Nail fungus or mycosis is an extremely unpleasant and, unfortunately, very common disease. Mycosis refers to chronic, incurable pathologies - sometimes it is not possible to find an effective cure for toenail fungus for months or even years. The symptoms disappear for a while, everything seems to be behind and the nails are healthy. But after a few weeks, the nail plate becomes yellow again, thickens, begins to crumble - and again you have to look for remedies for nail fungus, suffer from itching, discomfort and an unpleasant odor.
Finding effective remedies to treat toenail fungus is necessary not only because the affected feet do not look well-groomed and repulsive. The constant presence of a fungal infection in the body negatively affects the state of the immune system, the general well-being of the person and can become a stimulus for the development of other, no less unpleasant and dangerous pathologies. Pharmacies offer a huge selection of different nail fungus remedies at very different prices. They all have different composition and mechanism of action, which are the most appropriate, in most cases you have to determine by trial and error.
A good remedy for nail fungus on the hands and feet costs a lot. To avoid unnecessary costs and not start the disease, it is worth preparing before going to the pharmacy. Namely - to find out what types of antifungal drugs exist today, what is their difference, how they work and are used. And, of course, you should definitely consult your doctor. Adhering to his recommendations or not is a personal matter for everyone, but at least he will accurately diagnose and identify the pathogen.
Main types of antifungal drugs
All drugs offered in pharmacies for the treatment of athletic foot are divided into two broad categories according to the method of application:
- external - ointments, creams, varnishes;
- internally - tablets and capsules.
To find the most effective and best remedy for toenail fungus, you need to identify the pathogen. Different fungi are sensitive to different medications, so it is so important to visit a doctor. Otherwise, the treatment can stretch indefinitely, leading to worsening of the nail condition and unnecessary waste.
Each group has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worth considering each of them in detail and assessing the effectiveness of the most common drugs from them, based on the opinion of doctors and examinations of patients.
Remedies against fungus on the foot notes on azole
These nail fungus products may contain substances such as triazole or imidazole. They work in two directions:
- destroy spores of the fungus and thus stop its spread;
- destroy the cells of the fungus itself.
These drugs can be produced in various forms, both for external and internal use. Tablets and capsules are taken from 1 to 4-5 pieces a day for 3-14 days, ointments and creams are rubbed into the nail plates with courses of the same duration.
Pros azole
- Effective against almost all types of fungi - yeast, yeast, mold.
- Suitable for long-term treatment - up to three months or more.
- Available in a wide range of prices.
Against
- Oral medications can have side effects.
- Some are expensive.
- Relapses are not ruled out even after complex treatment.
However, many patients in this category find the most effective remedy against nail fungus. Such drugs have received the best reviews and recommendations.
Introduction
Only a comprehensive treatment can get rid of nail fungus.
For a positive result, you need to apply several methods to combat the injection of fungi.Only the right approach will get rid of the disease quickly.
Diagnosis of athlete's foot
Diagnosing the disease is easy, and you can do it at home. Carefully examine the nails and the space between the fingers - itching, redness, transparency of the nail plate, burning sensation, discoloration of the nail are signs of the disease.
You can perform the diagnosis in another way, dilute potassium permanganate to a light purple color and soak your nails in it - healthy nail plates will be colored and patients will remain unchanged. As soon as a problem is discovered, the question of treating the fungus arises, and then everyone decides for themselves.
Start treating the disease at home using folk remedies or pharmaceuticals or go to the doctor.Our advice is to consult a specialist, only a doctor can prescribe the correct, comprehensive treatment that will lead to positive results.
What to expect from a trip to a health facility if a fungus is found:
- A dermatologist will carefully examine the fungus under a microscope.
- Indicates the focus of the infection.
- Determine the cause of the disease.
- Will make an accurate diagnosis according to the tests performed.
- Prescribe treatment.
It should be noted that the diagnosis is completely painless; skin scales and diseased nail particles are taken for analysis.
