Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is a lengthy procedure that can take from 1 to 4 months. At the same time, it is possible that the disease will recur after some time. This is due to the high level of infectivity of microorganisms that cause this pathology, as well as the spread of their spores in the environment in which the infected person lives.
What is toenail fungus
Toenail fungus is a contagious disease with a chronic form of the flow that occurs as a result of infection of this part of the limbs with pathogens (fungi). In medical terminology, this pathology is referred to as onychomycosis.
It is considered a common disease that is difficult to treat with all types of therapy.On average, every tenth resident suffers from nail fungus. The disease can turn into complicated forms, completely affecting the entire surface of the nail plate, causing its separation and deformation.
Types of nail fungus on nails
Treating toenail fungus with folk remedies is a long process and a positive result can be achieved after 1-3 months. from the start of therapy. The diversity of mycosis is also of great importance, the development of which has led to the defeat of all or part of the nail plate.
The table below shows the types of nail fungus on the nails, as well as a description of the pathological process:
| Onychomycosis type | Characteristics of the disease |
| Normotrophic | The color shade of the nail plate changes. Elongated streaks and irregular spots may appear. At the same time, the usual shine of the nail, the transparency of the plate and its normal thickness are preserved. It is considered a non-severe type of disease that responds well to treatment with traditional medicine. |
| Hypertrophic | The color of the nail changes, its shine and transparency is lost. Gradual deformation of the nail plate develops by destroying the edges. It is possible to separate part of the nail from the bed. The degree of plate deformation directly depends on the insemination of tissue with pathogenic microorganisms. |
| Onycholytic | This is an atrophic type of disease, when the phase of nail plate deformation is over. The nail tissue dies off, which ultimately leads to its rejection from the root of the bed. |
Dermatologists use this classification of the variety of onychomycosis.
Also, the disease is divided according to the signs of the clinical picture, as follows:
- distal - nail plate damage occurs only on the side of the free edge;
- lateral - nail destruction develops on the hips;
- proximal - mycosis destroys the tissues of the posterior ridge;
- total - the fungus has completely affected the entire nail, from the root to the front.
The type and form of the disease is determined by a specialized specialist at the time of the patient's examination. Based on the results of the examination and diagnosis, the treatment regimen is selected. This applies to both drug treatment methods and folk remedies.
Stages and stages of nail fungus
Toenail fungus, long-term treatment with folk remedies, is a chronic disease. Onychomycosis develops over several months, and sometimes even long years. It depends on the strength of the patient's immune system, as well as the strain of the infectious pathogen.
Each stage of the disease is characterized by a gradual deterioration in the health of the affected tissues, as follows:
- Stage 1 - gradually changes the color of the nail plate along the edges, it is possible to create streaks and spots of white, gray or yellow shades, other painful signs of the disease are completely absent (the person feels a sharp and unpleasant smell of yeast comingwith toes);
- Stage 2 - onychomycosis progresses, covering the entire area of the nail plate, whose structure begins to change from the edges to the bottom of the bed (the color of diseased tissues is completely yellow or gray, there are no signs of transparency);
- Stage 3 - the final stage in the development of nail fungus on the nails, characterized by complete necrosis of the affected tissues, the body deforms and rejects them (the appearance of local inflammation caused by the separation of the nail plate from the base of the bed is possible).
The last stage of the disease is the most severe form of onychomycosis. After the rejection of the nail, it re-forms, but in this case, healthy tissues have already been formed. If a person does not take measures to treat the dermatological disease and get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, then the new nail will be infected with mycoses and destroyed to the ground.
Symptoms of toenail fungus
Fungus on the toenails, for the treatment of which folk remedies require regular use of home decoctions, tinctures and ointments, the disease is with pronounced symptoms.
Onychomycosis of this part of the body can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- redness of epithelial tissues located in the circumference of the nail plate;
- on the sides of the nail, as well as on the side of the nail, white spots or streaks appear, which do not disappear during the processing of the plate or taking water procedures;
- nail plate gradually changes color, there is a loss of transparency (pathological process develops from the edges to the center and roots of the tissue);
- fungal microorganisms penetrate deep into the nail plate, destroying its structure, leading to its deformation;
- the affected nail has a yellow wrinkled shape;
- under mechanical action on the affected tissues are separated from the nail bed (this process may be accompanied by painful symptoms and secretion of ichor at the root of the nail, where it connects with the epithelial and soft tissues of the toe).
