Treating nail fungus with folk remedies is a long process that can take from 1 to 4 months. At the same time, it is possible that after some time there will be a recurrence of the disease. This is due to the high level of infectivity of the microorganisms that cause this pathology, as well as the spread of their seeds in the environment where the infected person lives.
What is nail fungus
Fungal plaque fungus on the toes is an infectious disease with a chronic course that occurs as a result of infection of this part of the limb with pathogens (fungi). In medical terminology, this pathology is characterized as onychomycosis.It is considered a common disease that is difficult to treat with all types of treatment.On average, every 10th resident suffers from nail fungus. The disease can turn into complex forms, affecting the entire surface of the nail plate, causing it to peel off and deform.
Types of nail fungus
Treatment of nail fungus with the use of folk remedies is a long process and a positive result can be achieved after 1-3 months. from the start of treatment. The variety of fungal infections is also very important, the development of which has led to the defeat of all or part of the nail plate.
The following table shows the types of nail fungus, as well as a description of the pathological process:
| Type of onychomycosis | Characteristics of the disease |
| Normotrophic | The color of the nail plate changes. Elongated lines and irregular dots may appear. At the same time, the usual shine of the nail, the transparency of the plate and its normal thickness are maintained. It is considered a non-serious type of disease that responds well to treatment with traditional medicine. |
| Hypertrophic | The color of the nails changes, its shine and transparency are lost. A gradual deformation of the nail plate develops with the destruction of the limbs. Detachment of part of the nail from the bed is possible. The degree of deformation of the plaque depends directly on the fertilization of the tissues by pathogenic microorganisms. |
| Onycholytic | This is an atrophic type of disease, when the stage of deformity of the nail plate is completed. The nail tissue dies, which eventually leads to its rejection from the root of the bed. |
This classification of a variety of onychomycosis species is used by dermatologists.
Also, the disease is divided according to the signs of the clinical picture, namely:
- distal - damage to the nail plate occurs only on the free end side
- lateral - the destruction of the nail develops on the sides.
- near - the fungus destroys the tissues of the posterior ridge.
- whole - the fungus has completely affected the entire nail, from its root to the forehead.
The type and form of the disease are determined by a specialist at the time of the patient's examination. Based on the results of the examination and the diagnosis, a treatment is selected. This applies to both medical and folk remedies.
Stages and degrees of nail fungus
Nail fungus, a long-lasting folk remedy, is a chronic disease. Onychomycosis develops for several months, and sometimes even for many years. It depends on how strong the patient's immune system is, as well as on the strain of the infectious pathogen.
Each stage of the disease is characterized by a gradual deterioration of the health of the affected tissues, ie:
- 1st stage - there is a gradual change in the color of the nail plate along the edges, it is possible to form streaks and spots of white, gray or yellow shades, other painful signs of the disease are absent in the personfeels a strong and unpleasant yeast odor coming from the toes).
- Stage 2 - onychomycosis develops, covering the entire area of the nail plate, the structure of which begins to change from the edges to the base of the bed (the color of diseased tissues is completely yellow or gray, there are no signs of transparency)
- Stage 3 - the last stage of nail fungus development, which is characterized by complete necrosis of the affected tissues, deformed and rejected by the body (the appearance of local inflammation caused by the detachment of the nail plate from the base of the bed ispossible).
The last stage of the disease is the most serious form of onychomycosis. After the nail is discarded, its remodeling occurs, but in this case, healthy tissues have already formed. If a person does not take steps to treat a dermatological disease and get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, then the new nail will also become infected with mycoses and will be damaged in the soil.
Symptoms of nail fungus
Nail fungus, the treatment of folk remedies which requires regular use of home decoctions, tinctures and ointments, is a disease with severe symptoms.
Onychomycosis of this part of the body can be identified by the following symptoms:
- redness of the epithelial tissues located around the periphery of the nail plate.
- white spots or stripes appear on the sides of the nail as well as on the front of the nail, which do not disappear during plaque treatment or the water process.
- the nail plate gradually changes its color, there is a loss of transparency (the pathological process develops from the edges in the center and the root of the tissues).
