In this article we will look at the symptoms of an advanced form of fungal nail disease, treatment with medical and traditional methods, indications for nail removal, recommendations for infection prevention.
Chronic toenail fungus is a reason to go to the doctor immediately and start treatment right away.The disease is detected at a late stage if the initial symptoms are confused with a simple mechanical damage to the nail.The problem sometimes does not appear at all in the initial stage.If not treated or done incorrectly without consulting a doctor, the disease progresses.Mushrooms are much more dangerous than many people think.Such an infection, accompanied by loosening and destruction of toenails, is a parasitic infection of the whole body, immunity is impaired, allergic manifestations are possible and there is a risk of developing bronchitis, asthma, chronic sinusitis and conjunctivitis.
With old onychomycosis, the nail is dark, white, yellow or bluish.In more severe cases, it turns black, loosens, falls off, cracks, thickens, and changes shape.The adjacent skin is red, inflamed, pain, burning and itching are felt.Painful sensations are caused by mold and yeast-like fungi.Other varieties do not cause physical suffering or discomfort;they can be identified only by the shape and color of the nails.The inability to wear open shoes or walk barefoot causes difficulties.An unpleasant, nauseous smell becomes a constant companion.
Treatment methods
An advanced form can be treated only under the supervision of a doctor - a dermatologist or mycologist.He will take scrapings from infected nails, classify the problem and prescribe treatment.Amateur activity here is unacceptable!It is impossible to cure the disease with home remedies.You can only push the disease inside, temporarily suppress the source of infection.But the more terrible will be the consequences.
When the disease is advanced, patience is required.Treatment is complex and complex.Failure to complete this will inevitably lead to relapse.The tips are simple.You will be able to recover if you follow the rules of simultaneous implementation of a number of measures:
- The use of external agents (varnishes, ointments, sprays, gels).
- Taking drugs orally (tablets, capsules).
- If necessary, the doctor will prescribe intravenous injections.
- Taking immunostimulating agents, vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Application of traditional medicine methods.
- If your feet sweat a lot, take a foot bath every day with the addition of one tablespoon of sea salt to five liters of water.Before applying the ointments, wash your feet with hot water to speed up the treatment.
- Regular treatment of shoes with antiseptic preparations.
If you follow these measures, curing fungus is not as difficult as it seems.
Preparations for topical use
Official medicine offers many different drugs for external treatment in the treatment of foot fungus.The doctor will prescribe what you need, there is no need to experiment, trying everything.
Healing spray:
- Ciclopirox.Antimycotic agent.Destroys yeast and mold fungi.Apply every four days.Duration - six months.At the same time, take terbinafine tablets orally (it is safe for pregnant women).
- Terbinafine-based spray.Apply a coat of varnish to the affected nails every four days.Treatment lasts 9-12 months.
Antifungal ointment:
- Terbinafine.It stops the growth of parasitic yeasts and mold.With the simultaneous administration of tablets of the same name, it has a destructive effect on fungi.
- Ketoconazole.It blocks the spread of fungus and destroys it.Apply in the morning, in the evening, course - one month.It is not absorbed into the blood and is not detected in the plasma, therefore it is recommended for pregnant women.Contraindicated for children under three years of age.
- Naftifine - to destroy advanced nail fungus, its use in the form of drops is recommended.Designed to combat dermatophytes, yeasts and molds.
- Clotrimazole destroys advanced athlete's foot at the cellular level.
Preparations for oral administration
Tablets are prescribed in short but frequent courses due to the negative effect on the human liver and kidneys.
- Fluconazole.Available in capsules.Take 150 milligrams.Duration of treatment - 56 days.The toenails are then scratched to determine if further treatment is necessary.
- Itraconazole Capsules.With their help, chronic onychomycosis can be cured in six months.
- Griseofulvin.Antifungal antibiotic.It accumulates in the skin cells from which keratin is formed, making healthy growing nails immune to onychomycosis.The treatment lasts 8 months.