All the above symptoms are accompanied by the constant presence of a sharp and unpleasant odor, reminiscent of yeast, but more pronounced. This sign of the disease also appears before external symptoms begin to develop, indicating the gradual destruction of the nail plate tissue.
Causes of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus, whose treatment with folk remedies is based on the principle of systemic use of home remedies, can not develop independently without the influence of numerous factors.
Onychomycosis infection is possible in the following cases:
- as a result of visits to public showers, bathrooms, steam rooms, swimming pools, saunas, if the person did not use individual rubber slippers, came into contact with the surface where sustainable spores of fungal microorganisms are present;
- joint wearing of shoes by several people, when one of them has mycotic lesions of the nail plates;
- poor hygiene, occasional foot washing;
- the presence of concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, as well as deformity of the feet, increases the risk of toenail fungus, because local immunity is reduced or a nutrient medium is created to increase the population of fungal microorganisms;
- wear shoes made of poor quality coating that is impermeable to air and does not absorb water, which ultimately leads to the fact that the toes are constantly wet;
- contact of the open part of the foot or nail with the floor surface in the apartment, if a person with onychomycosis lives in the same living conditions.
A person's immune status plays an important role in the development of this disease. People with strong immunity can avoid infection and further damage to the nail plate. A warm and humid environment are ideal conditions for fungal microorganisms, so this information should be taken into account when visiting beaches and other places where there are a lot of people.
Diagnosis of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus, whose treatment with folk remedies begins only after a detailed examination by a dermatologist, is a contagious disease that requires careful diagnosis. This is necessary in order to determine the strain of fungal microorganisms, and then select the treatment regimen that will be effective in a particular case.
For the diagnosis of onychomycosis, the patient must go through the following stages of examination:
- preliminary examination by a dermatologist who examines the appearance of the affected plate, assesses the condition of the tissues, the degree of their deformation;
- a swab is made from the surface of the epithelium located in the circumference of the nail layer (biochemical analysis is performed for the strain of fungal microorganisms, as well as the possible presence of secondary bacterial microflora);
- in the conditions of the manipulation room in the laboratory, the specialist selects a part of the affected tissues in order to study the fungal microorganisms in more detail and to exclude the simultaneous presence of several types of mycosis;
- In addition to the toes, the surface of the skin of the feet is examined to ensure that the fungal disease is localized and that there are no signs of its spread to other parts of the lower extremity.
Based on the results of external examination, as well as on the basis of laboratory findings, the doctor who diagnoses the patient - onychomycosis or denies the presence of pathology.
Diagnosis takes an average of 1 to 3 days. In a public hospital, the services of a biochemical laboratory are free of charge, but the deadlines for studying biological material can be extended up to 7-10 days.
When to see a doctor
Consultations with a dermatologist should be done as soon as signs of nail fungus develop.The delay is fraught with worsening of symptoms and damage to large areas of the nail plate.
In addition, a person with signs of onychomycosis is a carrier of a fungal infection, and also, unaware, spreads the spores of pathogenic microorganisms in the everyday conditions of their stay. In this case, infection of healthy family members with onychomycosis is not excluded.
Prevention of toenail fungus
It is possible to avoid contamination of the toenails with a fungal infection, but for this simple prevention rules must be followed on a daily basis that will protect the lower limbs from insemination by pathogenic microorganisms.
The following actions are recommended:
- do not visit public baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers or wear individual shoes with rubber soles on your feet;
- wear only high quality genuine leather shoes;
- respect the rules of personal hygiene, wash your feet daily with warm water and soap, wash your socks;
- insist on treating family members who have signs of nail fungus but have let the disease go its course and do not seek medical help;
- during the summer holidays near open water bodies, on the beach, walk only in shoes, avoiding contact of the epithelial surface of the feet and toes with sand, river mud or earth;
- wear only your own shoes;
- make sure that in the apartment or private house there is no area for mold growth (moisture on the walls, fungus that has infected the old wooden floors, base, blackening of wallpaper in the corners).
In order to prevent fungal nail infections, it is recommended to pay special attention to strengthening the immune system.
To do this, you need to shower daily with contrast, give up bad habits, strengthen the body, eat rationally, eat only biologically useful products (cereals, chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, cottage cheese, milk, cheese, ocean fish).
