How to treat nail fungus on feet

Fungus toenails (onychomycosis) is one of the most common infectious diseases, which is difficult to treat. According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet suffers from fungal infections, which can not only affect the skin and nails, but also cause more serious health problems. In advanced cases, the presence of pathogenic fungi in internal organs suffer, there is a reduction of General and local immunity and often develop complications associated with the accession of secondary bacterial infection.

To completely get rid of the fungus is difficult, the treatment process is long, requires careful adherence to medical recommendations. And, if you do not bring the end of treatment, high relapse risk and disease progression. The pharmaceutical market today has a wide range of antifungal medications, in order to cope with infection. It is not only creams, gels, sprays, varnishes, and systemic medicines, which are intended for oral. Tell me more about how to cure fungus toenails and that the medicine according to the opinion of doctors, mycologists and dermatologists to most effectively deal with the problem. But first stop the first symptoms of infection and modes of transmission.

Fungus toenails — causes infection

Doctors have identified a few main causes of fungal infection:

• Direct contact with the operator of the fungal infection
• Failure to comply with the rules of hygiene
• Reduced immunity
• Injury to the feet because of wearing uncomfortable shoes
• Chronic diseases

Fungal infection occurs due to the violation of elementary sanitary-hygienic norms or in contact with the media. For example, you can get infected with the family if one of its representatives suffers from onychomycosis. It is enough to use someone else's Slippers, to use a common towel or other household items.

Fungal infection can easily be picked up in public places with high temperature and humidity (swimming pool, bath, sauna, public showers, gym). This is where there is a favorable microclimate for the growth of pathogenic fungi and create the conditions for the contact of bare feet with infected surface. Fungi thrive and thrive in moist and warm environment. Long they can cope with all surfaces (benches, mats on the floor). If a person is in a public place with bare feet, fungal spores from head to foot, the toes and nails.

A gateway for infection are small cracks, abrasions, warts, ulcers of the feet caused by wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes. But even in this case, infection can occur if a person has good immunity, able to cope with infection. If the immune system is weakened, the infection can not be avoided. The appearance of fungus often contributes to excessive sweating of the feet or on the background of chronic diseases (diabetes, psoriasis, varicose veins).

The fungus first affects the skin of the feet and the area between the toes, and then spreads to the nail plate, which in the absence of timely treatment to grow and reproduce. Infection develops slowly, so the initial stage to identify the fungus on the nails is difficult. In order to effectively treat onychomycosis, treatment should start as early as possible, so the first sign of infection is necessary to know each.

Symptoms and photos

The first signs of fungus on the feet is burning sensation and itching. Skin on the feet between the toes begins to peel off, it will appear bubbles, which burst, to form cracks or sores. If time does not begin treatment, the fungus spreads and penetrates under the nails, choosing the localization of the space under the nail, which is the nutrients that are necessary for its reproduction and growth.

Attached below the nail plate, the fungus begins to produce special enzymes that can destroy tissue and the stratum corneum and stimulate the growth of strands of mycelium. The initial stage of infection symptoms are practically invisible, so few people pay attention, but the progression began to show typical symptoms:

1. To change the appearance of the nail plate. It is boring, it will show yellow or white spots of a specific longitudinal or lateral stripes. Over time, the more the nail changes color and may become completely yellow, gray or even black.
2. Around the nail the skin on the toes may be red and inflamed. This process is accompanied by itching and soreness in the inflamed area of the skin.
3. Nails start to become thicker, crumble, deform and if left untreated can become loose in the nail bed.

The nature of the damage depends largely on the species of fungi. So, when infected by dermatophytes, the most common symptom is the appearance of yellow spots and longitudinal stripes in the middle and at the edges of the nail plate. If the nail is yeast fungi, their destructive action starts on the sides of the nail, which gradually turns yellow and begins to lag behind the nail bed. If the nail is black, so these changes are likely to be caused by mold fungi.

One of the most serious complications of mycosis is an ingrown nail. The nail plate affected by the fungus, thickens over time, grow in the wrong direction, twisted and cut into the skin. The resulting ingrown nails say about myself severe pain when walking, damage to the skin and cause secondary bacterial infection. The tip is red and swollen, from under the nail plate pus. A man sick of the nail can be difficult to walk because of the pain. Such a complication is especially dangerous for diabetics, as it can cause gangrenous lesions on the extremities.

If you don't start treatment at the first adverse symptoms, the disease progresses and further fungal growth to spread to all the nails. In complex cases, the fungus infection begins to suffer the whole body: no allergic reactions, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and other symptoms of poisoning caused by the penetration of fungicides into the circulatory system and the lymphatic system. The first troubling symptoms should consult with a specialist, who chooses the best treatment plan and recommend an effective remedy for fungus toenails.

