Nail fungus or onychomycosis has deservedly earned the title of the most insidious and widespread disease of the 21st century. The answer to the question of how to get rid of nail fungus is most often of interest to people who lead an active lifestyle. It is easier to catch the disease in public places, such as changing rooms, baths, swimming pools or beaches. Treatment of onychomycosis can take several months and be accompanied by various complications. Therefore, patients suffering from nail fungus need to know how to deal with this unpleasant disease as soon as possible and what means should be used.
Fast and effective treatments
It is possible to cure a fungal disease, regardless of its stage, with the help of medicines and folk remedies. A mycologist must select a treatment regimen, taking into account the characteristics of a given patient's body. Medicines have their own contraindications, therefore, they cannot be taken in the presence of certain diseases, pregnancy and lactation. Traditional medicine methods give good results, but they do not fully replace traditional medicines.
creams and ointments
It is necessary to take action immediately after detecting the primary symptoms. In the early stages, doctors prescribe varnishes that help to quickly get rid of nail fungus. Lacquers should be applied to a clean nail plate, from which the top layers are removed by mechanical methods. This procedure can be performed independently or consult a doctor who will remove the tissues affected by the fungus.
Important!
Along with the medication, the patient must disinfect the skin, socks and shoes. If the fungus is present not only on the nails, but also on the skin of the legs, dermatological creams and ointments are additionally used for treatment.
The creams have proven to be good in treating fungal nail infections. The patient should be prepared for the fact that getting rid of nail fungus can take several months. At the same time, applying an antifungal drug, it is impossible to defeat the disease. This disease passes with relapses and after passing a course of treatment it is able to reappear.
Antifungal drugs in the form of pills
It is difficult to get rid of nail fungus, often the disease enters an advanced stage. To prevent the spread of infection, patients are given antifungal tablets for complex oral administration.
Important!
The effect of taking pills should be maximum, therefore, they should be combined with therapy with topical preparations. Combining different drugs significantly reduces treatment time.
So that getting rid of nail fungus with the help of pills does not worsen liver function, doctors advise taking hepatoprotective drugs. The first course of treatment of a fungal disease with pills is at least 7 days and should be carried out in several cycles with a break of at least 3 weeks. If we are talking about the toes, then the patient will need to go through 2 cycles, the nail plates of the feet are treated for 3 cycles.
popular methods
Many traditional medicines help to cure foot fungus quickly and cheaply at home. You need to select recipes individually as some natural ingredients can cause allergies. A list of popular ways to get rid of a fungal infection is presented below.
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar. The two components must be mixed in equal proportions and applied to the affected nail. Keep until the end of the mixture hiss on the nail plate. Then, lower your foot into a bowl of water, which is mixed with a small amount of chlorine, and keep for no more than 3 minutes. After the procedure, the feet or hands should be rinsed and dried with a towel.
- Garlic. Peel and finely chop the garlic clove. Put the crushed mass on the gauze and apply a compress to the infected nail. Then the finger is bandaged with a sterile dressing. The procedure is repeated daily.
- Iodine. Several layers of iodine are applied to clean, trimmed nails, which need to lubricate the nail plates and wait until the product is absorbed. Then the legs are lowered into a bowl of warm water. This procedure is effective against many types of fungi.
- tea tree oil. Natural tea tree oil should be applied to the affected nails several times a day to eliminate the infection.
- propolis tincture. A cotton pad is moistened with 20% propolis tincture and applied to the nails for 2-3 hours. The compresses should be applied every day and the procedure repeated until the patient grows healthy nails.
Preventive actions
Nail fungus is always easier to prevent with standard hygiene practices. It is much more difficult to fight an existing disease, because even after undergoing complex therapy, it does not disappear forever. Experienced dermatologists advise paying attention to some useful tips:
- when visiting public places, including swimming pools, baths and saunas, you must wear clean, changeable shoes, which must be closed;
- in the presence of excessive sweating of the feet or palms, it is worth using ordinary talc and special deodorants with antiseptic components;
- feet should be washed with warm water and soap or antibacterial gel at least twice a day and clean socks should be worn daily;
- you cannot wear someone else's shoes; when trying on a pair in a store, be sure to wear socks.
These simple ways will help prevent insidious onychomycosis and other fungal diseases that affect the nails and skin of the feet.