Methods for treating nail fungus on nails
The treatment of onychomycosis is performed using traditional medicines, prescriptions of traditional medicine, and is also performed by the method of surgical intervention. Each of these methods is effective at a certain stage of disease development.
Medications
Treatment of fungal infection is performed with drugs that have an antifungal spectrum of action.
Antifungal medications should only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Only an expert of this profile can determine which particular drug is effective in a particular clinical case. In addition, when forming the treatment regimen, the data of laboratory tests of collected samples of deformed or altered nail are taken into account.
Traditional methods
There are recipes of traditional medicine that allow you to get rid of fungal infections of the nails on the feet without the use of pharmaceutical preparations. To do this, use the following dressings, homemade ointments, tinctures and other methods:
Kombucha wrap
To prepare this folk remedy, you will need to buy kombucha or grow it yourself at home. A piece of this ingredient is cut off with a knife and then placed on the surface of the infected nail. The procedure is performed at night before bedtime. The kombucha is attached to the finger with adhesive plaster. The duration of therapy is not limited in time.
Tincture of onion juice
You need to take 1 medium-sized onion, chop it with a knife and pour 1 tsp. granulated sugar.
The future drug is sent to the refrigerator for 24 hours. During this time, the chopped vegetables manage to release a sufficient amount of juice, which is poured in and then used as a medicine. The diseased nail is wiped with onion juice 3-4 times a day for 3 months, or until complete recovery.
Antiseptic solution
This product is prepared at home by mixing in equal proportions of 1 teaspoon. boiling water, ethyl alcohol and garlic pulp. All components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is created. The resulting solution is used for antiseptic treatment of nail plates at least 2 times a day. The treatment lasts at least 3-4 months.
Salt ointment against fungi
An effective antifungal agent that is easy to make at home. To do this, you need to take ½ teaspoons. table salt, add 1 tbsp. l. honey collected from plants, then mix all ingredients. The result is a honey-based ointment that contains a high concentration of mineral salt.
The product is applied to the nail plate once a day. The procedure is best performed at night. In the process of treatment it is necessary to follow precautions, not allowing the home remedy to reach the skin in the circumference of the nail bed, and you should also protect the mucous membranes of the eyes.
Homemade ointment is used until the diseased nail separates with further formation of a healthy plate. Alternative therapies are really effective, but the only drawback of their use is the time of therapy.
The duration of their use should be at least 3 months. The initial form of fungal infection of the nail plates on the feet can be eliminated within 2 months. In this case, the course of treatment should be continuous. Skipping even one procedure can worsen tissue health.
Other methods
An alternative way to treat a fungal infection of the nails of the lower extremities is surgery. The method consists in the fact that the doctor who removes the deformed nail plate removes it.
In general, the operation is performed as follows:
- The patient comes to the operating room on his own, and then lies down on the couch or sits on a chair.
- A nurse injects a local anesthetic into a finger whose nail is affected by onychomycosis.
- Once the anesthetic has begun to work (after 5-10 minutes), the surgeon pinches the affected nail plate with forceps.
- Antiseptic treatment of the operated area is performed, a suture and a sterile dressing are applied.
Upon completion of the surgery, the patient is transferred to his / her surgical ward, where he / she receives further antifungal drug therapy. The average duration of complete wound healing is 7 to 10 days. Within 1 month. a new nail plate grows which, provided the treatment procedure is properly organized, shows no signs of fungus.
Possible complications
In the absence of actions aimed at curing nail plates from fungal infection,can develop the following complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- complete deformation of the nail plate with its further separation from the bottom of the bed;
- spread of fungi to healthy skin tissues located on the surface of the feet, between the toes, the transition of the disease to the nails of the upper extremities, inguinal folds;
- infection of onychomycosis of other family members who have not previously suffered from fungal disease (children are the most vulnerable, because their immune system is weaker than adults);
- nail loss and interruption of the process of forming a new plate, because due to the abundance of infectious microorganisms, the integrity of its structure was initially disturbed.
It is possible to treat toenail fungus with folk remedies, but this will require maximum effort, spending at least 3 months. time.
The main danger of onychomycosis is that the fungal microorganisms that cause nail plate damage are highly contagious and quickly adapt to new environmental conditions, as well as the effects of the active components of the drug.
Therefore, treatment of the disease should be started as early as possible to prevent its transition to a complicated or chronic form of the course.