Currently, about 25% of the world's population suffers from mycoses. Often the disease is pronounced on the legs. Toenail fungus brings many unpleasant moments, depriving a person of a normal, peaceful life. In addition, it can be extended to neighboring areas. How to cure a fungus on the big toe? Which drugs are most effective? The answers to these questions can be found in our article.
Reasons for occurrence
The fungus on the skin of the toe can be picked up in public places (bathrooms, saunas, swimming pools, water parks and other institutions where you walk without shoes). It should be noted that fungal spores often get on people's skin, but not everyone gets infected. In order for an infection to occur, the microorganism needs to enter the skin cells, become firm there and start multiplying. This is facilitated by wounds and microcracks. We may not see them, but the door is wide open for mushrooms.
It is possible to become infected even if one of the family members already has mycosis. This is noticed if people do not respect the rules of personal hygiene, use a common towel, sleep in the same bed, have common shoes and socks.
The threat of fungal infection in public places is reduced if a person has a strong immune system.
Mycosis on the picture can also appear after trying on shoes in stores or in the market, if you do it barefoot.
Other factors that contribute to fungal infection:
- Lack of foot hygiene.
- Excessive sweating (sweat is a great place for fungi to multiply).
- Flat feet.
- Wear tight shoes.
- Age (with age, people's blood circulation is disturbed, immunity is weak).
- Performing pedicures with instruments that are not disinfected.
More often, the fungus first appears on the skin of the thumb, because it develops more easily in the soft layers of the dermis. If the disease is not treated, it goes to the nails. However, in some cases, onychomycosis is the primary disease, and microorganisms spread from the affected nail plate to the skin.
signs
Microorganisms that infect the nail plate secrete enzymes that contribute to its destruction. Thus the fungus prepares the space for its own reproduction and growth of colonies. The symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.
Mycosis of the skin is manifested by severe itching. This is the first sign. Then a bladder appears, filled with a slight exudate. The bubble bursts and a deep crack is created in its place. It is extremely painful, a man even hurts to walk in shoes. In addition, the wound still itches. Dry, flaky skin forms around it. The crack may heal, but soon reappear.
Initially, the disease does not manifest on the nail plate. By the separate whitish spots and streaks it is possible to suspect that there is a nail fungus on the big toe. The photo above shows what the affected area looks like.
In the second stage, the nail fades (sometimes yellows), thickens significantly and curves. It can often grow into the skin, causing pain when walking and local inflammation.
In the third stage of onychomycosis, the nail becomes loose, it hurts to cut it. In some patients, it may peel off the skin. At this stage, the patient poses a significant threat to others because his nail plate becomes a reservoir for fungal spores, which are easily dispersed on surfaces.
Classification
Onychomycosis has three stages:
- The first is that there is no change in texture, modifications of tones are not visible enough: stripes, spots may appear.
- Others - the plate becomes yellowish, stops shining, an unpleasant odor comes from the feet.
- Third - the plate loses its own texture, becomes loose, peels off the nail.
By the color of your nails, you can tell which fungus has occupied it:
- Yellowish spots indicate a dermatophytic lesion, while changes are limited to areas in the middle of the plate and along the edges.
- The position of the changes along the edges and peeling indicate damage by fungi from the yeast family.
- Darkening of the plate indicates a lack of blood circulation in the finger and the attachment of mold fungi.
Treatment
The success of the treatment of toenail fungus depends entirely on how quickly it is started. In the initial stages, topical medications can help treat mycosis, and only surgical therapy can help in the later stages and ingrown toenails.
Medications
Fungus on the nail of the thumb is treated with special varnishes, ointments and medicines that are taken orally. In the initial stages the disease can be cured within 1-2 months, in the later stages it can take six months or even a year.
Lucky
The action of therapeutic varnishes is associated with the softening of the plate and the result of disinfection. The varnish penetrates the nail plate and destroys the fungus.
Ointments, creams and sprays
Such drugs are used for dermatomycosis and onychomycosis. They are quite effective, and side effects are extremely rare. It is recommended to apply these products once or twice a day.
Oral preparations
Tablets for the treatment of toe fungus are used in the later stages. Only complex treatment can help with mycosis. Oral preparations include tablets and capsules.
How to remove a nail
For fungus on the big toe, removing the nail plate can give an effective result. To do this, use means that help soften the nails: patches, ointments, creams.
Hardware pedicure
This is not a cosmetic procedure, but a medical one. Take him to medical facilities. Hardware pedicure is done with a special nozzle with a sanding coating. With the help of this procedure you can get rid of the fungus on your big toe. The photo shows the implementation of a hardware pedicure.
How is the procedure:
- The affected area is disinfected.
- Soften with special medications.
- Remove the outer layer with nozzles.
The procedure is performed very carefully, gradually removing the layers. If a healthy part of the nail is affected, it can cause further spread of the fungus.
