Thumbnail fungus (onychomycosis) always goes unnoticed.First, the infection affects the skin of the fingers, then goes up to the nail and, if not detected in time, spreads throughout the foot.Even in the early stages, treatment can take 2 to 3 weeks, so it is vital to recognize the insidious fungus as soon as possible.In addition, today the disease can be cured using different methods - both pharmaceutical drugs and proven folk recipes.
Symptoms and stages of big toe fungus.
Both men and women are at risk of contracting onychomycosis: anyone who wears tight closed shoes, regularly visits the pool and sauna, and in summer likes to relax on public beaches.
Children are the least likely to suffer from onychomycosis and, after 60 years, one in two people already suffers from the infection.Weak immunity, chronic diseases, endocrine disorders are to blame...
Fungal infection is a disease with many faces.There are several types of fungi and each pathogen causes different symptoms.To find out if you have become a victim of a fungus, you need to take a closer look at your big toe and examine the skin around and between the toes.
The following symptoms will tell you that it is time to treat the nail:
- the skin on the legs becomes dry and cracked;
- small bubbles filled with ichor appear between the fingers;
- thickening of the nail plate began;
- the nail has become brittle, crumbles and breaks;
- nails have lost their shine, their usual shade and have become uneven;
- yellow spots and stripes appear on the nail plate (these are dermophytic fungi);
- the nail suddenly turns green or black (mold);
- on the sides, the nail plate began to turn yellow and lag behind the skin (yeast fungus);
- The nail began to grow under the skin and cause severe discomfort.
- Onychomycosis develops gradually, and each stage of the disease has its own symptoms.And although each pathogen also behaves differently in its different stages, in general the stages of foot fungus can be represented as follows:
- Early stage.Here the fungus barely manifests itself.Sometimes the skin on the feet itches and begins to crack, and barely noticeable spots and stripes appear on the nail of the big toe.
- Second stage.The nail loses its healthy pink color and the plate begins to deform (on the sides and edge).
- Advanced stage.The nail plate eventually changes color, becomes thick and loose, and sometimes falls off.The skin on the fingers and between the fingers is affected.At this stage, the pathogen enters the body, which is why symptoms of poisoning appear.These are weakness, drowsiness, dysbiosis, weakened immunity.
Drug treatment.
If you find a fungus on your thumb, self-medication is far from the best option.There are several types of this infection and the medication you choose may not be effective against your particular type of fungus.Therefore, it is recommended to go to a doctor who will prescribe tests and select an individual course of treatment.
Before treating a disease with traditional medicines, it is necessary to destroy all the pathogen's escape routes.And to do this, disinfect shoes, bedding and socks.Textiles can be boiled, outdoor shoes can be cleaned inside with lemon, and indoor slippers should be thrown away.These methods will not only speed up healing, but will also prevent you from infecting your family members.
It will take 1 to 2 months to clear a fungal infection at an early stage.In advanced cases, treatment continues for up to a year or even longer.
Foot fungus can be successfully treated with three groups of medications:
- antifungal varnishes;
- local preparations: ointment, cream, spray;
- Medications for oral administration.
Antifungal varnishes for the treatment of fungi.
Antifungal varnishes are recommended at the beginning, when the disease has not yet reached an advanced stage.
The main advantage of medicinal varnishes is versatility.They can be used for prevention, treating existing fungus and even to remove the diseased part of the nail.Some medications can be applied not only to the nail, but also to the sore skin of the feet.The only drawback of these funds is their high price.
Most antifungal varnishes fight several types of fungi at once.It takes 2 months to a year to cure all symptoms of the infection.
Creams and ointments for the treatment of fungus.
Using ointments and creams for onychomycosis is the most effective and easiest way.To completely get rid of the infection at home, you will need up to a year (depending on the stage of the disease).Doctors recommend changing the ointment (or alternating it) every 14 days;Otherwise, the fungus will get used to the medicine and will not produce any effect.When all symptoms disappear, it is necessary to continue treatment for another 2 weeks to consolidate the effect of the drug.
Antifungal medications for oral administration.
