss of shine, deformation of its lateral and upper parts:
The third advanced stage of the fungus is severe delamination and brittleness of the nail, which can lead to its complete loss.
In addition, the fungal infection affects the skin around the nail, which is accompanied by unpleasant sensations of itching, burning and pain.
Prevention of fungal nail diseases
Every day, without knowing it, we deal with thousands of bacteria around us. But almost all of them are absolutely harmless for us, because the immune system is called, like an invisible guardian angel, to protect us from diseases.
Note!
Therefore, the first step in the prevention of nail fungus is a proper, balanced diet. If the body is saturated with minerals, vitamins and useful substances, the immune system will work only for you.
Movement is life! And that is true, because playing sports and an active lifestyle make us healthy, strong and durable both physically and spiritually. Physical activity prevents diseases of the cardiovascular system.
If the circulation is disturbed, the protective functions of the skin of the hands, feet and nails do not work properly, which leads to their diseases.
Causes of yeast infection
Warm, humid rooms are breeding grounds for bacteria. Therefore, you must ensure cleanliness in your home, especially in the bathroom and toilet.
It is important!
When visiting public places: water park, bathroom, swimming pool, sauna, you must dress and dress. And then wash well and take a shower.
In order not to create a favorable environment for the appearance and reproduction of fungi "under the nose", wear comfortable, preferably natural, shoes, socks, stockings, slippers, tights, etc. Discomfort during wearing can cause blisters, corns, sweating, and wounds. leads to the appearance of an alkaline microclimate - an ideal place for the reproduction of fungi.
Note!
When visiting beauty salons you need to be careful and attentive. Visit only verified and recommended places, because we are talking about preserving your health. Professional pedicure, manicure and nail extension is absolutely safe and easy. Wounds, cuts, poorly performed procedures are the gateway to infections.
It is important to know that you cannot wear other people's shoes, because it will harm your health. We strictly adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.
This is important to know!
The fungus must be treated quickly and thoroughly. The disease does not go away on its own, and time only plays a role in the spread of the infection, because complications can occur: it can spread from the feet to the stomach, to the groin, to the skin of the chest, to the armpit.
If someone in your family has foot fungus, there is a chance that healthy family members will become infected. Maintain personal hygiene more carefully than usual, do not wear other people's shoes, towels, brushes, combs, etc.
Traditional treatment of toenail fungus
It is very important not to start an infection, be sure to contact a specialist for qualified medical assistance.
Note!
In combination with pharmaceutical drugs, you can use traditional methods of treating toenail fungus, which are quite effective and will help get rid of this unpleasant disease.
Vinegar compress against nail fungus
Ingredients:
- Vegetable oil - two tablespoons;
- Apple cider vinegar - two tablespoons.
Preparation and use:
- Mix vinegar and oil in a ratio of 1: 1, then moisten a cotton pad with the resulting solution and apply it to the nail affected by the fungus. We fix the upper part with an adhesive patch or a bandage.
- Leave the compress on overnight and remove it in the morning. We treat the fungus with a vinegar compress until the diseased nail completely replaces the diseased plate with a healthy one.
Antifungal oil
This aromatic natural oil will help fight fungal infections on the feet and nails, soothe irritated skin and soothe tired feet.
Ingredients:
- Eph. clove oil - 5 drops;
- Eph. cinnamon bark oil - 5 drops;
- Eph. oil - thyme (thyme) - 20 drops;
- Eph. sage oil - 10 drops;
- Eph. lavender oil - 30 drops;
- Tea tree essential oil - 25 drops;
- Jojoba oil - 100 milliliters.
Preparation:
- Pour jojoba oil into a dark bottle, add essential oils and mix vigorously for three minutes.
- Place the bottle in a dark place at normal room temperature and let the healing oil mature for a day.
After this time, the aromatic antifungal oil is ready.
How to use:
Wash your feet well and dry them. Shake the oil well in the bottle and apply a few drops to both feet. Even if the fungus has affected one foot, then for preventive purposes, we apply the medicinal agent to the other foot as well.
