Nail fungus is ugly and painful. What is important in the treatment, whether to use folk remedies not pick up an infection.
How to understand that it is a fungus
Suspected onychomycosis symptoms:
- To change the color of the nail. All starts with small places, the nail lighter or yellow. Later can be darker and even green.
- The shape change. The nail grows, not there, plate, waves appear.
- Discomfort, especially if you don't press on the nail.
- Fragility. The nail will begin to flake, become brittle. It should be noted that the changed the structure of the disc.
But best of all diagnosis to cope with laboratory experiments, which guides the dermatologist: the nail around, you need to scrape and examine under the microscope.
Where the fungus
All around us are living micro-organisms, including various fungi. Usually they don't bother us. But if the fungus had under favorable conditions, it begins to multiply quickly.
The perfect environment for fungus — the place where it is warm and humid. For example, tight shoes in the gym, in the locker room or in the shower, in the bath or in the pool.
Why show nails the doctor
He noted that it is definitely fungus. Without research it is not always clear, especially if the infection only began to spread.
Maybe the nails are changed due to injury, bacteria or psoriasis — then fungal drugs to buy on their own, no help.
How to treat nail fungus
Now pharmacy quite a fungicide, which kills fungus up to the nail, they are sold under different names. Care for the skin around the nail is easier to use medication in the form of ointments, for the treatment of plate — counting or a special antifungal nail Polish.
The only difficulty in the treatment of nail fungus: you need to take medications for a few months to half a year. So the main thing is patience and consistency.
If the fungus is strongly deformed nail, you should visit a specialist who deals with the health of the feet, which can treat the infected nail so that it does not interfere with life. And it would be nice to change or at least to disinfect inside of the shoes that touch the affected nails.
In rare cases you need to remove the nail.
Whether to treat fungus folk remedies
All folk remedies — this is a questionable alternative to pharmaceutical antibiotics. Iodine, vinegar, herbal teas and juices, salt — it is a weak antiseptic that can kill the fungus on the surface of the nail, but can not completely lime infection.
The most powerful of these tools is also very dangerous, because burn the skin and will only worsen the situation.
Much easier to buy drugs, and not to suffer, come up to the next tray in the homicide unit. The only advantage of the warm baths for the feet — nail is a little limp, so it is possible that the antifungal creams and drops works better.
What is the danger of fungus, if left untreated
Fungal infections are treated for a long time, so many people forget to use the products or do not buy a new pack when the old one ran out, and the treatment is not ready.
If the fungus is not stopped, it spread to the entire nail becomes thick and hard, began to turn yellow and crumble. The skin around the nail and under it can hurt, it increases the risk of injury, ingrowth of the nail and its stratification.
If the infection enters the skin between the toes and the feet, it shows the cracks, which also happens.
How not to catch a nail fungus
The fungus often attacks people whose immune system is not able to cope with the infection: for example, their bodies weakened from chronic diseases. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes or psoriasis should be particularly attentive to the health of nails.
- Comply with hygiene. Clean and dry the hands and feet, the fungus are not attracted to. So wash the limbs and shoes, change your socks every day (and if necessary, even several times a day), don't forget to clean and trim your nails.
- Carefully choose the fabric that is in contact with the nails. Cotton socks, gloves and mittens — made from natural materials.
- Wear Slippers and flip-flops, especially the locker rooms and showers.
- Use the second shoe. Do not sit all day in the same shoes, who walk in the street, especially when talking about winter boots and shoes: don't let your feet sweat.
- Do not share towels. It is a personal hygiene items such as tooth brush.
- Don't do manicure and pedicure at home or salon, which can well deal with the tools — so not only can you catch a mushroom, but something worse.