Nail fungus - how to cure it. Why it occurs and what means are effective

14 March 2021

Have you noticed cracks between your legs? Do your feet itch and itch endlessly? Did your nails suddenly lose their color and start to get worse? These symptoms should not be overlooked, as they can signal a fungal infection on the feet. This disease is by no means uncommon; it is particularly common among military personnel, professional athletes, and visitors to the pool. With great sadness, fungal skin lesions are treated for a long time and difficult, while causing significant discomfort to the "owner". What you need to do to avoid the contraction of this disease, as well as how to deal with it after acquisition: we will inform you about all this in our article.

Causal relationships: where does nail fungus come from

Of course, the fungus itself does not "cling" to the feet of a healthy person for no reason. There are different types of fungi that are considered classic, ie they affect the largest percentage of patients. All this is called by the unique term "onychomycosis". This group may include spores of the fungus candida, dermatophytes or trichophytos, the latter, in turn, having many subspecies, which are found in different parts of the feet and nails.

Such difficult, at first glance, names characterize an extremely unpleasant infection that penetrates under the nail or "establishes" the area between the fingers or under them, at the very base. The most wonderful environment for fungal spores is the wet and warm aspects of human feet, here they feel really comfortable and constantly growing, which leads to expansion of the affected area.

So what causes nail fungus?

In the absence of proper hygiene, fungi multiply and can affect large areas of the foot. At the same time, their spores are quite capable of reaching the surface of any shoe, "settling" there and infecting a person again and again, and besides him, also those who can wear these shoes. Rubber slippers and slippers are common breeding grounds for differences.
Due to excessive sweating of the feet, called hyperkeratosis. Shoes for military personnel, miners or athletes are often wet inside. This is due to the increased loads and "non-breathable" materials from which boots or boots are sewn. This environment is a mushroom seed paradise.
Sometimes the fungus gets under the nail during the pedicure procedure in any beauty salon. Without proper sterilization of pedicure instruments, the master runs the risk of bringing you fungus, which is quite difficult to get rid of. This can happen to absolutely anyone during a pedicure cut that has not been treated with a special sterilization solution.
Chronic diseases in the body can affect a fungal infection. You do not need to start the inflammatory process, which has been done for years. It is imperative that we address this.

Due to the fact that mushroom seeds are very fond of moisture and warmth, they often "live" in baths, public showers and saunas. That is why in places where there is stagnant water, high humidity and high temperatures, you must follow the rules of hygiene. Be sure to wear only your own shoes brought from home to saunas, public showers and baths. Remember: if someone has repeatedly worn slippers in the sauna before you, it is very likely that the fungal spores have already settled into the porous structure of the rubber and you can become infected with onychomycosis.

How to diagnose nail fungus yourself

It is not difficult to make a self-diagnosis, because with the most insignificant signs you can identify the fungus and consult a doctor in the early stages. All you need to do is regularly examine your feet in the area between your feet, at their base, and on your toenails. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the skin of the foot after visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths or after wearing someone else's shoes.

The most common symptoms of fungal infections of the feet and nails are:

Cracked skin at the base of the feet. At the same time, the wounds do not dry out, but get wet and are constantly inflamed.
Nails with unusual shape. Any detachment of natural marigold from the skin, their deformation or discoloration should alert you. In patients with onychomycosis, the nails become very thick, very brittle and may even crumble. At the same time, the color scale can change: yellow, white, gray or even blackened marigolds are not at all unusual for such a disease.
Also look for itching, spots and rashes on the surface of your feet. If they do not disappear in 1-2 days, you should consult a dermatologist.
You should also be aware of the sudden appearance of blisters on the skin of your feet. They are usually found in small clusters and contain a clear liquid inside.
A very important symptom is an unpleasant odor from the feet. If your feet have never smelled fetish, do not skip this factor, as it may indicate the presence of fungal disease.

Because of the presence of such symptoms, you can independently diagnose yourself with fungal skin disease. If in doubt, you should see a doctor, have a special examination and confirm or deny the presence of onychomycosis.

How is nail fungus diagnosed in a medical clinic

Most likely, you will be asked for a general blood and urine test to find out if there is an inflammatory process in the body. Your doctor will ask you to tell us in detail about the medicines you are taking and whether you suffer from certain diseases, for example diabetes. Due to the increased level of glucose in the blood, as well as the excess weight, which often accompanies endocrine disorders, the so-called diabetic foot appears. This disease is characterized by calluses, corns, cracks and fungal lesions.

Laboratory analysis for the presence of fungal spores is mandatory. Usually, a few days before the diagnosis, you do not need to wash your feet and the points of detachment of the nail plate should be sealed with adhesive plaster. It is on the borders of healthy skin and the affected area that a special scraping is taken, which determines the presence of onychomycosis. In rare cases, when a recurrence of the disease occurs, damaged marigold particles are taken for analysis. They are placed in a special environment where the fungus can grow more actively. In a similar way, laboratory assistants, together with doctors, determine the type of fungus and can then decide on further treatment.

Diseases of this kind are treated by dermatologists and doctors with more specialized - mycologists.

How to treat nail fungus

Unfortunately, nail fungus is not a common cold. It will never go away on its own. Disagreements are quite resistant to many drugs, but what can I say: it is the fungus that is considered one of the most resistant microorganisms on the planet. Just like mold, fungal spores can live on all of us.