Main types (schemes, courses) of complex therapy of onychomycosis
In the treatment of fungi, only a complex therapy is used with the use of various drugs and agents that will enhance the interaction.
A qualified specialist develops an individual treatment regimen, based on the characteristics of the patient's body, the type of pathogen and the state of development of the fungal infection.
Untimely treatment of nail fungus can lead to the following consequences:
- decreased immunity;
- appearance of eczema on the skin of the feet;
- allergies;
- If the infection enters the bloodstream, the fungus can infect the internal organs.
Rapid removal of fungal infection from the body contributes to effective treatment of fungi. There are many types of pathogens, andcan only be detected in the laboratory, so when contacting a dermatologist, he takes particles from the diseased nail.
In the last stage, it is very difficult to get rid of the infection because it has penetrated deep enough into the body. At this stage, the nail plates become thickened and brittle, and the skin around them deforms. In this situation, recovery depends on the dermatologist's proper approach to treatment and the patient's own procedures.
Antifungal varnishes and plasters: types and degree of effectiveness
Special patches, often recommended by mycologists, will help to quickly destroy fungal spores.
The patch softens the affected nail, making it easier to remove later.
Removing nail plates and treating fungus with patches is quite effective, but you must consult a specialist before use, as the use of a single patch will not alleviate relapse if the disease has penetrated deep into the body.
In addition to patches, a large number of nail polishes have been developed that effectively fight nail fungus. The following popular and effective varnishes will help cure onychomycosis:
If the fungus is not cured, another treatment must be found.
Preparations that painlessly remove damaged nails
Now you can buy medicines in the pharmacy that help to quickly and painlessly remove a sore nail, but they must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Onychomycosis tablets
If the fungal lesions have grown greatly, then the use of only external drugs will be useless, you need to take antifungal drugs inside.
Creams and ointments
Medical studies have proven that ointments and creams for the treatment of nail fungus are not effective enough because they practically do not penetrate the nail plate and wear out quickly.
But do not completely exclude these drugs from the treatment regimen, they can significantly help as an additional treatment or as prophylaxis.
Doctors prescribe creams and ointments to prevent recurrence.
Tea tree oil is often used in the treatment of fungi, which can be used alone or added to foot creams.
It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects. The course of treatment is very long, and the main rule for a positive effect is regular use.
Traditional therapy
Despite the fact that many drugs have been developed to treat fungal infections, it is not so easy to get rid of this disease. Therefore, folk methods of treating fungus are often used in a bunch of drugs.
Garlic
This ingredient is often used in many folk recipes to treat fungus. It can be used alone or with some components.
The easiest way, but quite effective, is to rub freshly squeezed garlic juice into a sore nail. This procedure must be repeated at least 5 times a day - apply the juice with a cotton cloth. The course of treatment is long - until complete recovery. If the disease is ongoing, experts recommend taking additional tablets of Nystatin and Clotrimazole ointment.
Acetic acid
Vinegar not only effectively fights fungal infections, but also has the following properties:
- antimicrobial action;
- disinfection of the skin around the nail;
- fungistatic and antiseptic action.
The principle of the action of vinegar essence on fungi and mycosis is to penetrate the affected area and destroy the spores of fungal infection.
As a result of prolonged use,fungal colonies are completely killed by acid.
For treatment, compresses of 8 times dilute acetic acid are used, a bandage is applied at night.
Onions and lemons
There are many popular recipes for treating nail fungus from onions. You can take onions, peel, squeeze the juice and process the nail plates. This method is often used at night, but since the product does not require rinsing, it can be applied in the morning.
There is another recipe, you need to grate the peeled onion, put the porridge on your feet, then wrap it in cellophane and put on warm socks. The compress is left overnight, and in the morning wash your feet with soap to remove the permanent smell of onions.