The advantages of this method include:
- Rapid elimination of affected parts of the nail.
- Absence of pain.
- Achieving good permeability for medical ointments and varnishes.
But this type of pedicure has disadvantages:
- Allergic reactions may occur.
- There is a risk of infection.
Laser
Laser technologies are much more promising than other methods of removing fungi. The air is heated pointwise and destroys harmful microorganisms without touching healthy tissues.
Laser nail plate removal takes a few minutes. If more than one finger is infected, the laser procedure will take longer. It can take several sessions to remove nails with the fungus, depending on the degree of damage. Healthy nails will only grow back after six months.
Operation
This procedure completely removes the diseased nail. Use this method only in cases when other methods cannot help get rid of the disease. Removal of the nail on the big toe can destroy the fungus only if after the operation the patient undergoes a complex treatment prescribed by a doctor.
The operation is contraindicated:
- People with poor blood clotting.
- Have infectious and other diseases in the acute phase.
- Intolerant to anesthesia.
- They suffer from diabetes.
- Those with immune diseases.
- With varicose veins and permeable capillaries.
How the operation is performed
The procedure itself is painless for the patient, because it is performed under anesthesia. The nail and the skin around it are treated with iodine. The doctor inserts a special tool under the nail plate and insulates it from the skin. If a small area of the nail is affected, only that part is removed.
After the procedure, an antibiotic drug is applied to the wound and bandaged. The healing process takes several weeks. Requires ligation. The process of growing a new nail can take several months.
Possible consequences:
- Cutting, pain after surgery.
- Infection.
- Improper nail growth.
Recovery
Usually, the doctor gives personalized advice on wound care. However, there are some general tips:
- Rest in bed after surgery for at least 1 month.
- An open wound should be treated regularly, new sterile bandages should be applied and medications (ointments, creams) should be used.
- After the procedure, the doctor prescribes medications (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal).
Prevention
To reduce the risk of onychomycosis infection, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Fungi can be infected in a beauty salon. This happens in case of insufficient sterilization of manicure-pedicure instruments. You should visit salons that have a good reputation and a large number of positive reviews.
- Pedicure accessories that are performed at home, it is recommended to have your own, and not to use strangers.
- If your feet sweat profusely, sprinkle them with talcum powder or powder, and after bathing or showering, wipe them dry.
- It is recommended to take vitamins that strengthen immunity.
- Frequent pedicure operations thin the nail plate, break its structure, which contributes to the fungal infection.
- Acetone nail polish remover can also damage the nail plate.
- It is forbidden to wear other people's shoes.
- The towel to dry must be personal.
- Cracks on the feet are a risky condition for the appearance of mycosis, so they must be treated in a timely manner.
Folk remedies
Those interested in how to treat toe fungus should remember that there are methods of traditional medicine that also show good results.
Use such recipes more often:
- Table vinegar-based lotions. Take half a glass of water, glycerin and vinegar, stir. Moisten gauze in the resulting liquid and apply on the nails affected by the fungus for 25 minutes. The procedure should be performed 2 times a day.
- Coffee bathroom. Make strong coffee (preferably natural) so that the drink turns out strong, then wait for it to cool down a bit. The legs must be lowered into the mixture for 25 minutes. The operation needs to be performed daily for 5 days.
- Iodine. It is a cheap remedy, but is considered a strong antiseptic. They lubricate the affected areas with a cotton swab. The procedure needs to be carried out for a week, then take a break of 7 days and start the course again.
- Baths with sea salt. Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of warm water and immerse your feet in it for 20 minutes.
- Horseradish bandage. It is necessary to take fresh horseradish roots, grate them on a fine grater. A teaspoon of grated mass is enough for the coating. It is necessary to put a bandage at night.
- Compress and bath with potatoes. You need potato peelings. They should be washed and boiled, crushed. For bathing, you should use a soup in which cleaning agents are cooked. After that, the prepared puree is applied to the affected nails. Bandage. When the product has cooled, rub the inner lard into the nails.
Folk remedies work only in the initial stages of the disease. They can be used as prophylaxis and in complex therapy.
Reviews
People who suffer from fungus on their feet write that ointments, varnishes, sprays and any other external means help only with lichens in the initial phase. They are not suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis because they are not able to kill all fungal spores. Therefore, during treatment, after visible improvement, relapse will certainly occur.
Patients are advised not to spare shoes, socks, tights and throw them away during or after therapy.
Also, patients are advised to constantly walk at home in stockings to those people who have become infected with the fungus. Otherwise the spores of the fungus will spread throughout the apartment.
According to those who are trying to get rid of nail fungus, this disease is very difficult to treat. The course of therapy should be long. The most effective means for oral use, but they all have many side effects and contraindications.
All patients are unanimous that it is better to follow preventive measures than to treat the disease.