Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is a lengthy process that can take from 1 to 4 months. At the same time, it is possible that after some time there is a relapse of the disease. This is due to the high level of infectivity of the microorganisms that cause this pathology, as well as the spread of their spores in the environment in which the infected person lives.
What is toenail fungus
Toe nail fungus is an infectious disease with a chronic form of the course that occurs as a result of infection of this part of the limb with pathogens (fungi). In medical terminology, this pathology is designated as onychomycosis.
It is considered a common disease that is difficult to treat with all types of therapy.On average, one in 10 people suffer from toenail fungus. The disease can turn into complicated forms, completely affecting the entire surface of the nail plate, provoking its detachment and deformation.
Types of toenail fungus
Treatment of toenail fungus using folk remedies is a long process, and a positive result can be achieved after 1-3 months. from the beginning of therapy. The variety of mycosis is also of great importance, the development of which led to the defeat of all or part of the nail plate.
The following table shows the types of toenail fungus, as well as a description of the disease process:
| Type of onychomycosis | Disease characteristics |
| Normotrophic | The color tone of the nail plate changes. Elongated streaks and irregular spots may appear. At the same time, the usual shine of the nail, the transparency of the plate and its normal thickness are preserved. It is considered a non-serious type of disease that responds well to treatment with traditional medicine. |
| Hypertrophic | The color of the nail changes, its shine and transparency are lost. With the destruction of the edges, a gradual deformation of the nail plate develops. Detachment of a part of the nail from the bed is possible. The degree of plaque deformation directly depends on the insemination of tissues by pathogenic microorganisms. |
| Onicolitico | This is an atrophic type of the disease, when the stage of deformation of the nail plate is completed. The nail tissue dies, which ultimately leads to its rejection from the root of the bed. |
This classification of onychomycosis species diversity is used by dermatologists.
In addition, the disease is divided according to the signs of the clinical picture, namely:
- distal - damage to the nail plate occurs only from the side of the free edge;
- lateral - the destruction of the nail develops on the sides;
- proximal: mycosis destroys the tissues of the posterior ridge;
- total: the fungus has completely affected the entire nail, from the root to the front.
The type and form of the disease are determined by a specialized specialist at the time of examination of the patient. Based on the results of the examination and diagnosis, a treatment regimen is selected. This applies to both drug therapy methods and folk remedies.
Stages and degrees of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus, treatment with folk remedies that takes a long time, is a chronic disease. Onychomycosis develops over several months and sometimes even for many years. It depends on how strong the patient's immune system is and the strain of the infectious pathogen.
Each phase of the disease is characterized by a gradual deterioration of the health of the affected tissues, namely:
- 1st stage: there is a gradual change in the color shade of the nail plate along the edges, the formation of streaks and spots of white, gray or yellow hue is possible, other painful signs of the disease are completelyabsent (a person feels a sharp and unpleasant yeast smell coming from the toes);
- 2nd stage: onychomycosis progresses, covering the entire area of the nail plate, the structure of which begins to change from the edges to the base of the bed (the color of the diseased tissues is completely yellow or gray, there are no signs oftransparency);
- 3rd stage - the final stage in the development of toenail fungus, which is characterized by complete necrosis of the affected tissues, they are deformed and rejected by the body (the appearance of local inflammation caused by the detachment of the nail plate from thebed base is possible).
The last stage of the disease is the most severe form of onychomycosis. After rejection of the nail, its reformation occurs, but in this case, healthy tissues are already formed. If a person does not take measures to treat a dermatological disease and get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, then the new nail will also be infected with mycosis and destroyed on the ground.
Toenail fungus symptoms
Toenail fungus, the treatment of which with folk remedies requires the regular use of homemade decoctions, tinctures and ointments, is a disease with pronounced symptoms.
Onychomycosis of this part of the body can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- redness of the epithelial tissues located in the circumference of the nail plate;
- white spots or streaks appear on the sides of the nail, as well as on the side of its front part, which do not disappear during plate processing or water procedures;
- the nail plate gradually changes color, there is a loss of its transparency (the pathological process develops from the edges to the center and root of the tissues);
- fungal microorganisms penetrate deep into the nail plate, destroying its structure, which leads to its deformation;
- the affected nail has a yellow wrinkled shape;
- under mechanical action on the affected tissues, they are separated from the nail bed (this process can be accompanied by painful symptoms and icore secretion in the root of the nail, where it connects with the epithelial and soft tissues of the tip).
