Treating nail fungus with folk remedies is a time-consuming process that can take 1 to 4 months. At the same time, it is possible that after some time the disease will relapse. This is due to the high rate of infectivity of the microorganisms that cause this pathology, as well as the spread of their spores in the environment where the infected person lives.
What is nail fungus
The toe nail fungus is a chronic infectious disease that occurs as a result of infection of that part of the limb by pathogens (fungi). In medical terminology, this pathology is referred to as onychomycosis.
It is considered a common disease that is difficult to treat with all types of therapy.On average, one in ten inhabitants suffers from nail fungus. The disease can turn into complicated forms, completely affecting the entire surface of the nail plate, causing it to detach and deform.
Types of nail fungus
Treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies is a long process and a positive result can be achieved after 1-3 months. since the beginning of therapy. The mycosis variety is also of great importance, the development of which led to the total or partial destruction of the nail plate.
The table below shows the types of fungi on toenails, as well as a description of the pathological process:
| Type of onychomycosis | Disease characteristics |
| Normotrophic | The shade of the nail plate changes. Elongated stripes and irregular spots may appear. At the same time, the usual shine of the nail, the transparency of the plate and its normal thickness are preserved. It is considered a type of non-serious disease that responds well to treatment with traditional medicine. |
| Hypertrophic | The color of the nail changes, its shine and transparency are lost. A gradual deformation of the nail plate develops with the destruction of the edges. Detachment of part of the nail from the bed is possible. The degree of plaque deformation depends directly on tissue insemination by pathogenic microorganisms. |
| Onycholytic | It is a type of atrophic disease, when the stage of deformation of the nail plate is completed. The nail tissue dies, which ends up leading to its rejection by the root of the bed. |
This classification of onychomycosis species diversity is used by dermatologists.
In addition, the disease is divided according to the signs of the clinical picture, namely:
- distal - damage to the nail plate occurs only on the side of the free edge; lateral
- - destruction of the nail develops on the sides; proximal
- - ringworm destroys the tissues of the posterior crest;
- total - the fungus completely affected the entire nail, from the root to the front.
The type and form of the disease are determined by a specialist at the time of examination of the patient. Based on the results of the examination and diagnosis, a treatment regimen is selected. This applies to both drug therapy methods and folk remedies.
Stages and degrees of nail fungus
Nail fungus, treatment with folk remedies that takes a long time, is a chronic disease. Onychomycosis develops over several months and sometimes even for many years. It depends on how strong the patient's immune system is, as well as the strain of the infectious pathogen.
Each stage of the disease is characterized by a gradual deterioration in the health of the affected tissues, namely:
- 1st stage - there is a gradual change in the shade of the nail plate along the edges, it is possible to form white, gray or yellow stripes and spots, other painful signs of the disease are completely absent (the person feelsa strong and unpleasant yeast odor that comes from the toes);
- 2nd stage - onychomycosis progresses, covering the entire area of the nail plate, whose structure begins to change from the edges to the base of the bed (the color of the diseased tissues is completely yellow or gray, there are no signs of transparency);
- 3rd stage - the final stage in the development of the nail fungus, which is characterized by complete necrosis of the affected tissues, they are deformed and rejected by the body (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 rejection of the nail, its re-formation occurs, but in this case, healthy tissues are already formed. If a person does not take steps to treat a dermatological disease and gets rid of pathogenic microorganisms, the new nail will also be infected with mycoses and destroyed in the soil.
Fungus symptoms on toenails
Nail fungus, whose treatment with folk remedies requires the regular use of decoctions, tinctures and homemade ointments, is a disease with pronounced symptoms.
The onychomycosis of this part of the body can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- redness of the epithelial tissues located in the circumference of the nail plate;
- spots or white stripes appear on the sides of the nail, as well as on the side of its front, which do not disappear during the machining of the plate or water;
- the nail plate gradually changes color, there is a loss of its transparency (the pathological process develops from the edges to the center and root of the tissues);
- fungal microorganisms penetrate deeply into the nail plate, destroying its structure, which leads to its deformation;
- the affected nail has a yellowish and wrinkled shape;
- under mechanical action on the affected tissues, they are separated from the nail bed (this process can be accompanied by painful symptoms and ichor secretion at the root of the nail, where it connects with the epithelial and soft tissues of the toe)
All of the above symptoms are accompanied by the constant persistence of a pungent and unpleasant odor, reminiscent of yeast, but more pronounced. This sign of the disease appears even before the external symptoms start to develop, indicating a gradual destruction of the tissues of the nail plate.