And if you combine lemon and onion, you can enhance the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect of the drug. Grate the onion into a porridge and add lemon juice to it. Apply these masks at night. An improvement can be noticed after a few days. But the main thing is the frequency - long-term use of the drug, until it is completely cured.
General antifungal prophylaxis
The fungus can be infected in public places such as baths, saunas, salons. To prevent this problem, you must take the following precautions:
- do not wear shoes whose size is not large, it can cause the growth of the nail plate and the development of a fungal infection;
- if you sweat excessively on your feet, you should not wear sneakers and running shoes;
- don’t try on shoes at the store without socks;
- do not wear slippers when visiting;
- dry and disinfect shoes regularly;
- do not wear synthetic socks;
- pedicure or manicure should be done in professional salons, where special attention is paid to disinfection of the instrument;
- for severe dry foot skin, apply emollient creams.
10 best folk remedies against nail fungus
Medications are not always needed in the early stages of fungal infections. Sometimes you can deal with them with the help of proven folk remedies. These treatments are considered safe for human health. In parallel, they show a clearly visible effect of treatment, of course, provided they are used properly.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an incredibly powerful natural antiseptic that can fight fungal pathogens. It is most effective to use natural oil as it has excellent anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. As for cosmetic oil (40%), it actually has no effect. Using a cheap analogue will only waste valuable time, allowing the disease to spread even further.
Tea tree oil treatment is as follows:
- First you need to get rid of excessive sweating and generally clean your feet. To do this, prepare warm water and add a few drops of oil there. The feet should be washed thoroughly, paying special attention to the toes and nails. Do not miss any area of the skin during the cleansing procedure.
- Feet should be well dried with a clean towel. Then you need to apply the dosed oil to all the affected nail plates and rub it in lightly. Wait for the product to dry completely. At this point, do nothing, let your feet "breathe". For greater efficiency, the oil must be applied to the skin around the nails.
Tea tree oil treatment is incredibly simple, but requires regularity. The product must be applied twice a day for two months. Before each rubbing in the oil, the feet should be steamed with warm water with the addition of the substance.
Vinegar, garlic, peroxide - cheap home treatments
Apple cider vinegar is most commonly used to treat nail fungus.Everyone knows that this solution perfectly disinfects and kills bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to carry out therapy with this tool with great success, but you must know some of the intricacies of its use, namely:
- Vinegar must be natural;
- Vinegar is not used to treat fungi in pure form, it must be diluted without decomposition;
- if you have too sensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions, then it is better to refuse the use of the product.
Vinegar gives the best results in the following variations:
- Trays - To prepare 2-4 cups of vinegar dilute in warm water. The procedure takes about 10-15 minutes. It should be performed at least twice a day for two weeks. In the future, the procedure is repeated once in 3 days until complete recovery.
- Lotions - a cotton swab or sponge is soaked in diluted vinegar (1: 2 ratio) and applied to the affected nail. This type of coating must be repaired and held for about 20-30 minutes.
- Fats - show good results in combination with other products. To make it you need to take olive oil, glycerin and dimethyl phthalate and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The ingredients must be thoroughly mixed. Apply this ointment to treat fungus 2 times a day until it is completely eliminated.
Garlicis a fairly specific fungicide, not suitable for everyone and not everyone. Garlic porridge helps best. It must be applied to the affected nail and tightly wrapped in polyethylene for 1-2 hours. However, such a drug often provokes burns and causes redness on sensitive skin. You can get rid of nail fungus using this method of treatment in 2 months.
Nail fungus therapy withhydrogen peroxideis an affordable method that, unfortunately, does not always give significant results. This method of treatment is most desirable in the initial stage of the disease. In order for the peroxide to work correctly, the legs must first be well steamed with hot water with the addition of soda (1 teaspoon of the substance per 1 liter). In the future, each affected nail must be carefully treated with peroxide. You must repeat this procedure at least 2-3 times a day. It should be noted that this method gives the best results in combination with other methods of therapy.