All of the above symptoms are accompanied by the constant persistence of a pungent and unpleasant odor, reminiscent of yeast, but more pronounced. This sign of the disease appears even before external symptoms begin to develop, indicating a gradual destruction of the tissues of the nail plate.
Causes of toenail fungus
The fungus on the toenails, the treatment of folk remedies of which is based on the principle of the systemic use of home medicines, cannot develop on its own without the influence of a number of factors.
Onychomycosis infection is possible in the following cases:
- following visits to public showers, baths, Turkish baths, swimming pools, saunas, if a person did not use individual rubber slippers, he came into contact with a surface on which there are vital spores of fungal microorganisms;
- joint use of shoes by several people, when one of them has fungal lesions of the nails;
- poor hygiene, occasional washing of the feet;
- the presence of concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus, varicose veins and foot deformities increases the risk of toenail fungus, as local immunity decreases or a nutrient medium is created to increase the population of fungal microorganisms;
- wearing shoes made with a poor-quality lining that does not allow air to pass through and does not absorb water, which ultimately leads to the fact that the toes are constantly moist
- contact of the open part of the foot or nail with the floor surface in the apartment, if a person with onychomycosis lives in the same living conditions.
A person's immune status plays an important role in the development of this disease. People with strong immunity can avoid infections and further damage to the nail plate. Warm and humid environments are ideal conditions for fungal microorganisms, so this information should be taken into consideration when visiting beaches and other crowded places.
Toenail fungus diagnosis
Fungus on the toenails, the treatment of which with folk remedies begins only after a detailed examination by a dermatologist, is an infectious disease that requires careful diagnosis. This is necessary to establish the strain of fungal microorganisms and then select a treatment regimen that will be effective in a particular case.
For the diagnosis of onychomycosis, the patient must undergo the following examination stages:
- preliminary examination by a dermatologist who examines the appearance of the affected plaque, assesses the condition of the tissues, the degree of their deformation;
- a smear is performed from the surface of the epithelium located in the circumference of the nail bed (biochemical analysis is performed for a strain of fungal microorganisms, as well as the possible presence of secondary bacterial microflora);
- in the conditions of the laboratory manipulation room, the specialist selects part of the affected tissues in order to study fungal microorganisms in more detail and exclude the simultaneous presence of different types of mycosis;
- In addition to the toes, an examination of the skin surface of the foot is performed to ensure that the fungal disease is localized and that there are no signs of its spread to other parts of the lower limb.
Based on the results of an external examination, as well as on the basis of laboratory results, the attending physician diagnoses the patient - onychomycosis or denies the presence of pathology.
Diagnostics take an average of 1 to 3 days. In a public hospital, the services of a biochemical laboratory are free, but the terms for studying biological material can be up to 7-10 days.
When to see a doctor
Consultation with a dermatologist should be done as soon as signs of development of nail fungus are detected.The delay is fraught with worsening of symptoms and damage to large areas of the nail plate.
In addition, a person with signs of onychomycosis is a carrier of a fungal infection and in addition, without realizing it, spreads spores of pathogenic microorganisms in the daily conditions of his residence. In this case, infection of healthy family members with onychomycosis is not excluded.
Prevention of toenail fungus
It is possible to avoid contamination of toenails with a fungal infection, but for this it is necessary to follow simple rules of prevention every day, which will protect the lower limbs from insemination by pathogenic microorganisms.
We recommend the following actions:
- do not visit public baths, swimming pools, saunas, showers or wear individual shoes with rubber soles on the feet;
- wears only high quality genuine leather shoes;
- observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash your feet daily with warm soapy water, wash your socks;
- insists on treating family members who have signs of toenail fungus but have let the disease run its course and do not seek medical help;
- during the summer holidays near bodies of water, on the beach, walk only with shoes, avoiding contact of the epithelial surface of the feet and toes with sand, river silt or earth;
- wear only your shoes;
- make sure that there are no areas of mold growth in the apartment or private house (moisture on the walls, fungi that have infected old wooden floors, baseboards, blackening of the wallpaper in the corners).
In order to prevent fungal nail infections, it is recommended to pay special attention to strengthening the immune system.
To do this, you need to take a contrast shower every day, give up bad habits, harden the body, eat rationally, eating only biologically useful products (cereals, chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal, fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, cottage cheese, milk, cheese, ocean fish).