Apply the oil to the nails and between the toes, massage the skin a little and wait for the oil to be absorbed. Then we put cotton socks on the feet.
Use medicinal oil two to three times a day, it can also be applied to acne and wounds. The oil can be stored for up to two years in a cool place.
Tea mushroom
This is a simple and very good remedy for treating fungus.
This is useful!
Before going to bed, it is recommended to make poultices from a strong infusion of kombucha, and the longer the mushroom is kept, the better.
For the procedure: it is necessary to steam the feet in warm water and apply a kombucha compress and secure with a bandage. Leave overnight and remove in the morning. The course of treatment is four weeks.
Another treatment option: tear off a small piece of kombucha, remove the film from it, and mash the peeled part into a paste. Rub the resulting mass into the affected areas three times a day. It is important that for each procedure you need to take a fresh piece of mushroom.
Baths with celandine decoction
Baths with celandine decoction help very well.
- The ratio of grass and water is 2: 3. Add the required amount of celandine and water and cook for 3 minutes.
- Strain the soup and steam the legs for half an hour.
- Use the same decoction to make lotions on the affected areas.
Soda
The use of baking soda is effective.
- Therapeutic procedures: apply soda lotion and steam the feet in the soda solution.
- Recipe for soda solution: one tablespoon of soda for three liters of hot water. Stir the baking soda well until it is completely dissolved.
- You should thoroughly steam your feet in a soda solution, then dry them with a clean towel and coat them with celandine oil, which is sold in pharmacies.
You can, after a bath with soda, moisten a cotton swab with celandine oil, put it between your toes and fix it with a plaster. We put a sock on top. We keep this bandage for 20 minutes.
Procedures should be performed twice a day for one month.
Mushroom fat - recipe no. 1
Preparation: wash the chicken egg and cover it with vinegar. Keep in a dark place until the shell completely dissolves. Discard the film, mix the vinegar with the rest of the egg and mix this mass with the butter.
Application: Apply the obtained ointment to the areas affected by the fungus in the morning and in the evening. Do this until complete recovery, after which you can use the ointment for preventive purposes.
Mushroom fat - recipe no. 2
Ingredients:
- One raw chicken egg;
- One spoon of vegetable oil;
- One spoon of vinegar 70% essence.
Preparation:
Mix all the ingredients well and the medicinal ointment is ready. We store it in the refrigerator and use it as needed.
application:
- We steam the legs, dry them and apply ointment to the areas affected by the fungal infection.
- You have to put a plastic bag on top and secure it with a bandage or put on socks.
- Do the procedure in the evening and keep it until the morning.
The course of treatment is 30 days.
Mushroom fat - recipe no. 3
Another folk method for treating toenail fungus using an easy-to-prepare and highly effective ointment based on vinegar essence.
Ingredients:
- Raw chicken eggs (preferably from domestic chickens) - 2 pieces;
- Vinegar essence 70% - 1 glass;
- Butter - 200 grams.
Preparation of fat:
- Wash the eggs, put them in a pint jar and fill them with vinegar essence so that it covers the contents of the jar.
- Put the jar in a dark place for 10 days, during which time the eggshells will completely dissolve in the essence.
- Remove the eggs from the jar with a fork, remove the foil, put them in a bowl and add the softened butter (take the butter out of the fridge beforehand).
- Mash the eggs with a fork and mix them with the butter. We should get a homogeneous mass similar to sour cream. Add three tablespoons of acetic acid from the jar in which the eggs were placed to the mixture and mix again.
Store the finished fat in the refrigerator.
application:
- Wash and dry your feet, apply ointment to the affected areas and let them dry for five minutes. The ointment will be absorbed quickly, then put on clean socks and go to bed.
- Use for a month, every day in the evening. Then, when you feel that the disease is passing, once a week it is necessary to smear.
As a result of the treatment, feet and nails will become clean and healthy, itching and diaper rash will disappear, and the skin will become smooth and healthy.
Antifungal baths
Such therapeutic baths can be done daily with the addition of a weak solution of vinegar, potassium permanganate, soda solution and essential oil solution.
Note!
Prevention of fungal nail infections should be carried out regularly to avoid recurrence of the disease.
