Unsightly, constantly peeling, yellow nails are the main sign of a fungal infection.Most often, this problem bothers us in the summer, when we wear open shoes, visit beaches and other habitats of the pathogen.From this review, you will learn what nail fungus is, why it is dangerous, and what treatment it requires.In addition to pharmaceutical drugs, there are many effective folk remedies that you can use on your own or as prescribed by a specialist.
What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus or onychomycosis is one of the most common fungal diseases.You can catch it in a sauna, swimming pool, at the beach or at home.Example - if someone in your family had onychomycosis, was treated and recovered, the spores of the parasite can live for a long time in the bathroom, on the tiles in the kitchen and hallway, on carpets and house slippers.People with soft nail plates are most susceptible to the disease, but healthy nails alone do not provide protection against dermatotrophy infection.
Factors provoking the development of onychomycosis:
- poor quality, too tight shoes (especially from unnatural materials);
- trauma, plate deformation;
- nail extension;
- failure to observe personal hygiene;
- the use of some household chemicals.
The risk of developing onychomycosis increases with age, because metabolic processes slow down over time and nail tissue recovers much worse.Children are usually infected by adults.
Symptoms of the disease
The main symptom with which patients come to the doctor is a change in the thickness and appearance of the nail plate.It thins, yellowish or black, breaks, crumbles.A characteristic unpleasant odor often appears.If nothing is done, the parasites will spread throughout the foot, causing roughness, severe itching and pain when walking.
Types of fungi and characteristic symptoms
- moldy– given
The pathogen "loves" an organism weakened by prolonged illnesses.This causes the nail plate to change color to green, yellow, blue or black. - dermatophytes- on the nails
Yellow streaks and spots are formed, the yellowed edges move a little further.As the pathology progresses, the yellowness moves to the middle of the plate. - yeast- making a nail
uneven, wavy, furrowed.The shade changes to yellow and brown, most often the nail plate separates completely.Rolls can fester.
Please note that fungi colonize living tissues very aggressively.They are dangerous not only for their owner, but also for other people, so do not waste time - start treatment as early as possible.Fungal infection is practically not complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.
First aid
The first thing to do when you notice symptoms of onychomycosis is to improve your diet and treat your shoes.
diet
The diet should be complete and balanced, supporting a healthy microflora (not one that will be favorable for the growth of fungi).It should be followed from one month to six, depending on the stage and severity of the disease.You will have to completely give up alcohol - alcohol worsens blood circulation and reduces local immunity.
The fungal pathogen likes:fiber, starch, sugar, sweets, dried fruit, packaged juices, fermented milk with berries and sugars (mainly yogurt), preserves, sausages, semi-finished products.
You can eat:
- fresh herbs, vegetables (except potatoes and other starches);
- vegetable juices;
- herbal teas, rosehip decoction;
- cereals (except rice, semolina);
- vegetable oils;
- soy;
- nuts, seeds.
Such nutrition prevents intoxication of the body and accelerates the healing process.The bad thing about the diet is that you have to stick to it all the time.
How to treat shoes against nail fungus
Don't forget to treat your shoes against fungus.First, it is thoroughly washed with soap and dried.Remove the laces and insoles and wash them separately.You can then apply disinfectants;if you are afraid of spoiling the material, you can test its effect on a small area.When working with toxic chemicals, it is recommended to use a cloth mask and protective gloves.
Using folk remedies, the shoes are treated from the outside and inside, then cotton wool or fabric soaked in the solution is placed in the toes of the shoes, wrapped in a bag and left for several days.The effectiveness of ammonia, vinegar and formaldehyde is high, but they have a specific smell and can spoil some materials.Special sprays are more expensive, but act more delicately.You need to spray them on the inner surface and leave for a day.To achieve maximum results, the procedures are carried out 5 times in a row.Chlorhexidine can be used.
Other methods are antibacterial wipes and an ultrasound machine.The first option is easy to use, but has average efficiency, the second is powerful, safe, but has a high price.It is enough to treat the shoes with ultraviolet light for 3-10 hours, depending on the model (see instructions).
We have collected the most effective folk remedies for the treatment of fungus
Popular folk recipes for mushrooms:
- Essential oils– lavender, mint, citrus, eucalyptus.It is recommended to mix lavender with tea tree - in this case you will get an effective antimicrobial agent with an antibiotic.The main thing is to use natural ingredients, because artificial ones, although they smell delicious, do not provide any health benefits.Therefore, make purchases in pharmacies and certified outlets.Apply oils once a day, preferably before bed.
- Kombucha– fix the sponge plate on the sick nail overnight, wrap it in a film or bag, bandage it or put a sock on it.In the morning, remove the compress and lubricate the nail with iodine.After a few treatments, a healthy nail should begin to grow, but it is best to continue treatment until full recovery.
