Nail fungus is medically called onychomycosis. Virtually everyone comes into contact with fungal spores. It is easier to be infected in public places: swimming pools, saunas, baths. But infection also occurs at home when using other people's towels, slippers and manicure accessories.
The skin and nails are very susceptible to infections. Most often, the disease develops in people with reduced immunity. Immunity is weakened if a person suffers from chronic diseases, especially of the gastrointestinal tract, and is forced to treat them, is under stress and works in dangerous industries.
Causes of fungi
People at risk are those who take aggressive medications for a long time, such as antibiotics.
Age-related changes in the acid-base balance of the skin, reduced blood circulation in the extremities, injuries to the toes and diabetes also create more than favorable conditions for the development of the fungus in the body.
Stages of disease development
The fungus begins to grow on the skin between the toes, where small cracks appear.
Further, the infection spreads to the skin of the foot, itching, burning, pulsation, hyperemia appear. If you do not pay attention to these symptoms, the fungus grows and eventually affects the nail plate.
External signs of a fungus on the legs at the initial stage
At the initial stage of the disease, the nail does not lose its shine, retains its pink color, but yellow stripes and spots appear along the edges of the nail.
What does the fungus look like on the legs in a state of disrepair?
With advanced onychomycosis at home, it is too late to treat the fungus with anything. The nails change their structure, become thick, exfoliate, crumble, a characteristic unpleasant odor appears.
The change in color and structure of the nails depends on the type of fungus that has affected the nails. In an extremely neglected state, the nails become very thick, deform, take the form of claws, and then the nail plate is destroyed. The skin is flaky, the dead layers are constantly exfoliating.
Medicines for foot fungus
Many patients wonder: if a nail fungus is detected, how to treat it at home, is it possible to do without removing the nail plates?Having found the first signs of a fungus, you need to consult a doctor to prescribe the right treatment.
Depending on the stage of the disease, topical preparations are prescribed: ointments, varnishes, solutions or tablets of complex action. However, the most important thing in the treatment of fungus is discipline, because any treatment lasts several weeks.
Local application
For the treatment of nail fungus, varnishes and medicinal liquids are produced:
- Lake from the group of morpholines.
- Varnish belonging to the group of oxypyridones.
- Varnish whose active substances are formaldehyde and a mixture of enzymatic proteins.
- Spray from the group of allylamines.
- A product in the form of a serum based on rye enzyme filtrate is sold complete with disposable nail files. The kit includes a diary and templates to monitor nail changes.
- Drops belonging to the group of allylamines.
- An agent from the imidazole group is available in the form of a kit: a waterproof patch, a dispenser and a scraper are attached to the ointment.
Systemic action
Systemic drugs are taken orally. They affect the whole body, so they can be used only as prescribed by a doctor, taking into account contraindications. With onychomycosis, all drugs are taken for several months, while the nail plate changes.
- A broad-spectrum drug from the group of triazoles. Released on prescription. With onychomycosis, it is taken within 3 months.
- An antibiotic from the grayish group is not recommended by doctors in the early stages of the disease.
Traditional methods of treating fungus on the legs
If you have found nail fungus, traditional medicine will tell you how to treat it at home. Folk remedies should be combined with medication.
The treatment will bring a result if, before each use, the legs are steamed for 15-20 minutes in a hot bath with the addition of laundry soap or tar, salt or soda, then remove the layer ofskin and the diseased nail with a nail file.
If, according to the prescription, the product must be applied to the nail with a swab or stick, a separate swab must be used for each nail.Manicure instruments must be disinfected after each procedure.
Iodine
Iodine is the most popular folk remedy for fungus. For the treatment of nails, it is necessary to apply 5% iodine solution to the affected nails twice a day for a month. Contact with 5% iodine solution on the skin may cause burns.
Therefore, another common method is to take iodine baths. Just put a few drops of iodine in a bowl of hot water to color the water and maintain your feet for 20 minutes. After the bath, dry your feet and apply an antibacterial ointment.
Important: For people with thyroid problems, iodine treatment is contraindicated!
The vinegar
Vinegar is widely available at home and is very effective in treating nail fungus because scientific studies have shown that the fungus is afraid of acidic environments and dies quickly. In order not to have to treat burns, apple cider vinegar should be used, although it is less preferred than vinegar essence at a concentration of 9%.Treatment Options:
- Apply vinegar to your fingernails, put on cotton socks and go to bed.
- Pour 250 ml of vinegar into a bowl of hot water, hold for 10 minutes before going to bed, then apply the prescribed cream.
Ammonia
Ammonia has a disinfectant effect. Compresses are used for treatment. 1 tablespoon of ammonia is diluted in a glass of warm water.
The resulting solution is moistened with a cotton cloth, wrapped around the feet with it, plastic bags and socks are put on top. With this compress go to bed.
