Today we will talk about the treatment and prevention of nail fungus, so you know how to get rid of it and prevent the recurrence of this disease.
Statistics show that nail fungus occurs in almost every tenth person in the world. This means that this infection is very common and extremely insidious. The disease is extremely unpleasant for the eyes, as areas infected by the fungus look quite repulsive.
If you think that this disease will never affect you, don't promise – it's easy to get a fungal infection in any public place: on the beach, in a bathhouse, sauna, swimming pool, gym and other crowded places.
Signs and symptoms of nail fungus
In fact, few people know that fungal infections come in thousands of varieties. But many of them do not cause pain and are not visible visually.
Due to this peculiarity, in the early stages of the disease, those who contracted the fungus may not even notice it. But several types of fungus can cause pain around and under the nail.
Observation!
Since painful symptoms of the fungus are extremely rare, doctors are consulted only in the last advanced stages of the disease, when there is a change in the color of the nail, its deformation and detachment from the upper plate. At the last stage, treatment is difficult, so prevention of the disease must be observed. This will ensure you avoid infections.
For the prevention and timely treatment of nail fungus, it is important to know that there are three stages of development of a fungal infection affecting the nail plate:
The first stage of the onset of the disease is the absence of clearly expressed symptoms on the nails;
Observation!
Nail fungus (onychomycosis) can be diagnosed early only in a hospital, in a laboratory setting. Therefore, if you notice the slightest change in the nail plate, consult a doctor immediately!
The second stage of onychomycosis is a change in the color of the nail plate, loss of shine, deformation of its lateral and upper parts:
The third advanced stage of the fungus is severe delamination and fragility of the nail, which can lead to its complete loss.
In addition, a fungal infection affects the skin around the nail, accompanied by unpleasant sensations of itching, burning and pain.
Prevention of fungal nail diseases
Every day, without knowing it, we deal with thousands of bacteria around us. But almost all of them are absolutely harmless to us, since the immune system is called upon, like an invisible guardian angel, to protect us from diseases.
Observation!
Therefore, the first step to preventing nail fungus is a proper and balanced diet. If the body is saturated with minerals, vitamins and beneficial substances, the immune system will work just for you.
Movement is life! And this is true, because practicing sports and having an active lifestyle makes us healthy, strong and resilient both physically and spiritually. Physical activity prevents diseases of the cardiovascular system.
If blood circulation is impaired, the protective functions of the skin of the hands, feet and nails do not work properly, which leads to their diseases.
Causes of fungal infection
Warm, humid environments are a breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of your home, especially the bathroom and toilet.
Is important!
When visiting public places: water park, bathhouse, swimming pool, sauna, you must dress and wear shoes. And then wash well and take a shower.
In order not to create a favorable environment for the appearance and proliferation of fungi "under your nose", wear comfortable shoes, preferably natural, socks, stockings, slippers, tights, etc. and wounds. This leads to the appearance of an alkaline microclimate - an ideal place for fungi to multiply.
Observation!
When visiting beauty salons you need to be attentive and careful. Only visit trusted and recommended places, as we are talking about preserving your health. Having pedicures, manicures and nail extensions done by a professional is absolutely safe and simple. Wounds, cuts and poorly performed procedures are entry points for infections.
It is important to know that you cannot wear someone else's shoes, as this will harm your health. We strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene.
This is important to know!
The fungus must be treated immediately and completely. The disease does not disappear on its own and time only contributes to the spread of the infection, as complications can occur: it can spread from the feet to the belly, to the groin area, to the skin of the chest, to the armpits.
If someone in your family has foot fungus, there is a chance that healthy family members could become infected. Maintain personal hygiene more carefully than usual, do not use other people's shoes, towels, brushes, combs, etc.
Traditional treatment for nail fungus
It is very important not to start an infection; you should definitely contact a specialist for qualified medical help.
Observation!
In combination with pharmaceutical medicines, you can use traditional methods of treating nail fungus, which are quite effective and help get rid of this unpleasant disease.
Vinegar compress for nail fungus
Ingredients:
- Vegetable oil - two tablespoons;
- Apple cider vinegar - two tablespoons.
Preparation and use:
- Mix vinegar and oil in a 1: 1 ratio, moisten a cotton pad well with the resulting solution and apply it to the nail affected by the fungus. We fix the upper part with adhesive plaster or bandage.
- Leave the compress on all night and remove it in the morning. We use a vinegar compress to treat the fungus until the affected nail completely replaces the diseased plate with a healthy one.