Methods for treating toenail fungus
Onychomycosis therapy is performed using traditional drugs, traditional medicine recipes, and is also performed by the method of surgical intervention. Each of these methods is effective at a certain stage of the development of the disease.
Drugs
Treatment of a fungal infection is carried out with drugs that have an antifungal spectrum of action.
Antifungal drugs should only be prescribed by a dermatologist. Only a specialist of this profile is able to determine which particular drug is effective in a particular clinical case. Also, when forming a treatment regimen, data from laboratory studies on collected samples of a deformed or altered nail are taken into account.
Traditional methods
There are recipes of traditional medicine that allow you to get rid of a fungal infection of the toenails without the use of pharmaceutical preparations. To do this, use the following tablets, homemade ointments, tinctures and other methods:
Kombucha compress
To prepare this folk remedy, you will need to buy kombucha or grow it yourself at home. A piece of this ingredient is cut with a knife and then placed on the surface of the infected nail. The procedure is carried out in the evening before going to bed. Kombucha is fixed to the finger with an adhesive plaster. The timing of therapy is not limited by time.
Tincture of onion juice
You need to take 1 medium sized onion, chop it with a knife and then pour 1 tsp. granular sugar.
The future medicine is sent to the refrigerator for 24 hours. During this time, the chopped vegetable manages to release a sufficient amount of juice, which is infused and then used as a medicine. A sick nail is cleaned with onion juice 3-4 times a day for 3 months or until full recovery.
Antiseptic solution
This product is prepared at home by mixing 1 tsp in equal proportions. boiled water, ethyl alcohol and garlic pulp. All components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is formed. The resulting solution is used for antiseptic treatment of the nail plate at least 2 times a day. The treatment lasts at least 3-4 months.
Salt ointment for mushrooms
An effective antifungal agent that is easy to prepare at home. To do this, you need to take ½ tsp. table salt, add 1 tbsp. L. honey collected from herbs and then mix all the ingredients. The result is a honey-based ointment that contains a high concentration of mineral salts.
The product is applied to the nail plate once a day. It is best to carry out the procedure at night. In the process of treatment, it is necessary to observe precautions, not allowing home medicine to enter the skin in the circumference of the nail bed, and you should also protect the mucous membrane of the eyes.
Homemade ointment is used until the diseased nail comes off with the further formation of a healthy plate. Alternative therapy is really effective, but the only drawback of using them is the timing of the therapy.
The duration of their use should be at least 3 months. The initial form of toenail fungal infection can be eliminated within 2 months. In this case, the course of treatment should be continuous. Skipping even one procedure can worsen tissue health.
Other methods
An alternative treatment for a fungal infection of the lower extremity nails is surgery. The method consists in the fact that the attending physician removes the deformed nail plate.
In general, surgery is performed as follows:
- The patient comes independently to the operating room, then lies down on the sofa or sits in a chair.
- A nurse injects a local anesthetic into a finger, the nail of which is affected by onychomycosis.
- After the anesthetic has started to work (after 5-10 minutes), the surgeon tears off the affected nail plate with forceps.
- Antiseptic treatment of the operated area is performed, suture material and a sterile dressing are applied.
Upon completion of the surgery, the patient is transferred to her ward of the surgical department, where she receives further therapy with antifungal drugs. The average duration of complete wound healing is 7 to 10 days. Within 1 month. a new nail plate grows, which, provided that the treatment process is properly organized, does not show signs of fungus.
Possible complications
In the absence of actions aimed at curing nails from a fungal infection,can develop the following complications caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- complete deformation of the nail plate with its further detachment from the base of the bed;
- the spread of the fungus to healthy skin tissues located on the surface of the foot, between the toes, the passage of the disease to the nails of the upper limbs, inguinal folds;
- onychomycosis infection of other family members who have not previously suffered from a fungal disease (children are the most vulnerable, because their immune systems are weaker than that of adults);
- loss of the nail and disruption of the process of forming a new plate, since due to the abundance of infectious microorganisms, the integrity of its structure is initially violated.
Treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is possible, but this will require maximum effort, taking at least 3 months. time.
The main danger of onychomycosis is that fungal microorganisms that cause damage to the nail plate are highly infectious and quickly adapt to new environmental conditions, as well as to the effects of the active components of the drug.
This is why the treatment of the disease should begin as soon as possible in order to prevent its transition to a complicated or chronic form of the course.