Causes of nail fungus
The toenail fungus, whose treatment with folk remedies is based on the principle of systemic use of home remedies, cannot develop on its own without the influence of several factors.
Infection with onychomycosis is possible in the following cases:
- as a result of visits to public showers, baths, steam rooms, swimming pools, saunas, if a person has not worn individual rubber slippers, has come in contact with a surface on which viable spores of fungal microorganisms are present;
- joint use of shoes by several people, when one of them has mycotic lesions of the nail plates;
- poor hygiene, occasional washing of the feet;
- the presence of concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, as well as foot deformities, increases the risk of nail fungus, as local immunity decreases, or a nutrient medium is created to increase the population of fungal microorganisms;
- putting on shoes made with a poor quality coating that does not let air through and does not absorb water, which ends up causing your toes to be constantly damp;
- contact of the open part of the foot or nail with the floor surface of 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 prevent infections and further damage to the nail plate. Hot and humid environments are ideal conditions for fungal microorganisms, so this information should be taken into account when visiting beaches and other busy places.
Diagnosis of nail fungus
The toenail fungus, whose treatment with folk remedies only begins after a detailed examination by a dermatologist, is an infectious disease that requires careful diagnosis. This is necessary to establish the strain of fungal microorganisms and then select a treatment regimen that will be effective in a particular case.
For the diagnosis of onychomycosis, the patient must undergo the following steps of the exam:
- preliminary examination by a dermatologist who examines the appearance of the affected plaque, evaluates the state of the tissues, the degree of their deformation;
- the surface of the epithelium located on the circumference of the nail bed is smeared (biochemical analysis is performed for a strain of fungal microorganisms, as well as the possible presence of secondary bacterial microflora);
- in the conditions of the laboratory manipulation room, the specialist selects part of the affected tissues to study fungal microorganisms in more detail and exclude the simultaneous presence of various types of ringworm;
- In addition to the toes, an examination of the skin surface of the foot is carried out to check if the fungal disease is localized and if there are no signs of spreading to other parts of the lower limb.
Based on the results of an external examination, as well as on the basis of laboratory findings, the attending physician diagnoses the patient - onychomycosis, or denies the presence of pathology.
The diagnosis takes 1 to 3 days on average. In a public hospital, the services of a biochemical laboratory are free, but the deadlines for the study of biological material can drag from 7 to 10 days.
When to see a doctor
Consultation with a dermatologist should be carried out as soon as signs of nail fungus development are detected.The delay is fraught with worsening symptoms and damage to large areas of the nail plate.
In addition, a person with signs of onychomycosis has a fungal infection and also, without realizing it, spreads spores of pathogenic microorganisms in the daily conditions of his residence. In this case, infection of healthy family members with onychomycosis is not excluded.
Prevention of nail fungus
It is possible to avoid contamination of the toenails with fungal infection, but for this, simple rules of prevention must be followed daily, which will protect the lower limbs from inseminating pathogenic microorganisms.
The following actions are recommended:
- do not visit public baths, pools, saunas, showers or wear shoes with individual rubber soles;
- wear only high quality shoes made of genuine leather;
- observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash your feet daily with warm, soapy water, wash your socks;
- insists on treating family members who show signs of nail fungus, but have let the disease run its course and do not seek medical help;
- during the summer holidays near open water bodies, on the beach, walk only with shoes, avoiding the contact of the epithelial surface of the feet and toes with sand, river mud or earth;
- wear only your own shoes;
- make sure that there are no areas of mold growth in the apartment or private home (moisture on the walls, fungus that has infected old wooden floors, baseboards, darkening of the wallpaper in the corners).
To prevent fungal nail infections, it is recommended to pay special attention to strengthening the immune system.