The treatment of nail fungus

The first sign of foot fungus need to take active steps to remove them, it is not necessary to hope that all the symptoms disappear by themselves. This does not happen. Fungal infection and the time progresses and can cause serious health problems. Therefore, the earlier treatment is started, the better chances you have to get rid of onychomycosis forever. Today in the Arsenal of dermatologists and mycologists are very effective remedy for fungus toenails General and local action.

The early stages of the disease, when the affected area is minimal, we can restrict the application of local anti-fungal drugs which have broad spectrum of activity (creams, lotions, solutions, varnishes, sprays). If the process has gone too far and completely nails suffer from fungus, which is part of the comprehensive treatment includes antifungal drugs for systemic effects in the form of tablets. Most of these drugs have serious contraindications and side effects, so give them a specialist, and treatment is carried out under its control. Focuses more on products intended for the treatment of fungus.

Solutions, coatings. In the early stages, you can use an antifungal solution and nail Polish. Various services is very diverse.

Creams, gels, lotions. The external treatment of nails affected by fungus, which is used to group of drugs on the basis of terbinafine, naftifin, ciclopiroxolamine, ketoconazole.

Capsules, tablets. In complicated forms of fungal infections external treatment is supplemented with antifungal drugs in tablet form. Without systemic antifungal therapy is necessary when the disease progresses, and treatment is only the local media is ineffective. Drugs for the treatment of fungus is a lot to pick up they are an experienced doctor, as many of them are serious contra-indications and restrictions to use. Such funds can not be taken children, pregnant women, patients with abnormalities of the liver and kidneys. The effectiveness of these products is very high, together with topical agents does not achieve permanent results and to cope with onychomycosis, to prevent recurrent exacerbations of the disease.

Means removal, nail. If the nail is struck fully, before starting treatment, it is better to remove. Alternative surgical methods are special cosmetic safely remove the nail affected by the fungus.

The treatment of nail fungus on your feet folk remedies

There are many folk recipes, helping to prevent the spread of mold and treat it in the early stages. Present to your attention a few popular recipes used for the treatment of toe nail fungus at home.

1. Kombucha. The most effective medicinal mushroom is packed discs Kombucha. It is wrapped in a sterile bandage, apply to the nail and fix the patch. This compress may be left for the night, so she did not slip on feet wearing socks. During the procedure, you may feel a burning sensation, but for the sake of the patient. In the morning the poultice is removed, the softened stratum corneum to remove the tool, the nail surface is treated with an antiseptic solution.
2. Creolin. It is a cheap fix with a veterinary antiparasitic and a powerful disinfectant effect. It should be used very carefully, avoiding contact with healthy skin, because it is possible to burn. To avoid this, a strip of skin around the nail, you need to seal the plaster. The affected nail is treated Creolin times a day for 2 months, until complete recovery.
3. The foot bath. To remove the fungus, you can do foot baths with Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. The procedure lasts more than 15 minutes. Good effect gives nails with a solution of propolis, baking soda or Epsom salts. The nails can be coated with tea tree oil, lavender, oregano, they have antiseptic and antifungal activity. Many folk recipes based on the use of garlic, vinegar, alcohol, onions. Before you use these recipes yourself, don't forget to consult with your doctor.

Prevention of the disease

To avoid infection, fungus, adhere to these easy recommendations:

• Don't go barefoot in a swimming pool,sauna, gym and other public places. In areas with high humidity, you need to use rubber Slippers or tile. Because the measures of prevention applied to the nails, an antifungal lacquer, it protects against infection.
• Never use someone else's shoes, Slippers, socks, towels and other household items. All for personal hygiene and pedicure tools should be strictly individual.
• Wear comfortable shoes made of natural breathable materials. Shoes should be tight, RUB and injure the foot.
• Feet should be washed twice a day, morning and evening and daily change socks and stockings. After water treatment wipe the feet dry, gently dry the skin between the toes.
• The fungus is particularly active, with reduced immunity. So watch your health, time to treat the underlying disease, take immunomodulatory drugs. Maintain the body's defenses proper and balanced nutrition, eat more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and trace elements.
• During the treatment process of the shoes with antiseptic solutions, this will help prevent the recurrence of the disease. Can you disinfect the shoes in a solution of formalin or vinegar, carefully processed it inside. After treatment, a cotton swab moistened with an antiseptic solution, should be put in the toe of the Shoe and put it in an airtight plastic bag day.

These simple preventive measures will help to protect against mildew and keep your feet healthy. Remember that fungus toenails are treated with long and earnestly, so it is important to prevent the occurrence of athlete's foot, carefully observe hygiene standards and to react to adverse changes, which may be the first signs of infection.