- propolisit contains the healing secretion of the bees' salivary glands, trace elements, vitamins, tanning substances and has a pronounced pleasant aroma.For the treatment of fungi, it is used in the form of ointments and tinctures.Propolis is cooled, cut and vegetable oil heated to 50-60 degrees is added, stirred for 10 minutes, cooled and filtered.
Store the finished ointment in a glass container, necessarily in the refrigerator.Apply at night, cover with gauze and secure with a bandage or stocking.The tincture is applied directly to the nails.You can use a ready-made pharmacy product or make it yourself.
- St. John's wort- smear the sick nails with the juice of the plant twice a day.You can supplement the treatment with decoction or infusion baths.Celandine is used in a similar way.
- ginger– it is used grated, like juice, in slices.Applications should be made at 10 minute intervals, do not wash anything off with water.
- iodine- in the morning and in the evening, lubricate your nails with iodine tincture every day.The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
- sodaused in the form of baths.Dissolve 5 g of soda and 3 g of common salt in warm water, stir and make baths for 20 minutes every day.You can make a paste of baking soda and water and then apply it to your nails.
- garlic- soak a small clove in salt and apply to the sore spot.For greater efficiency, garlic is ground beforehand.
- Hydrogen peroxide– first soak your feet in a bath of baking soda, then soak a cotton ball in peroxide and apply to the affected area.To prevent evaporation of the compress, wrap it in a film.You need to keep the product for one hour.The course of treatment lasts several weeks - do not hesitate to use this recipe until full recovery.
- Ammonia– add a tablespoon of ammonia to a glass of water.Soak a piece of cloth in the liquid and make compresses.It is best to keep this medicine at night.
- Bow- grate it on a fine grater, apply the resulting slurry on the affected areas.Onion is used as a compress.
- alcoholeffective in the initial stages of the development of fungus between the fingers and on the nails.Dampen a cotton pad with the product and apply it to the affected areas.In advanced situations, alcohol does not help.
- Boric acid– steam and then dry your feet well.Take the powder and sprinkle it on the problem areas, put on socks and leave overnight.The procedure can be repeated daily.
- Washing powder- also an effective remedy for onychomycosis, whose principle of action is alkaline reactions.Dissolve the powder in hot water and soak your feet in the bath.A two-week course is usually required for full recovery.
- With potassium permanganatemake baths for 15-20 minutes, they should be repeated every day.After the bath, treat the skin and nails with a weak solution of the product.To improve results, apply gauze soaked in penicillin ointment to the affected area.It is useful to treat your nails with a paste of 30 g of propolis, 30 ml of alcohol and a few drops of potassium permanganate for half an hour.
- Most people use vinegar for onychomycosis.There are different ways to use this tool:
- mix apple cider vinegar and iodine in equal proportions, treat your nails twice a day;
- a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar are mixed with 10 drops of tea tree oil, a clove of garlic, mixed and used as applications 2-3 times a day;
- add salt, soda, soap to hot water, steam the feet, then cut the affected areas of the nails and apply gauze soaked in apple cider vinegar and secure with a bandage;
- put a fresh chicken egg in 150 ml of acetic acid, wait for it to dissolve, add 100 g of oil, beat into a paste, apply overnight.
Treatment with all folk remedies is carried out until complete recovery.In terms of effectiveness, they are not inferior to pharmaceutical drugs, they are natural and cheap.The key to successful recovery is regularity.If you do the procedures once a week, you cannot expect special results.
Other folk remedies
Other, less popular, but also effective folk methods for the treatment of fungus:
- Tea tree oil- lubricate the feet and nails several times a day.The product is used pure or mixed with almond oil.
- Ground coffee– brew a strong drink, cool it, soak your feet in the bath with it.Coffee applications are often made under a film and socks.
- Laundry soap and tars– apply it to the affected area, then dip the nail in table salt and bandage it overnight.Use regular laundry soap, brown, marked 72%.
- horseradish– rub the root of the plant, steam the nails and make a compress under a bandage and film at night.You can also use ready-made horseradish.
- A lemon– squeeze the juice and apply it to your nails, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.The procedure is repeated daily for a month.
Medicinal herbs to treat fungus
Herbs are used in a variety of ways.The most popular method is baths.To prepare them, take a few spoons of eucalyptus leaves and oak bark per liter of boiling water, pour, let it infuse, strain.Baths should be taken in the morning and/or evening for 20 minutes.
A less traditional recipe is herbal socks.Take chamomile, mint, sage, nettles in any combination and equal proportions, cut them, put them in a stocking, put on shoes and wear them.The mixture should be changed daily.In summer, it is best to use fresh plants.