To do this, you need to take a contrast bath every day, give up bad habits, harden your body, eat rationally, eat only biologically useful products (cereals, chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal, fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, cottage cheese, milk, cheese, fish from the ocean).
Methods for treating nail fungus
Onychomycosis therapy is carried out using traditional medications, prescriptions for traditional medications and is also performed using the surgical intervention method. Each of these methods is effective at a certain stage in the development of the disease.
Medicines
The treatment of a fungal infection is carried out with drugs that have a spectrum of antifungal action.
Antifungal drugs should only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Only an expert with this profile is able to determine which particular drug is effective in a given clinical case. In addition, when forming a treatment regimen, data from laboratory studies of samples collected from a deformed or altered nail are taken into account.
Traditional methods
There are traditional medicine recipes that allow you to get rid of a fungal infection of the toenails without using pharmaceutical preparations. To do this, use the following compresses, homemade ointments, tinctures and other methods:
Compress Kombuchá
To prepare this folk remedy, you will need to buy a kombucha or grow it at home. A piece of this ingredient is cut with a knife and placed on the surface of the infected nail. The procedure is performed at night, before going to bed. The kombucha is fixed to the finger with a tape. The timing of therapy is not time-limited.
Tincture of onion juice
You need to take 1 medium onion, chop it with a knife and pour 1 teaspoon. granulated sugar.
The future medicine is sent to the refrigerator for 24 hours. During this period, the chopped vegetable is able to release a sufficient amount of juice, which is infused and used as a medicine. A diseased nail is cleaned with onion juice 3-4 times a day for 3 months or until complete recovery.
Antiseptic solution
This product is prepared at home by mixing in equal proportions of 1 teaspoon. boiled water, ethyl alcohol and garlic pulp. All components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is formed. The resulting solution is used for antiseptic treatment of the nail plate at least 2 times a day. The treatment lasts at least 3-4 months.
Ointment of salt for fungi
An effective and easy to prepare antifungal agent at home. To do this, you need to take ½ teaspoon. table salt, add 1 tbsp. I. honey collected from herbs and then mix all 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. In the treatment process, it is necessary to observe the precautions, not to allow the home medicine to enter the skin around the nail bed circumference, and the mucous membrane of the eyes must also be protected.
Homemade ointment is used until the diseased nail comes off with the formation of a healthy plaque. Alternative therapy is really effective, but the only drawback to its use is the timing of the therapy.
The duration of its use must be at least 3 months. The initial form of fungal infection of the nail plates of the feet can be eliminated in 2 months. In that case, the course of treatment must be continuous. Skipping just one procedure can worsen tissue health.
Other methods
An alternative treatment for a fungal infection of the nails of the lower extremities is surgery. The method consists in the fact that the attending physician removes the deformed nail plate.
In general, surgery is performed as follows:
- The patient comes independently to the operating room and then lies down on the couch or sits on a chair.
- A nurse injects a local anesthetic into a finger whose nail is affected by onychomycosis.
- After the anesthetic begins to take effect (after 5 to 10 minutes), the surgeon pulls out the affected nail plate with forceps.
- Antiseptic treatment of the operated area, suture and sterile dressing are performed.
After the surgical intervention is completed, the patient is referred to the surgical department ward, where he receives new therapy with antifungals. The average duration of complete healing of the wound site is 7 to 10 days. Within 1 month. a new nail plate grows that, as long as the treatment process is well organized, shows no signs of fungi.
Possible complications
In the absence of actions to cure nail plaques from a fungal infection,can develop the following complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- complete deformation of the nail plate with its subsequent 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 from the disease to the nails of the upper extremities, inguinal folds;
- infection with onychomycosis from other family members who have not previously suffered from a fungal disease (children are the most vulnerable, because their immune system is weaker than that of adults);
- loss of the nail and completion of the process of forming a new plaque, because 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, with at least 3 months. Time.
The main danger of onychomycosis is that the fungal microorganisms that cause damage to the nail plate are highly infectious and adapt quickly to new environmental conditions, as well as to the effects of the active components of the drug.
That is why the treatment of the disease should begin as early as possible, in order to avoid its transition to a complicated or chronic form of the course.