- Fungal microorganisms penetrate deep into the nail plate, destroying its structure, which leads 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 ichor secretion at the root of the nail, where it connects to the epithelial and soft tissues of the finger).
All the above symptoms are accompanied by the constant persistence of a spicy and unpleasant smell, which looks like dough, but more intense. This sign of the disease appears even before external symptoms begin to develop, indicating a gradual destruction of the tissues of the nail plate.
Causes of nail fungus
Nail fungus, the treatment of which is based on the principle of systematic use of home remedies, can not grow on its own without the influence of certain factors.
Onychomycosis infection is possible in the following cases:
- as a result of visiting public showers, baths, Turkish baths, swimming pools, saunas, if a person did not use individual rubber slippers, he came in contact with a surface on which there are viable spores of fungal microorganisms.
- common shoe wear by many people when one of them has fungal lesions on the nail plates.
- poor hygiene, occasional foot washing.
- The presence of diseases such as diabetes, varicose veins, and deformity of the feet increases the risk of nail fungus, as local immunity decreases or a nutrient is created to increase the population of fungal microorganisms.
- wearing shoes made of poor quality coating that does not allow air to pass through and does not absorb water, which ultimately leads to the fact that the toes are constantly wet.
- contact of the exposed part of the foot or toenail 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. The warm and humid environment is ideal conditions for fungal microorganisms, so this information should be taken into account when visiting beaches and other busy places.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
Nail fungus, the treatment of which is started only after a detailed examination by a dermatologist, is an infectious disease that requires careful diagnosis. This is necessary to determine the strain of fungal microorganisms and then choose a treatment that will be effective in a particular case.
To diagnose onychomycosis, the patient must undergo the following examination stages:
- preliminary examination by a dermatologist who examines the appearance of the affected plaque, evaluates the condition of the tissues, the degree of their deformation.
- a smear is made from the surface of the epithelium at the periphery of the nail bed (biochemical analysis is performed for a strain of fungal microorganisms, as well as for the possible presence of secondary bacterial microflora).
- under the conditions of the laboratory manipulation room, the specialist selects part of the affected tissues to study in more detail the fungal microorganisms and to exclude the simultaneous presence of different types of fungal infections.
- In addition to the toes, the skin surface of the foot is examined to make sure that the fungal disease is detected and that there is no evidence that it has spread to other parts of the lower limb.
Based on the results of an external examination, as well as based on laboratory findings, the treating physician diagnoses the patient - onychomycosis or denies the presence of pathology.
Diagnostics take an average of 1 to 3 days. In a public hospital, the services of a biochemical laboratory are free, but the conditions for studying the biological material can take up to 7-10 days.
When to see a doctor
A dermatologist should be consulted 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, without realizing it, spreads spores of pathogenic microorganisms in the daily conditions of his home. In this case, infection of healthy family members with onychomycosis is not ruled out.
Prevention of nail fungus
It is possible to prevent nail infection with fungal infection, but for this, simple rules of prevention must be followed daily, which will protect the lower extremities from fertilization by pathogenic microorganisms.
The following actions are recommended:
- Do not visit public baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers and do not wear individual shoes with rubber soles.
- wear only high quality genuine leather shoes.
- follow the rules of personal hygiene, wash your feet daily with warm soapy water, wash socks.
- insist on treating family members who have signs of nail fungus but have let the disease go on and do not seek medical help
- During summer vacations near open water, on the beach, walk only in shoes, avoiding contact of the epithelial surface of the feet and feet with sand, river mud or earth.
- wear only your own shoes.
- make sure there are no mold growth areas in the apartment or private home (moisture on the walls, fungus that has contaminated old hardwood floors, boards, tinting of the wallpaper in the corners).
To prevent fungal infections of the nails, it is recommended to pay special attention to strengthening the immune system.
To do this, you need to shower with contrast every day, give up bad habits, harden the body, eat rationally, eat only biologically useful products (cereals, chicken, rabbit, turkey, beef, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, cottage cheese, milk, cheese, ocean fish).
