Nail fungus or onychomycosis is not just a cosmetic defect on the skin, but a rather serious disease that requires the right approach to treatment. If timely help is not provided, the nail can be deformed or completely destroyed, and sometimes advanced disease is accompanied by damage to internal tissues. This infection can be defeated in various ways, including prescriptions of traditional medicine and the use of disinfectants.
Signs of nail fungus development
Nail fungus is a common disease characterized by damage to the nail plate. You can get infected with it in public places, in recreational centers and simply in everyday conditions. Spores of parasitic microorganisms live in household and personal hygiene items, carpets and bedding for a long time after disinfection. Therefore, there is a risk of re-infection.
Signs of the fungus differ in different stages of the disease. The initial symptoms are quite mild. The patient does not attach great importance to the infection and approaches its treatment lightly.
The disease itself begins to develop in the interdigital folds. Slight peeling and itching occurs. After that, the infection affects the most vulnerable places on the feet – the nails. After some time, the fungus penetrates the internal tissues, where it begins to develop rapidly. The following signs indicate this:
- appearance of growths on the nail, thickening of the folds of the nail;
- the nail plate changes its natural color to a pale yellow shade, and in the later stages it even darkens;
- cracks and removal of the top layer on the nail;
- burning, painful sensations that cause difficulty walking;
- the development of infectious agents that cause a specific odor;
- redness of the skin on the affected finger.
How is mycosis infected?
The appearance of nail fungus is caused by the following factors:
- The presence of a parasitic fungus that causes the development of the disease. Fungus is not caused by a single infection, but by a number of different microorganisms, which is why the nature of the disease is ambiguous. Depending on the pathogen, the course of treatment is prescribed, so the diagnosis is simply necessary for the patient.
- Favorable conditions for the development of mycosis. Even if it enters the body through microcracks in the skin, the virus does not pose any particular danger to humans: the immune system can easily deal with an unidentified object. The risk of developing fungus increases significantly in people who wear tight and uncomfortable shoes, are prone to excessive sweating, have fatty deposits or abuse alcohol and tobacco products. Long-term use of drugs and reduced acidity of the feet can also weaken the protective function of the body.
Without these two conditions, the development of nail fungus is impossible. To prevent its development, it is enough to follow the rules of personal hygiene, not to walk barefoot in public places (swimming pools, beaches), not to wear other people's shoes and underwear.
What fungi cannot tolerate
Fungal microorganisms are very resistant to external factors, but in some cases they cannot survive and die. Medicines and prescriptions of traditional medicine necessarily contain special ingredients that have a harmful effect on mycosis. These include some vegetables, iodine, vinegar and other organic products.
Traditional methods of fighting nail fungus
Traditional methods will help stop the spread of the infection and neutralize it inside the nail. The main advantage of such recipes is that they are easy to prepare and consist of effective ingredients that do not require large financial costs.
Vinegar is a kind of chemical weapon that creates an acidic environment that is dangerous for infection. They can be used to treat nails, make compresses and baths, but all this is prohibited if there are open wounds and cracks on the fingers. Positive changes are noticeable after a month of using vinegar.
- For the recipe you will need 2 tbsp. vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Mix well and add 1 tsp. glycerin. Apply 1 drop of the product to the affected nail and rub in with smooth movements. Treat until the fungus is completely gone.
- Apple cider vinegar baths. Pour 2-4 cups of liquid into a shallow basin and immerse your feet in it. You can dilute with warm water and add some baking soda to increase the effect. Keep your feet in the bowl for 3 hours.
- Foot ointment. Mix beaten chicken egg, sunflower oil (20 ml) and vinegar (40 ml). It is recommended to add repudin (5 g). Apply the mixture to the nail and finger.
Salt has good anti-inflammatory properties, and also kills pathogenic bacteria and relieves inflammation of the skin area. It is better to take baths in which the salt is dissolved in the water. Thanks to this, the acid and alkali contained in it have a stronger effect on the affected areas. This treatment method gives a double effect: the acidic environment, together with the high water temperature, kills dangerous mycoses.