In advanced forms of onychomycosis, it makes no sense to treat the disease only with ointments and varnishes: the fungus has already penetrated into the blood.In this case, the doctor prescribes antifungal and immunomodulatory drugs.
Treatment with home remedies.
You can cope with the fungus on the big toe at home not only with pharmacy varnishes and ointments.In the early stages, folk, "grandmother's" methods will be quite effective.
But it is important to understand that treatment with folk remedies, although less expensive, will take longer than the use of antifungal varnishes and special creams and ointments.
Traditional medicine methods are widely used in the treatment of fungal infections.It is recommended to use them as additional measures to the main treatment.They cannot replace medications.
Common recipes:
- The simplest treatment method at home is iodine cauterization.You just need to apply iodine to the nail plate and surrounding skin with a cotton swab 2 times a day (in the morning and before bedtime).Don't forget: iodine dries out your skin.Therefore, every week it is better to take a brief break and treat the fungus with other home remedies.
- If you get the infection at a very early stage, you can treat it with a proven military method: laundry soap.We simply grate a regular bar of soap on a coarse grater, dilute it in a container with hot water and arrange foot baths every night.Until complete recovery.
- The antibacterial properties of garlic are also excellent for fighting fungus.There are two recipes with garlic that you can use at home.The first is to rub the garlic until it becomes a paste, spread it on the sore nail, wrap it in film and put a sock on top.Do it 2 times a week at night, antifungal course – six months.The second recipe consists of 2 cloves of crushed garlic per 100 grams of softened butter.Use in a similar way, but every night, after washing.Use for 1-2 months.
- Treatment of mycosis of the big toe with folk remedies is impossible without potato peelings.We take fresh peels, boil them, drain the water and knead them by hand directly in the saucepan.Then we transfer the fungus-damaged legs to a container and steam them.After 15 to 20 minutes, wash the remaining peels with potato broth and put on clean socks.Do this every night until the fungal symptoms disappear.
The essence of vinegar, lemon compresses, poplar bark baths, the herbal mixture of chamomile, violet and thread, celandine, etc.They are also considered effective home remedies for big toe fungus.
Remove the nail from the big toe
If the fungal infection has already entered the second or third stage, the full treatment must necessarily include removal of the nail.You can remove the entire nail surface or just a part, and the new nail will grow smooth, pink and healthy.
Removing the nail plate with folk remedies requires special care and precision;Total sterility must be maintained to avoid introducing a new infection.Homemade keratolytics also act in a similar way: they soften the nail plate infected with fungus and can be removed.The most popular home recipes are soap-soda baths and birch tar compresses.
Nail removal is possible in different ways: at home, in hospitals or beauty salons.If you decide to carry out such a responsible procedure yourself, there are four options:
- keratolytic varnishes;
- special ointments and creams;
- keratolytic plaster mixtures;
- Nail removal with home remedies.
All varnishes, patches, creams and other traditional remedies work on the same principle.A keratolytic mixture is applied to the nail by steaming (according to the instructions daily or several times a week), sealed on top and removed after a while.It is recommended to remove patches once a day, ointment and cream - once a day or 3-4 days, varnish - weekly.In this case, the damaged part of the nail is removed along with the product.
Don't forget: nail removal is not the whole treatment.The fungus itself lives and multiplies in the nail bed, so after removing the nail plate, the sore finger should be treated with other antifungal drugs.Otherwise, the infection will become more active and infect the new growing nail.
It is much more difficult to cure fungus than to prevent it, so prevention of fungal infection must be carried out constantly.To do this, follow simple hygiene rules.Do not wear other people's shoes, use a separate towel for your feet, take only your own shoes to the pool, sauna and bathhouse and disinfect them regularly.Regardless of what you are wearing (shoes, boots, sneakers), shoes should be comfortable, breathable, and ideally made from natural materials.
It is also necessary to take care of your feet: cut your nails on time, prevent the nail from penetrating the skin and heal all cracks and small wounds in a timely manner.Also, periodically examine your fingers for any suspicious symptoms.