Those who are not comfortable sleeping in socks on top of bags may be recommended to rub a mixture of ammonia with glycerin in a 1: 1 ratio into the affected areas. The resulting mixture is applied to the nails and skin twice a day, morning and evening.
Hydrogen peroxide
Experts recommend using hydrogen peroxide in the early stages of the disease, when the fungus has not yet deeply affected the nails.
- A cotton swab is moistened with a 3% peroxide solution, applied to the affected nail and kept for at least half an hour. After that, the compress is removed, the softened areas of the skin are cut with scissors, the nail is removed with a nail file and an antifungal agent is applied.
- A very effective remedy is a paste of club soda (2 tablespoons), table salt (1 tablespoon) and hydrogen peroxide (1 teaspoon), all mixed with 4 tablespoons of waterlukewarm. The mixture is applied to the nails, covered with a bandage. Apply twice a day for 40 minutes for a month.
Propolis
In addition to useful properties, bee glue has a pleasant aroma. People allergic to honey and other bee products should not use this product. For the treatment of onychomycosis, propolis itself and its 20% tincture are used.
Propolis in its pure form is applied for half an hour to the affected nails several times a day.
Propolis tincture can be purchased at a pharmacy or made independently.
To be made at home, 20 g of propolis are poured into 80 ml of alcohol and infused for 2 weeks.
The resulting tincture lubricates the skin around the affected nails, and a compress is applied to the nails themselves.
If the fungus is running, the concentration can be increased by pouring propolis with alcohol in a 1: 1 ratio.But in this case, the compresses should be made only on the nails, the skin should be protected with a cream in order to avoid burns before the intervention. Also, propolis tincture can be added to baths in which the legs are steamed before using drugs.
Tar
Birch tar is obtained by boiling birch bark in special boilers. To treat nail fungus at home, tar can be purchased at a pharmacy. It has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect, dries the skin better than the remedies listed above.
Tar is applied to the skin and nails for two hours. The skin can be damaged, with cracks and abrasions, it is not dangerous. After two hours, the remains are removed with a cotton swab, moisturizer is applied, after which socks are put on. The disadvantages of the product include a dark color and a strong unpleasant smell, which makes it difficult to use the product before going out.
Tar has a drying effect, so people prone to dry skin should use it with caution.In addition to pure tar, the use of tar soap gives good results.
For compresses, soap is rubbed on a grater, mixed with water, you can also add baking soda. The resulting paste is applied to the nails, the fingers are wrapped in a film, the socks are put on top. After a few hours, the compress can be removed, the remains can be washed off with warm water.
Lemon
Since the fungus is afraid of acid, lemon is a logical solution in the treatment of fungus.
- A compress from lemon slices is the easiest way to treat a fungus at the initial stage. Thinly sliced fruits are applied to the nails, covered with a film, put on socks and left overnight.
- Small lemons can be put on the finger like corks, fixed with a bandage and left overnight.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice can be applied to the nails morning and evening. It is important to remember that lemon juice is very acidic, so people with sensitive skin may experience irritation. You can also mix lemon juice with olive oil and rub this mixture on your nails.
Egg
Raw chicken eggs are also used in the treatment of fungus. A common folk recipe is an egg dissolved in vinegar. To do this, the washed egg is poured with vinegar essence so that it completely covers it.
The container is closed and placed in a cool place for several days, but not in the refrigerator, until the shell is completely dissolved. It usually takes about a week. Egg skins are removed from the solution, the liquid itself is mixed with fat, for example, butter.
The resulting ointment is applied to diseased nails, wrapped with a film. A mixture of chicken protein, vinegar essence and vodka also helps well.Egg products must be stored in the refrigerator.
Garlic
It is necessary to use garlic very carefully in the treatment of fungus, since garlic juice can cause burns.
On diseased areas, you can apply porridge and garlic juice in its pure form, as well as in the form of alcohol tincture and diluted with vegetable oil. For the manufacture of tincture of garlic for 50 ml. vodka will need 4 cloves.
Celandine
As a systemic remedy in the treatment of nail fungus, alcohol tincture of celandine is used. At home, an alcohol tincture is prepared at the rate of one part of celandine grass to 10 parts of vodka.
It is important to remember that celandine is very poisonous, so it should be treated more carefully than other medicinal herbs.
20 drops of alcohol tincture are taken orally half an hour before meals. People with bronchial asthma should not take celandine inside. Effective is the external use of celandine. Nails affected by onychomycosis can be lubricated with fresh celandine juice. At the same time, the juice should not get on healthy skin, otherwise you risk serious burns.
To protect yourself from burns, you can lubricate the skin around the nails with a cream. A milder remedy is celandine oil, but it should also not be applied to damaged skin. Celandine oil can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently.