- Apply a few pinches of salt between your toes. Leave for 1 hour. Repeat the process twice a day.
- Therapeutic baths. In 4 liters of water, mix 0. 1 kg of salt (kitchen or sea salt is suitable) and 4 tbsp. vinegar. Apply every day.
- Heat 3 liters of water. Add 2-3 tbsp. salt and 0. 5 tsp. potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), mix well. The course of treatment lasts 1. 5 weeks. It can be used for preventive purposes.
- Red pepper strengthens the nails well, makes the epidermis stronger, which allows it to resist harmful bacteria. It contains many microelements that stimulate natural processes and improve blood circulation.
- Pepper mask. Mix 1 tbsp. ground paprika, 2 teaspoons. water and 3 tbsp. cosmetic hand cream. The product will help restore the nail plate. If desired, add 2-3 drops of essential oil.
Iodine is a powerful natural antiseptic. It is mainly used for severe forms of fungus, when the infection has already affected the tissue around the nail. This is an effective drug that can be purchased at any pharmacy at an affordable price. It is used to remove infections from wounds and cauterize nail growths. Iodine also breaks down the proteins that make up the parasitic fungi.
- After each bath, the skin of the legs, feet and nails should be treated with iodine. This will disinfect the affected areas and dry them. The procedure is performed 3 times in a row after the previous layer of iodine has dried.
- Apply 1 drop of iodine to the affected nail, avoiding contact with the surrounding tissue. Before that, you can spread them with thick cream. Iodine will affect the source of infection. Nail fungus is afraid of it like fire.
- Lotions with iodine. Apply the liquid to a cotton pad or swab, then apply to the infected area.
Garlic against athlete's foot should be used with great caution: too high concentrations can cause burns and skin damage. Only the correct use of the bulbous plant will help with onychomycosis.
- Infusion of garlic. Finely chop 2 cloves of unpeeled garlic and add vegetable oil (0. 5 l). Leave for 3 days. Avoid exposure to sunlight. Take 1 tablespoon orally for 30 days. every day.
- Gruel. Take 1-2 heads of garlic and chop it with a knife or in a blender. Apply to the nail. Before application, it is necessary to scald the nail plates by keeping them in hot water with the addition of lemon juice.
- Alcohol tincture. Pour 2-3 chopped heads of garlic into ¼ cup. Leave for 2 days. Use the finished product to treat your nails in the morning, afternoon and evening.
What's so scary about nail fungus?
Nail fungus is afraid of the following factors:
- An acidic environment that has an aggressive effect on the fungus. To create it, you will need ordinary vinegar or some kind of acid (salicylic, orthoboric). These substances can be used as independent medicines, applying them to a cotton ball or stick, and then to the affected areas. After regular use, rough tissues will become softer and skin blemishes will decrease. Also, due to the acidic environment, mycoses encounter difficulties when trying to penetrate deeper layers of the skin.
- Antiseptics and disinfectants. These drugs prevent decomposition processes on the surface of open wounds, are suitable for tissue treatment and destroy all infections. The most common drugs from this group are tablets and ointments based on ketoconazole and other substances to eliminate fungal infections.
- Heat. If it reaches 60 degrees and above, the chances of survival of microorganisms are almost minimal. At this temperature it dies. Their structure is destroyed, so the disease stops and disappears completely. As the temperature rises, the healing process accelerates. Shoes and socks are treated in this way to destroy all spores.
Maintaining hygiene rules
Maintaining good hygiene is the main requirement for people who do not want to get infected with the fungus. To protect yourself from the disease, you need to:
- regularly disinfect shoes and wash socks;
- use personal cosmetics;
- maintain body cleanliness;
- Nail tools;
- do not walk barefoot on beaches, swimming pools and other crowded places.