Fungi should be treated without failure because they can spread to the surface of the skin, involving all large areas in the pathological process and even settle in the airway, causing asthma.

There are medicines called antifungals. Like antibacterial drugs, they kill the problem from the inside out, as they are often taken orally. Only a doctor can prescribe antifungals, due to the fact that some of them can have many side effects. Some groups of drugs are able to fight only one or more types of fungi, but there are also broad-spectrum antifungals.

For effective treatment of onychomycosis, drugs with the following active ingredients are suitable:

Terbinafine,
Clotrimazole,
Ketoconazole,
Fluconazole,

Remember that only one doctor has the right to prescribe antifungals. Given the possibility of side effects, it is impossible to choose an antifungal that is suitable for all patients with onychomycosis.

Special ointments, applications and creams are also prescribed for the high quality treatment of fungal infections of the foot. These nail fungus treatments are used both in the initial stage and during the procedure. Depending on the degree of damage and the location of the fungus, your doctor may prescribe applications. They involve applying ointment to the affected areas of the skin, which are then sealed with plaster. Such an application is usually maintained overnight and in the morning the dead skin or nail particles are removed and carefully removed.

The following treatment options also work well:

Treatment with antifungal sprays,
Creams or emulsions,
Coating of nails with a special anti-fungal varnish.

The complex treatment of fungal disease, combining the use of ointments, antifungals and other procedures, gives the most lasting result. But we must not forget that the treatment of onychomycosis is a long process. To give you an idea of how to get rid of nail fungus, it is worth mentioning one fact: as usual, the nail grows fully in a period of 6 to 12 months. Until a new, healthy nail develops again, you should not stop the treatment, because sometimes the spores can remain at the root of the nail. If you stop treatment earlier, a recurrence of the disease may occur.

Folk remedies for nail fungus on the nails

Treating a fungus at home will not be effective if only two or three treatments are performed and, with the slightest improvement in the clinical picture, forget the treatment. The duration of the antifungal treatment should last at least three weeks, but sometimes it takes much longer to overcome an unpleasant disease. Be patient or the nail fungus will come back.

The key to home treatment is to remove as much of the affected skin and nails as possible to prevent the spread of spores. In the conditions of beauty salons, a pedicure teacher will help treat fungal infections. It will remove the upper affected layer of the nail with a special grinding cutter with a non-thick nozzle, after which it will be possible to apply antifungal ointment in this area. At home, it is unlikely that you will completely remove the layer of dead cells, but it will be very likely that you will soften it and remove it carefully.

Nail fungus recipe:

Chicken egg - 1 pc,
Essential vinegar 70% or 80%,
Tea tree oil, butter or olive oil.

Acetic acid works well against many types of fungi, so you can try it at home. First, add the chicken egg mixture so that it is completely covered with the solution. It is best to use a glass for this. Now you need to put it in a dark place. Observe the egg: as soon as you notice that the shell is completely dissolved, take out the container and add a little oil to it (in case you want to add tea tree oil, 1-2 drops are enough). Now you have to grind the mixture well so that the egg becomes a homogeneous paste. The mixture should cover the areas affected by the fungus, apply a plastic wrap on top and wrap the feet with a bandage or gauze. It is recommended to leave the compress for several hours, after which you should cut the steam marigold. With regular use, the diseased nail can be removed almost completely, and the fungus can be removed forever.

Nail fungus: treatment with folk remedies

If you want to beat onychomycosis on your own, compresses made from different ingredients, such as garlic, horseradish or compote, may help. Just make sure to steam your feet before applying, that is, prepare a steam bath for them.

Baths with sodium or potassium permanganate solution are considered the most effective. Both ingredients have an antiseptic effect, perfectly clean and disinfect the skin and nails. The bath is simple: pour hot water into a basin and pour soda there, at the rate of 1 tbsp. large. soda for 3 liters of water. Potassium permanganate powder should be added carefully so as not to burn the skin inflammation. The solution should not be purple or purple; light pink water is sufficient. We lower our feet in our bath and enjoy them for about 1 hour. Wipe your feet dry. You can now perform other manipulations.

Grate the horseradish or garlic on a fine grater or press it with a press. Wrap the mass in a piece of gauze or bandage and apply to the affected area. Leave the compress on overnight, remember to wrap in plastic and wear warm socks. Kombucha has the same effect, you will need a little of it - a small piece, which should also be applied to the affected area of the nail.

Prevention of foot fungus - how to avoid infection with fungal spores

As a precaution against onychomycosis infection, you should follow a few simple rules:

Use your own shoes to visit the pool, shower, sauna or Turkish bath. Try not to walk in such places without shoes, especially if there is even slight damage to the skin.
Do not lend your shoes and foot hygiene items, such as pumice or pedicure brush at home, to strangers.
To never think about how to get rid of nail fungus, change your underwear, socks or tights more often. Your health depends on it.
When you come to a pedicure, check if the master has sterilized his instruments. Some salons have a service for buying your own set of pedicure tools. This significantly reduces the risk of fungal infection.
Remember that to prevent calluses, corns and blisters, you should wear loose-fitting shoes that do not restrict movement. Remember: if there are no sores, cracks or scratches on the surface of the skin, fungal spores are unlikely to attack you.