The defeat of the toenails with a fungal infection is associated not only with an external infection, but also with the state of the microflora in the human body.
As you know, fungi of different species (there are thousands of them) successfully live in the human body, being opportunistic organisms. This means that they are not dangerous as long as the population is maintained at an acceptable level. If there are too many of them, they show their toxic properties and have a negative impact on health.
Onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) shows that the body is unable to resist the fungal infection, maintaining the necessary acid-base balance of the skin and the internal environment (pH).
Proper comprehensive treatment will include both external agents and adherence to a specific dietary protocol that will help reduce the activity of the infection.
Effective treatments
- Drug therapy.
- Radical methods with softening and gradual removal of the nail plate.
- Conservative methods that do not require nail removal: ointments, lotions, compresses, baths.
Antifungal diet
It is recommended to refuse all types of products containing fungal cultures during treatment:
- baked goods and bread on yeast dough (you can use bread or pie without yeast pie);
- Almost all types of cheese, except for Adygea cheese, mozzarella, feta cheese and bura;
- fermented dairy products (kefir, yogurt).
You should also limit or temporarilyexclude from the diet sugar and any pastries, as well as sweet fruits and starchy vegetables (potatoes, beets).
These supportive measures will enhance the effect of external drugs and treatment will continue faster.
Important! If the patient is treating anemia and taking iron supplements, then it should be remembered that iron strengthens the protective fungal membrane.
It is best to stop taking these medicines during antifungal therapy.
Pharmaceutical or folk remedies
If the infection is neglected and has already led to deformation of the nail plates, then drug therapy will be more appropriate, they are able to suppress the activity of the fungal colony.
For minor initial symptoms you can try home remedies with folk remedies.
Many experts believe that it is quite dangerous to affect the fungus with drug therapy, as it provokes a powerful reaction from microorganisms, which leads to resistance. The stronger the attempts to eliminate the fungal infection, the stronger the resistance and resistance to chemical attack. When the doctor chooses drug treatment, he tries to change medications periodically so as not to provoke addiction.
Treatment of toenail fungus at home
Treating a fungal infection at home will be beneficial with good hygiene and good practice, but you may need to be patient.
Andriasyan's method
Usually the infection becomes noticeable after changing the color or shape of the nails. In fact, the fungus grows in the bed under the nail plate, where it enters through the infected sole of the foot or penetrates under the edge of the nail. Therefore, Dr. Andriasyan's method is aimed at removing the nail plate and subsequent treatment. The affected nail is gradually dissolved with a pharmaceutical agent, which is a powder of 15 parts of barium sulfide and 85 parts of talc.
- The powder is mixed with water, applied to the nail in the form of a slurry for 30-40 minutes, moistened all the time with a pipette. You can make a small depression in the 5 mm layer of the paste and drip water into it every 3 minutes so that the medicine works continuously.
- The slurry is washed off, the softened layer of the nail is removed with a scalpel, trying not to damage the nail bed, then onycholysin is applied again. With 2-3 applications you can remove the entire plate, this is important because the fungus affects all the nail tissue.
- The exposed surface is treated with 5% iodine solution.
- Vaseline-based paste is applied to the nail bed. Prepared from salicylic, lactic (or benzoic) acid and resorcinol, each ingredient will need 15 g, they must be mixed with 55 g of Vaseline. You can make the paste yourself, all preparations are available at the pharmacy.
Apply 2-3 layers of gauze and compression paper on the paste, the dressing lasts 48 hours. In 3 applications, the affected surface is completely cleared of the stratum corneum and affected tissues. - Salicylic Vaseline is applied to the bed for another 48 hours under the bandage.
- The nail bed is treated with iodine tincture 1-2 times a day until the nail is restored.
Quick and effective alternative recipes for the treatment of mycosis
The use of herbal fungicides and simple home remedies can help fight fungal infections. It is important to wash your feet well before all wellness procedures, trim your nails in a timely manner and get rid of the epithelium as much as your skin condition allows.
Table vinegar
Vinegar has a pronounced antifungal effect, as the acidic environment has a destructive effect on the ability of fungi to reproduce.
For home procedures you can use apple cider, wine and ordinary vinegar, it is important only to remember the concentration of the substance.
Vinegar essence contains about 70-80% of the substance, it must be diluted with water to avoid chemical burns.
Example of 70% vinegar essence:
- to obtain 3% concentrate, the proportion is 1: 20 (1 part vinegar and 20 parts water);
- 6% acetic acid is diluted 1: 11;
- Dilute 9% solution 1: 7.
It is recommended to start treatment with acetic acid at low concentrations, gradually increasing to 9%.
Trays.Before using this method, you should wash your feet thoroughly, trim your nails and remove the keratinized epithelium as much as possible.
In the process of treatment the hardened skin will soften, gradually it will be possible to remove it completely.
For 3 liters of heated water you will need 1 liter of apple cider vinegar or a glass of 3% vinegar essence. Immerse clean feet in the bath for 15-20 minutes until the solution cools. After the bath, do not rinse the solution from the skin, let it dry.
A few drops of iodine, manganese crystals or tea tree oil can be added to the bath to enhance the antifungal effect.
Baths can be done for a long time, it is important to monitor the health and dynamics of recovery. A slight burning sensation on the surface of the skin is acceptable, but the pain should not be tolerated. If the pain syndrome is severe, it is recommended to reduce the concentration of vinegar or temporarily abandon the baths and use other means.
People with serious violations of the integrity of the skin of the feet (cracks, ulcers) are shown careful use of vinegar baths.
Lotions and compresses.Wet gauze bandages soaked in vinegar solution are applied to the affected area for 3 hours until dry. It is important not to create a greenhouse effect by covering the bandages with plastic wrap, ventilation is required.