Antifungal oil
This aromatic natural oil will help fight fungal foot and nail infections, soothe irritated skin and soothe tired feet.
Ingredients:
- Eph. clove oil - 5 drops;
- Eph. cinnamon bark oil - 5 drops;
- Eph. oil - thyme (thyme) - 20 drops;
- Eph. sage oil - 10 drops;
- Eph. lavender oil - 30 drops;
- Tea tree essential oil - 25 drops;
- Jojoba oil - 100 milliliters.
Preparation:
- Pour jojoba oils into a dark bottle, add essential oils and mix vigorously for three minutes.
- Place the bottle in a dark place at normal room temperature and leave for a day for the healing oil to mature.
After this time, the aromatic antifungal oil is ready.
How to use:
Wash your feet well and dry them. Shake the oil in the bottle well and apply a few drops to both legs. Even if the fungus has affected one foot, we also apply a healing agent to the second foot for preventive purposes.
Apply the oil to your nails and between your toes, massage the skin a little and wait until the oil is absorbed. Then we put cotton socks on our feet.
Use the medicated oil two to three times a day; can also be applied to acne and wounds; The oil can be stored for up to two years in a cool place.
Tea mushroom
This is a simple and very good remedy to treat fungus.
This is useful!
Before going to sleep, it is recommended to make compresses with a strong infusion of kombucha, and the longer the mushroom is infused, the better.
For the procedure: you need to steam your feet in warm water and apply a kombucha compress and secure with a bandage. Leave it overnight and remove it in the morning. The course of treatment is four weeks.
Another treatment option: take a small piece of kombucha, remove the film and crush the peeled part into a paste. Rub the resulting mass into the affected areas three times a day. It is important that for each procedure you need to take a fresh piece of mushroom.
Baths with celandine decoction
Baths with celandine decoction help very well.
- The ratio of grass to water is 2: 3. Add required amount of celandine and water and boil for 3 minutes.
- Strain the broth and steam the feet for half an hour.
- Make lotions with the same decoction on the affected areas.
Sodium bicarbonate
The use of sodium bicarbonate is effective.
- Therapeutic procedures: apply soda lotions and steam your feet in a soda solution.
- Soda solution recipe: for three liters of hot water, one tablespoon of soda. Mix the soda well until it is completely dissolved.
- You need to steam your feet well in a soda solution, then wipe them with a clean towel and spread celandine oil, which is sold in the pharmacy.
You can, after a soda bath, moisten a cotton swab with celandine oil, place it between your toes and secure with a bandage. We put a sock on top. We keep this bandage for 20 minutes.
The procedures must be carried out twice a day for a month.
Fungus ointment - recipe # 1
Preparation: wash the chicken egg and pour over vinegar. Keep in a dark place until the peel is completely dissolved. Throw away the film, mix the vinegar with the remaining egg and mix this mass with the butter.
Application: The resulting ointment must be applied to areas affected by the fungus in the morning and evening. Do this until complete recovery, after which you can use the ointment for preventive purposes.
Fungus ointment - recipe number 2
Ingredients:
- One raw chicken egg;
- A tablespoon of vegetable oil;
- A tablespoon of 70% essence vinegar.
Preparation:
Mix all the ingredients well and the healing ointment is ready. We store it in the refrigerator and use it as needed.
Application:
- We steam the feet, dry them and apply ointment to the areas affected by the fungal infection.
- It is necessary to put a plastic bag on top and secure it with a bandage or put on socks.
- Do the procedure at night and keep it until the morning.
The course of treatment is 30 days.
Fungus ointment - recipe number 3
Another popular method for treating nail fungus is an easy-to-prepare and very effective ointment based on vinegar essence.
Ingredients:
- Raw chicken eggs (preferably from domestic chickens) - 2 pieces;
- Vinegar essence 70% - 1 glass;
- Butter - 200 grams.
Ointment preparation:
- Wash the eggs, place them in a half-liter jar and fill them with vinegar essence to cover the contents of the jar.
- Place the jar in a dark place for 10 days, during which time the eggshells will completely dissolve into the essence.
- We take the eggs out of the jar with a fork, remove the film, place them in a bowl and add the softened butter (remove the butter from the refrigerator in advance).
- Mash the eggs with a fork and mix them with the butter. We should obtain a homogeneous mass similar to sour cream. Add three tablespoons of acetic acid from the pot where the eggs were placed to the mixture and mix again.
Store the finished ointment in the refrigerator.
Application:
- Wash and dry your feet, lubricate the affected areas with ointment and let them dry for five minutes. The ointment will be quickly absorbed, then put on clean socks and go to bed.