Methods for treating nail fungus
The treatment of onychomycosis is carried out using traditional medicines, traditional prescriptions and also with the method of surgery. Each of these methods is effective at a certain stage of the disease.Medicines
The treatment of a fungal infection is carried out with drugs that have an antifungal spectrum of action.
Antifungal drugs should only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Only a specialist in this profile can determine which drug is effective in a particular clinical case. In addition, during the formation of treatment, the data of laboratory studies of collected samples of deformed or damaged nail are taken into account.
Traditional methods
There are traditional prescription drugs that allow you to get rid of fungal nail infection without the use of medications. To do this, use the following compresses, homemade ointments, tinctures and other methods:
Compress Kombucha
To prepare this folk remedy, you need to buy a kombucha or grow it yourself at home. A piece of this ingredient is cut with a knife and then placed on the surface of the infected nail. The procedure is performed the night before going to bed. Kombucha is attached to the finger with adhesive plaster. Treatment time is not limited by time.
Onion Juice Tincture
You should take 1 medium onion, cut it with a knife and then add 1 tsp. crystal Sugar.
Future medicine is refrigerated for 24 hours. During this period, the chopped vegetable manages to release a sufficient amount of juice, which is infused and then used as medicine. A diseased nail is wiped with onion juice 3-4 times a day for 3 months or until complete recovery.
Antiseptic solution
This product is made at home by mixing 1 teaspoon in equal proportions. boiling water, ethyl alcohol and garlic paste. All ingredients are mixed until a homogeneous mass is formed. The resulting solution is used for antiseptic treatment of nail plate at least 2 times a day. The treatment lasts at least 3-4 months.
Salt ointment for fungi
An effective antifungal agent that is easy to make at home. To do this, you need to take ½ teaspoon. table salt, add 1 tbsp. large. honey collected from herbs and then mix all the 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. It is best to perform the procedure at night. During the treatment process, it is necessary to observe precautions, without allowing the drug to reach the skin at home around the periphery of the nail bed and you should also protect the mucous membrane of the eyes.
Homemade ointment is used until the diseased nail is detached to further form a healthy plaqueAlternative treatment is really effective, but the only downside to using it is the healing time.
Their duration of use must be at least 3 months. The initial form of fungal infection of the toenails can be eliminated within 2 months. In this case, the course of treatment must be continuous. Skipping even one procedure can worsen tissue health.
Other methods
An alternative treatment for fungal infection of the nails of the lower extremities is surgery. The method consists in the fact that the treating physician removes the deformed nail plate.
Generally, surgery is performed as follows:
- The patient comes to the operating room independently and then lies down on the couch or sits in a chair.
- A nurse injects a local anesthetic into a finger whose nail is affected by onychomycosis.
- After the anesthetic has started to work (after 5-10 minutes), the surgeon tears the affected neck with forceps.
- Antiseptic treatment is performed in the surgical area, sutures and a sterile bandage are applied.
After the completion of the surgery, the patient is transferred to the ward of the surgical ward, where he receives further treatment with antifungal drugs. The average duration of complete healing of the wound area is from 7 to 10 days. Within 1 month. grows a new nail plate, which, provided that the treatment process is properly organized, has no signs of fungus.
Possible complications
In the absence of actions aimed at treating nail plates from fungal infection,may develop the following complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- complete deformation of the nail plate with its further detachment from the base of the bed.
- the spread of the fungus to healthy skin tissues located on the surface of the foot, between the toes, the transition of the disease to the nails of the upper extremities, the inguinal folds. Onychomycosis infection of other family members who have not previously suffered from fungal disease (children are the most vulnerable because their immune systems are weaker than those of adults).
- loss of nails and termination of the process of new plaque formation, as due to the abundance of infectious microorganisms, the integrity of its structure is initially violated.
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies is possible, but this will require maximum effort, devoting at least 3 months. year.
The main risk of onychomycosis is that the fungal microorganisms that cause damage to the nail plate are highly contagious and quickly adapt to new environmental conditions, as well as the effects of the active ingredients of the drug.
This is why treatment of the disease should be started as early as possible to avoid its transition to a complicated or chronic form of the course.