First solution:
- 100 ml water.
- a few drops of iodine.
- teaspoon of vinegar.
Second solution:
- 2 tablespoons water.
- tablespoon glycerin.
- 2 tablespoons 3% vinegar.
The course of treatment will take from 2 months to a year.
If the use of vinegar causes irritation and allergic reaction, discontinue therapy.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree has a powerful fungicidal effect, contains about one hundred fractions of terpenes - substances that have a toxic effect on fungi and microorganisms.
It is more effective to use 100% crude oil than cosmetic, it contains 40-50% tea tree oil half with other vegetable oils.
The undiluted oil is rubbed into the nail plates and the rough skin around them. There is no need to rinse or wipe the product, it partially dries, partially penetrates the tissues. Use the drug twice a day for 2 months or more.
Refreshing soaking with warm water and a few drops of tea tree oil can be used to soothe and deodorize the skin.
Hydrogen peroxide
Most often in therapy a standard 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is used, it is sold in a pharmacy in ready form. Peroxide is known as an antiseptic, hemostatic and deodorizing agent, as well as its antimicrobial and antifungal effects.
Peroxide treatment.
Baths: add 2-3 ml of peroxide to 3 liters of warm water, keep your feet in the solution for 10-15 minutes, then dry them without wiping.
You can buy hydrogen peroxide in powder or tablet form, add a little water to the substance to make it into a slurry. This paste is gently applied with a cotton swab on the affected nail for no more than 5 minutes, then washed.
Propolis
Propolis is a resinous sticky substance produced by pollen bees using their own enzymes. Thanks to its unique chemical composition, it successfully fights fungal infections.
The pharmaceutical preparation of propolis tincture can be used as follows:
Trays are prepared at the rate of 1 teaspoon of the product per 1 liter of hot water. It should be bearable but hot to keep your feet in the liquid for 20 minutes. It is important not to rinse the solution from your feet.
Lotions are made from a cotton swab soaked in tincture, which is bandaged for several hours (preferably overnight). An ointment can be made from pure, unprocessed propolis: mix 50 grams of the substance with 100 grams of Vaseline. The ointment is applied liberally to the affected nail and gradually absorbed, the residue can be soaked up with a paper towel or wait until completely absorbed.
All propolis products are applied daily for 2 months and longer if necessary.
Iodine tincture
The complex use of iodine has already been noted in the composition of various products. Iodine has the ability to coagulate (stick) protein: fungi consisting of protein compounds stick together and die.
Even if the patient does not have any other medications on hand, he can start treatment using only the alcoholic tincture of iodine in the pharmacy.
Iodine lotions. The therapy is very simple:
It is necessary to soak a cotton swab with tincture and fix it on the affected nail for an hour, trying to avoid getting the substance on the skin. Iodine is dangerous for the skin, can cause chemical burns, also avoid contact with mucous membranes.
A slight burning sensation is appropriate. The procedure can be performed every day for 1, 5-2 months.
celandine
As celandine is a highly toxic herb, a tolerance test should be performed. To do this, a small amount of celandine product is applied to the skin of the wrist and wait for a reaction. In case of intolerance, the skin will react with redness, rashes and itching, a few minutes will be enough.
If well tolerated, celandine can be used in the form of juice, decoction, oil or tincture.
You can make your ownjuiceby plucking fresh grass and rubbing it well with rubber gloves. This juice can not be stored for a long time, it is better to prepare each portion separately. Pure juice is applied to the affected nails for 10-20 minutes, then washed off. You can repeat the procedure every day, but it is only available in the summer.
Celery oil is sold in pharmacies and is used for rubbing into the nail plate twice a day, morning and evening. From the product the nails may turn yellow, this is normal.
Trayswith decoction of celandine are prepared from dry pharmaceutical raw materials and water.
To begin, add 7 tablespoons of dried herb to 2 liters of boiling water, the composition is kept in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Then filter and use for a bath, topping up with hot water if necessary. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes, the broth should not be washed.
Tincture of celandine can be purchased at the pharmacy or made by yourself. Used to treat affected nails, lubricating 2 times a day.
Potatoes
Potato tubers contain substances that can help fight fungal infections, but they are not powerful. Against the fungus, use raw potatoes or potato broth.
It is necessary to grate raw potatoes on a fine grater, apply the resulting mash on diseased nails and bandage for an hour. Rinse with water.
For convenience, you can replace the porridge with thin slices of potatoes.
Option: squeeze the juice from the pulp, soak cotton swabs with it and apply on the nails.
Potato broth is used in the form of foot baths after partial cooling. Potato procedures should be performed every day for 2 months.
The most effective drugs
Pharmaceuticals are essential for the comprehensive treatment of complex advanced infections.
Insidetablets or capsules are prescribed.
Apply locally:
- ointments and creams; varnishes;
- solutions;
- natural preparations.
If folk remedies can be used relatively safely, then drug therapy should be prescribed by a doctor based on the data from the analysis and symptoms. Do not self-medicate or prescribe pills yourself.
Better treatment for nail fungus
If you are a literate reader, then you start reading from the end. Therefore, especially for you, the main useful conclusions:
- When treating onychomycosis, it is necessary to understand that the fungus always affects the body as a whole and not any part of the body, which is why complex therapy is needed.
- No drug can be considered a panacea for fungal infections. You will need drug therapy, simple daily hygiene procedures and adherence to a food protocol.
- Many onychomycosis treatment regimens are designed for up to 2 months, during which time the nail plate has time to completely renew. It is important not to give up therapy prematurely.
- Treatment of mycoses is difficult, it is impossible to completely eliminate fungal infections in the human body, but you can significantly reduce the pathogenic effect of the fungus and maintain a healthy level of immunity.
Be healthy!