How to deal with nail fungus

Nail fungus, or as it is also known, onychomycosis, is a very common contact-transmitted disease. It is caused by epidermophytes, which are, in fact, pathogenic microorganisms. Entering human skin, the fungus affects the upper layers of the epidermis of the feet and the nail plate. In addition to this disease causing aesthetic discomfort, if it is not treated for a long time, it can cause complications.

The main symptoms of the disease

Before deciding how to get rid of nail fungus, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct. There is a symptom complex that is characteristic only for this disease. It includes the following signs:

• change in the usual color of the nail plate to white, yellow, green, gray or even black;
• itching sensation between the toes, in the feet;
• fragility and detachment of nails;
• irritated skin on the legs, there may be peeling, blisters or sores;
• uncharacteristic thickening and irregularity of the nail plate.

In the early stages of the disease, nail fungus appears almost imperceptibly. After all, some people may not even pay attention to a slight itchiness and slight discoloration. But if you do not get rid of nail fungus in time, then it leads to the complete destruction of the plaque. Therefore, it is very important to immediately contact a specialist when alarming symptoms arise. This will help to quickly remove the fungus and restore the nails to their former health.

Medical treatment of onychomycosis

Using medication is an effective way to quickly get rid of nail fungus. Now, there are a huge number of drugs in different release forms. The most common among them are:

• medicinal varnishes - their use is effective only at the initial stage, when the fungus has not had time to spread to the nail plate growth line. These funds are quite simple to use and very effectively help to get rid of the disease in a short time;
• ointments and creams are the most common topical preparations. Using these tools, you can remove the fungus that develops under your nails. Due to its texture, creams and ointments envelop the affected area, contributing not only to blocking the progression of ringworm, but also to tissue regeneration;
• pills - unfortunately, the fungus not only affects the nails, but also often negatively affects the state of the human immune system. Medicines that must be taken orally help to forget about the disease for a long time. But it should be understood that they can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treating Fungus with Vinegar

Acetic acid will help get rid of nail fungus at home. This method is one of the most common in traditional medicine. Its meaning is that epidermophytes die under the influence of an acidic environment. For the best effect, it is necessary to dilute the vinegar in the correct proportion with water. In the fight against nail fungus at home, an acidic solution of low concentration will suffice.

Before proceeding with the procedure, you must clean and steam the skin of the legs. Dead and fungal nail areas should be removed with small scissors. This will allow deeper penetration of the acid. There are several ways to remove nail fungus with vinegar, including:

• baths - a 9% vinegar solution should be heated to a temperature of approximately 36-37 degrees. Affected fingers are dipped in a hot liquid for 15 minutes. Do not clean your feet after the procedure or rinse them with water;
• compresses - you should fold the bandage several times and moisten it with plenty of vinegar. Then this compress is applied to the affected areas. For a better effect, you can wrap your legs with a bandage, put on warm socks and leave them overnight;
• ointments - vinegar can be an integral part of a remedy, for example, it can be mixed with vegetable oil and dimethylphthalate in equal proportions. Apply this mixture before bed.

In addition to the fact that the lesions are treated with vinegar, special attention should also be paid to the patient's shoes. It should be cleaned regularly with a slightly acidic solution.

Treatment of fungi with iodine

Iodine solution is excellent for nail fungus. It has an antiseptic effect, due to which it is often used to disinfect affected skin areas. In addition, iodine exhibits cauterizing properties, which is important to prevent the spread of infection. It is sometimes used for preventive purposes.

To understand how to deal with nail fungus with iodine, you must understand the mechanism of its effect on ringworm cells. In fact, the work of the solution is based on the coagulation (clotting) of proteins. Based on the fact that fungal cells have a protein structure, iodine, getting into the affected areas, destroys them and prevents their spread. It is through this that complete healing takes place.

You can use iodine to fight toenail fungus in several ways:

1. Dotted - the agent is applied directly to the focus of infection. In this case, the probability of a quick recovery is quite high.
2. Baths - iodine is added to clean, boiled water, after which the legs rise for 10 minutes. This method can be used as disease prevention. After all, it is much easier to prevent a problem than to think about how to remove the fungus later on.

Other popular treatments

Alternative medicine is very popular nowadays. Therefore, there are many recipes that will help alleviate the course of the disease and ensure a speedy recovery. In the fight against fungal diseases of the nails, the following methods are most often used:

• Tar soap - has an antimicrobial effect. For medicinal purposes, it is used by soaping the affected area. To increase efficiency, you can put on a warm sock and leave it overnight;
• tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic. This method is best used in combination with others to speed up recovery. The oil can be used for baths, compresses or lotions;
• Garlic is a very simple but very effective remedy. After a week of regular procedures, the result will be noticeable. Garlic porridge or a compress with its juice should be applied to the lesions;
• celandine - often make herbal infusion baths. The procedure must be repeated every two days until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely;
• kombucha - is used as a lotion. On a sore finger you should put a small piece of peroxidized mushroom and fix it well with a film. This remedy has a soothing effect. After the procedure, you can easily cut the affected nail;
• use of smoke - the sore finger is fumigated with smoke from cotton fabric. As a result of the procedure, nails that have been affected by ringworm fall out and healthy ones grow in their place after a while;
• propolis - used as an infusion for a compress. To prepare it, mix alcohol and grated propolis. After the mixture is infused, it is applied to a clean gauze and wrapped around the sore finger.

Nail fungus often appears for no apparent reason. This brings significant inconvenience to a person's life. Therefore, you should not delay your treatment for too long. To know how to get rid of nail fungus, you should consult a dermatologist. This will help you choose funds that will have a quick and positive effect.