- Use for a month, every day at night. Then, when you feel that the disease is passing, you need to rub it once a week.
As a result of the treatment, your feet and nails will be clean and healthy, itching and diaper rash will disappear, and your skin will become smooth and healthy.
Antifungal baths
Such therapeutic baths can be done daily with the addition of a weak vinegar solution, potassium permanganate, soda solution and essential oil solution.
Observation!
Prevention of fungal nail infections must be carried out regularly to prevent recurrence of the disease.
Eucalyptus and Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe juice, eucalyptus oil or eucalyptus tincture also help in treating nail fungus. Its use is quite simple: it is necessary to lubricate the affected areas three times a day until recovery.
Essential oils for foot fungus
Traditional methods of treating nail fungus with essential oils have proven themselves very well in practice, as they have good antifungal properties.
Oils to use: tea tree, lemon, fir, sandalwood, patchouli.
Contraindications: individual intolerance, pregnancy.
Tea tree oil
Let's look at the main points of using essential oils using tea tree as an example. This recipe can be used with other oils.
Baths - method # 1
- In a liter of hot water we need to dilute 20 drops of oil and a teaspoon of shower gel.
- Take a shower for 20 minutes until the water cools. The procedure must be carried out every day until complete recovery.
At the end of the treatment, preventive baths with tea tree oil (or other oil) are recommended once a week.
Rubbing Oil – Method #2
Rub essential oils on nails affected by fungal infections using cotton wool.
To carry out the procedure, you need to wash your feet well with washing powder and dry them. Then rub the oil into the affected areas and let it absorb. There is no need to wash your feet after rubbing for the oil to have a healing effect.
Observation!
Lemon essential oil is also good for the procedures described, as it helps fight infections and does not stain the nails, maintaining their natural appearance.
The duration of treatment is three or even four months, it all depends on the patient's immunity and the stage of the fungus.
Alcoholic propolis tincture
At the pharmacy, buy a 20% propolis tincture in alcohol, which you apply to painful nails with a cotton swab. Perform this procedure daily.
Soon you will see the result: the diseased nail will go away and a new one will grow.
Sea salt
Take sea salt baths daily for a week. Lubricate your feet with fresh celandine juice three times a day for 3 months.
Fungus treatment with iodine
Every day for 3 weeks, morning and evening, apply a drop of iodine to painful nails. Be sure to treat neighboring (healthy-looking) nails as well.
After about a week or a little earlier, a slight burning sensation and pain may appear around the nail - a sign of successful treatment. For severe pain, apply iodine less frequently.
Table salt with mint
The healing properties of common salt help in treating nail fungus.
For preparation:
- Mix chopped mint with salt in a 1: 1 ratio.
- The resulting pulp must be placed on the affected nail plates and between the toes.
Repeat until the infection is completely cured.
Ointments and pharmaceutical preparations
For the treatment and prevention of nail fungus, in combination with folk remedies, it is good to use effective pharmaceutical drugs, which will allow you to quickly cure the disease and prevent its recurrence.
Salicylic ointment
This pharmaceutical medicine is often used to treat various skin diseases: lichen, acne, diaper rash. This ointment also helps in treating fungal infections. Contains 25% salicylic acid.
Method of use: rub the affected areas 2 to 3 times a day.
Zinc ointment
Another cheap "popular" medicine that is sold in pharmacies. The ointment contains zinc oxide and petroleum jelly.
Zinc ointment has no contraindications; It can be used by women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as by children. This medicine must be applied to the affected area up to 5 times a day. However, if the degree of the fungus is not very severe, the number of applications can be reduced.
Sulfuric ointment
This medicine contains 10 to 33% sulfur and is a good remedy for treating foot and nail fungus. For treatment, it is best to take a 10% solution. The medicine must be applied 1 to 2 times a day. The course of treatment is one week.
It can be used to treat skin diseases in young children.
Observation!
Before using traditional nail fungus treatment methods or any other medication, consult your doctor.
Treating and preventing nail fungus takes time and a lot of effort;
It's important to know!
Nail fungus is extraordinarily tenacious and very quickly develops immunity to substances included in antifungal medications. Therefore, if you become infected again or were not treated last time, the previously used medicine will be useless. You should purchase a medicine with a completely different principle of action.
It is recommended to consult a doctor in a timely manner for diagnosis, not to let the disease progress, to start treatment on time, to complete it, in this case you will forget about such an unpleasant disease as nail fungus.
Be healthy!