To do this, the collected stems, leaves and flowers of the plant are dried, placed in a glass container and poured with the same volume of warm vegetable oil. After storing the container for a week in a dark cool place, the oil is filtered and diluted with vegetable oil in a 1: 1 ratio.
mountain ash
An effective remedy is a compress of fresh mountain ash leaves. The leaves are washed, crushed, the resulting gruel is applied to the affected nails and covered with a bandage.
The result of such treatment will be noticeable no earlier than a month.
tea tree oil
Essential oils are widely used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Tea tree oil is considered the most effective against nail fungus. You can simply rub it into the nail plates or add 15-20 drops to the baths in which the legs are steamed. The best result is the use of tea tree oil in the early stages of the disease.
tea mushroom
Kombucha is a symbiosis of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. It was imported from Japan, so people also call it Japanese mushroom or jellyfish mushroom. Kombucha is grown in weak sweet tea.
If you leave the mushroom in a container for several weeks, it will grow, and the liquid will become carbonated and acquire a bitter taste.Bacteria secrete acid and even ethyl alcohol. Therefore, kombucha is effective in treating fungus at home.
A small piece is separated from the top layer, put on the nail, covered with plastic wrap and go to bed. In the morning, the compress is removed, the softened parts of the nail and skin are cleaned. Compresses are repeated until a healthy nail grows. You can also apply kombucha, ground into a mush, on your nails.
Golden Mustache Dye
The golden mustache has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Golden mustache dye is easy to prepare at home.
To do this, 50 segments of the plant are poured with 2 glasses of vodka and infused for 10 days. Apply in the form of compresses.
Kalanchoe
The popular name for this houseplant is home healer or flower of life. Its anti-inflammatory and healing properties are well known. For the treatment of nail fungus, the skin is removed from a fresh sheet of Kalanchoe, applied to the nail, reinforced with adhesive tape and left overnight.
In the morning, the compress is removed, the softened area of the nail is removed with a nail file. The procedure is repeated until the nail plate is completely renewed. If a burning sensation is felt, the compress should be removed to avoid an allergic reaction.
Lilac
Alcoholic tincture of lilac flowers, preferably white, is prepared at the rate of half a glass of flowers per glass of vodka. After 2 weeks, the tincture is ready. Rub the nails daily until a healthy nail grows.
mint salt
One of the main symptoms of the fungus is itching. The cooling effect of mint will ease the condition. A compress of chopped fresh mint leaves mixed with coarse salt helps well.
Baths of infused, dried mint leaves with salt dissolved in the infusion are also helpful. For 2 liters of infusion, you need 4 tablespoons of salt. Such baths should be done 2 times a day.
poplar buds
Help poplar bud mushroom tincture on vodka. To do this, a glass of poplar buds is poured with two glasses of vodka and infused in a dark place for 10 days. A compress of the tincture is applied at night. In the morning, the softened part of the nail is cut.
A soda
Baking soda, being an alkali, does not kill the fungus, but it perfectly softens the nail plates and the skin of the feet, which allows the subsequently applied means to penetrate as deeply as possible. To do this, before applying the remedies prescribed by the doctor or traditional medicine, it is necessary to make a bath from a warm soapy-soldered solution.
After that, the softened layers of the nail or skin can be removed and the medication applied to the areas. Using soda alone does not give an effective effect.
White
Whiteness is a bleaching agent known to housewives.The main component is chlorine. The tool is very caustic, it must be used with great care.
The room in which the procedure is performed should be well ventilated. Under no circumstances should this remedy be used by pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Also, do not use the remedy for asthmatics, allergy sufferers, as well as anyone whose skin around the nails is inflamed or has damage.
The agent is applied with a cotton swab to the nail plate. The product is applied only on the nails, the contact of Whiteness with the skin can cause severe chemical burns.
To protect the skin around the nails, you need to apply a fat cream. The product is washed off after a few hours. Whiteness is used only in the most neglected cases, when other means no longer help.
garden horseradish
Horseradish root has disinfectant properties. For the treatment of fungus, freshly grated horseradish roots are applied to the affected skin and nails previously steamed in hot water, wrapped in foil and put on socks. Keep the compress for at least two hours.
Vodka
Most of the mentioned folk remedies are used in the form of alcoholic solutions. Ethyl alcohol has a disinfectant effect.
Coffee
In addition to the cosmetic effect, coffee also has a healing effect and is also used in the treatment of onychomycosis. It is necessary to brew very strong coffee and let it steep for about half an hour.
Then make a coffee bath diluted with hot water. After the skin is steamed, the affected areas of the nails and skin should be removed with a nail file, then apply the remaining coffee grounds. Coffee baths strengthen the nails and improve the condition of the skin.
Official and traditional medicine offers many remedies for the treatment of mycoses. To be successful, action must begin at the first symptoms of the disease, especially if the skin and nails are affected.
The sooner you start treatment, the better the outcome of home treatment will be. Treatment of nail fungus requires patience and discipline, since all the described remedies must be applied for several weeks or even months, until the nail plate changes.