Eucalyptus and Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe juice, eucalyptus oil, or eucalyptus tincture also work well to treat nail fungus. Their use is quite simple: it is necessary to smear the affected areas three times a day until recovery.
Essential oils for athlete's foot
Traditional methods of treating toenail fungus with essential oils have proven quite well in practice, as they have good antifungal properties.
Oils for use: tea tree, lemon, fir, sandalwood, patchouli.
Contraindications: individual intolerance, pregnancy.
Tea tree oil
Let's look at the main points of using essential oils using the example of tea tree. This recipe can be used with other oils.
Baths - method no. 1
- 20 drops of oil and one teaspoon of shower gel should be diluted in one liter of hot water.
- Bathe for 20 minutes until the water cools down. The procedure must be performed every day until complete recovery.
At the end of the treatment, preventive baths with tea tree oil (or other oil) once a week are recommended.
Rubbing oil - method no. 2
Rub essential oils into the nail plates affected by fungal infections using a cotton ball.
To perform the procedure, you need to wash your feet well with laundry soap and dry them. Then rub the oil into the affected areas and let it absorb. It is not necessary to wash the feet after rubbing in order for the oil to have a healing effect.
Note!
Lemon essential oil is good to use for the described procedures as well, it helps against infections and does not stain the nails, keeping their natural appearance.
The duration of treatment is three or even four months, it all depends on the patient's immunity and the stage of the fungus.
Alcohol tincture of propolis
At the pharmacy, buy a 20% tincture of propolis in alcohol, which you apply to painful nails with a cotton ball. Do this procedure daily.
You will soon see the result: the diseased nail will disappear and a new one will grow.
Sea salt
Take sea salt baths daily for a week. Lubricate your feet with fresh celandine juice three times a day for 3 months.
Treatment of fungi with iodine
Every day for 3 weeks, in the morning and in the evening, apply a drop of iodine to painful nails. Be sure to also treat the adjacent nails (outside healthy).
After about a week or a little earlier, a slight burning sensation and pain around the nail may appear - a sign of successful treatment. In case of severe pain, apply iodine less often.
Salt with mint
The medicinal properties of common salt will help in the treatment of nail fungus.
To prepare:
- Mix finely chopped mint with salt in a 1: 1 ratio.
- The resulting pulp should be placed on the affected nail plates and between the fingers.
Repeat until the infection is completely cured.
Pharmacy ointments and preparations
For the treatment and prevention of nail fungus, in combination with folk remedies, it is good to use effective pharmaceutical drugs, this will allow you to quickly cure the disease and prevent its recurrence.
Salicylic ointment
This pharmaceutical drug is often used in the treatment of various skin diseases: ringworm, acne, diaper rash. This ointment also helps with fungal infections. Contains 25% salicylic acid.
How to use: rub the affected areas 2 - 3 times a day.
Zinc ointment
Another cheap "folk" medicine sold in pharmacies. The ointment contains zinc oxide and petroleum jelly.
Zinc ointment has no contraindications, it can be used by women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as children. This medicine should be applied to the affected area up to 5 times a day. However, if the degree of fungus is not very pronounced, the number of applications can be reduced.
Sulfur grease
This medicine contains from 10 to 33% sulfur and is a good medicine for the treatment of foot and nail fungus. For treatment, it is better to take a 10% solution. The medicine should be applied 1-2 times a day. The course of treatment is one week.
It can be used in the treatment of skin diseases in young children.
Note!
Before using traditional toenail fungus treatment methods or any other medication, consult your doctor.
Treatment and prevention of nail fungus requires time and a lot of effort, you have to be patient and not wait for a quick recovery.
It's important to know!
Fungi on the nails are unusually durable and very quickly develop immunity to substances found in antifungal drugs. Therefore, if you are infected with it again or were not treated last time, the previously used medicine will be useless. You should buy a drug with a completely different principle of action.
It is recommended to see a doctor in time for a diagnosis, not to allow the disease to progress, to start treatment on time, to complete it, in this case you will forget about such an unpleasant disease as nail fungus.
Be healthy!