Traditional methods of treatment
- Celandine oil - freshly squeezed plant juice has a cauterizing effect and destroys the body of the fungus.Treat daily until complete recovery.
- Acetic acid is an affordable and powerful remedy against old onychomycosis.A special solution is prepared based on vinegar.Mix equal parts vodka and 70% vinegar essence, add three raw chicken egg whites.Mix it up.Put it in the fridge.Wet a piece of gauze and place it on the injured nail.Leave it for a quarter of an hour.Doing this for six months is enough time to cure the fungus.The product is aggressive and can cause burns to healthy tissue.Lubricate the skin around the affected nails with cream or sunflower oil.
- 20% alcohol infusion of propolis.It is sold in pharmacies.Wet a gauze cloth and make a compress.Do this every day until the fungus disappears.
- Golden mustache To prepare the tincture, pour vodka over the golden mustache and hide in a dark corner.On the fifteenth day, dilute three parts of water with one part of the solution.Treat the fungus in the morning and evening.Treatment lasts at least six months.
- Homemade antifungal ointment.Put a piece of butter (butter) weighing 200 grams, 100 milliliters of acetic acid (70%) and a raw chicken egg in the shell in a glass container.Do not mix it.Place the mixture in a cool place.Wait a week.The projectile will scatter.Then you need to mix, spread, cover with food film and bandage.
- Calamus rhizome tincture: 15 g.Boil the root with a glass of boiling water.Leave it for 30 minutes.One glass of solution is drunk a day.At the same time, ten minute baths are taken every day.To do this, steam 30 grams of calamus rhizome with boiling water (a glass) and leave for 30 minutes.The nails will begin to crumble within seven days.And then smear it with ointment.If you treat with this method, the fungus can be cured for a month and a half.In this case, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins are taken internally.
- Squeeze the toothpaste (with fluoride) the size of your little finger.Add the ashes of three cigarettes.Make a compress, leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning.
- Take equal parts of honey and onion juice and mix.Keep in the refrigerator.Treat neglected mushrooms daily.
- Lilac flowers and calendula - 30 grams each, celandine - 15 grams, oak bark - 45 grams.Add half a liter of water.Boil it, leave it for an hour and make a compress.Every day until the fungus is completely healed.
- One hundred milliliters of hydrogen peroxide, two liters of warm water - take a bath for a quarter of an hour.Wipe with a paper towel and apply the ointment.Repeat daily until it is clear that the fungus is gone.Hydrogen peroxide will protect healthy nails from infection and make healed nails less prone to re-infection.
If traditional and folk medicine methods do not help you, you can turn to laser therapy.Laser treatment is painless and gives an almost immediate effect.Four treatments are enough to kill the fungus.In this case, the periungual skin is not damaged.
Nail removal
Surgery to remove a nail is rarely used if conservative methods do not give the desired result.
- The surgical removal method is painful.It takes a long time for the nail plate to recover.
- The laser nail removal method is easy and painless.The disadvantage is the high cost.
- Replacing surgical nail removal with medication.Under the influence of drugs, the nail plates are softened and then removed painlessly.The process is long and requires care.
Treatment of onychomycosis during pregnancy
Treatment of chronic toenail fungus with most medications is contraindicated during pregnancy!They can harm the intrauterine development of the fetus.A mycologist will prescribe safe means that will slow the development of the disease and improve the appearance of the nails.And healing or complete removal will have to begin after the birth of the child.
It is better for pregnant women to use proven methods of traditional medicine.They act more gently and have fewer side effects:
- Take a foot bath with warm water and sea salt.
- Wipe the skin around damaged nails with celandine juice.Continue for 3 months.
Recommendations and advice
An advanced fungus must be treated immediately!Do not let the infection affect the whole body, be patient and make sure to complete the therapy.Treat only after examination, under the supervision of a doctor.Traditional medicine methods should be combined with medications recommended by a specialist.Advice for the patient's family members: observe good hygiene, take vitamins and medications that increase immunity.