Apricot resin
Few people know that apricot gum really has beneficial and healing properties. Most often, this substance can be found at the places of bark damage, it accumulates and hardens in the form of small transparent drops of dark yellow color. The resin must be collected by careful cutting with a knife.
Resin is an excellent antifungal remedy if used properly. 1 tablespoon of the substance is injected into 250 ml. vodka for 3 days. The resulting product is used to lubricate nails affected by the disease.
Strong coffee
It has excellent healing properties. Only real coffee beans are suitable for fungal therapy. The soluble version of this drink is not suitable for treatment. Coffee bean-based containers show the best efficiency.
Ground coffee beans must be cooked to high strength. Wait for the water to cool slightly and immerse your feet in the resulting solution. It should last 10-15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure, but wait until the liquid is completely absorbed and dries. Such treatment is carried out at least once a day.
Lotions with anesthetic solution
Allows to stop the spread of mycosis in the early stages. For therapy, it is enough to buy an anesthetic in ampoules at the pharmacy and use it as a lotion on the affected area of the nail. Several procedures allow you to completely get rid of the disease.
Effective only in the earliest stages of fungal infection. It is necessary to lubricate the affected nail plate with iodine. You should not get too pregnant, as this medicine has a detrimental effect on the condition of the skin. It is recommended to lubricate the adjacent fingers with Vaseline to avoid irritation.
Celandine
Celandine juice is an aggressive substance that can literally burn fungi. After lubricating the nails with hydrogen peroxide, you must use a fresh plant. If you are afraid of burns, it is recommended to use celandine oil, which can be successfully bought in any pharmacy.
Tricks for successful fight against toenail fungus
To fight fungus quickly and effectively, you need to know a few simple but very important rules:
- Washing your feet.Before applying the medicine to the affected nail, the feet should be washed thoroughly with warm water and laundry soap. After that, you need to steam the affected fingernail in warmer water for 5-7 minutes. This will allow the drugs to penetrate as deeply as possible into the paired tissue. The main thing to remember is that steaming the feet with hot water is contraindicated in case of hypotension, varicose veins and high temperatures.
- Nail care.It is very important to monitor the regrowth of a diseased nail. As the nail plate grows, it will have to be cut off. Therefore, it is possible to allow maximum drug access to fungus-damaged tissues.
- Skin treatment.Not only nails are needed for processing, but also the soft tissues around them. Treatment should extend to 1 cm around the nail. You must apply the medicine carefully, smearing all the most inaccessible places.
- Timely visit to the doctor.In particularly difficult situations, when the fungus returns several times, it is worth contacting a doctor. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cure this disease on your own. In addition, some types of medications may simply not be appropriate and it is quite difficult to select the necessary medications yourself.
- Instrument care.When performing a manicure or pedicure, as well as cutting off a sore nail, you should use only sterilized instruments. These instruments must be treated with antiseptic "before" and "after" each procedure. In addition, nail clippers, tweezers and files used to care for a diseased nail must be strictly separated from other manicure tools.
Using these simple rules, you can cure nail fungus much faster.
Conclusion
Fungus is an unpleasant disease and is quite difficult to cure if you do not apply complex therapy. For the best effect you need to use not only external, pharmaceutical and folk remedies, but also treatment with tablets. The right approach and treatment regimen will help get rid of the fungal infection forever.
Nail fungus can significantly impair a person's quality of life. The disease leads to severe itching, burning in the affected area, and even nail loss. Therefore, antifungal medications should be applied to the nails (hands) immediately after the problem is detected. In this way, the best and most effective treatment can be achieved.
Making the right choice is not always easy. Many who first encounter the fungus are negligent and use little proven folk remedies as therapy.
Only a doctor can prescribe a really effective remedy against nail fungus. Thus, the probability of solving the problem increases significantly. However, there are a number of proven remedies that guarantee the removal of nail fungus in the shortest possible time. This applies not only to medicines, but also to traditional medicine.