You will be surprised, but according to statistics, fungal diseases are one of the most common, and the most common nail infection is herpes zoster. It seems to you that this is something very far away and it will never affect you, no matter what.According to medical data, every tenth inhabitant of planet Earth suffers from a similar disease.
How to be among the lucky 9 and not get so much discomfort in the hands or feet? Why does the disease appear and how does it manifest itself? How to get rid of nail fungus at home? What is the best remedy for nail fungus? Proven ways to fight with antimicrobials and traditional medicine methods.
Disease: causes and symptoms
![fungal nails](/images/articles/45/fungal%20nails.jpg)
Onychomycosis, also known as dermatophyte onychomycosis, also known as herpes zoster, is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Often the infection is confused with non-fungal deformity, psoriasis, eczema. It is possible to clarify this point through laboratory research. Treatment of nail fungus is possible at home, but cunning infection is difficult to influence, returning with relapses and inflammatory processes.
Doctors among the main causes of the appearance of the disease on the hands and feet distinguish the following:
- Warm humid environment, as a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms on hands and feet. It is highly recommended to completely dry wet shoes, wear socks made of natural materials.
- Reduced immunity. Sometimes just walking around barefoot is enough to catch an infection. A course of vitamins, hardening and a reverent attitude towards health will help strengthen the immune system.
- Active spores, which are so easy to get infected in common areas. Entering the cavities between the fingernails and fingers, they can lie dormant for a long period, waking up suddenly and scattering with instant defeating speed. In no case do not try and even more do not wear someone else's shoes. Danger may be waiting for you in the swimming pool, sauna, bath, shower in the fitness center, etc.
- Building. Especially true for fancy manicure lovers. The fact is that the extension leads to the appearance of microcracks on the surface of the fingernails. Once inside, the infection firmly settles in and lodges, causing an injury. Doctors advise performing the extension procedure no more than once every 6 months, so you are more likely to avoid a fungus on your hands.
![Onychomycosis - fungal infection of the toenails](/images/articles/45/Onychomycosis%20-%20fungal%20infection%20of%20the%20toenails.jpg)
You can determine hand and foot fungus at home by knowing the symptoms of the problem. The nails will start to thicken or, conversely, become brittle and thin. They will begin to tear not only along the edges, but also across the entire surface of the nail plate. The shape will begin to deform, the structure will become flaky.
At first, it can be noticed that the shine and elasticity have disappeared. Darkening often occurs, which should certainly alert you. A problem as common as an ingrowth under the skin can also be a symptom of a fungus.
Against the background of infection, the digestive organs can also suffer, in particular, dysbacteriosis, general fatigue, loss of strength, drowsiness and a decline in immunity are characteristic. In children, it is easy to recognize a fungal disease by itchy sensations between the toes. The skin around the nails and feet can crack and bleed, causing pain. Frequent eruptions. The color of the nail plate changes from pink to yellow.
How to get rid of the problem?
Official medicine offers several ways to treat the fungus on the hands and feet. Be patient, as treating nail fungus is a long and expensive process. An overview of the best techniques on how to effectively treat onychomycosis at home especially for you.
Most likely, the doctor will advise treating the discomfort with an antifungal medication with an oily consistency and lacquer. In the early stage, this nail fungus cure is what you need.
![Onychomycosis should be treated with antifungal varnish.](/images/articles/45/Onychomycosis%20should%20be%20treated%20with%20antifungal%20varnish.%20.jpg)
Effectively fights the injury, showing tangible results after just seven days. The medicine at home is applied daily to the nails, after cleaning the surface of the nail from the previous layer of varnish or medicinal antifungal oil.
Local antifungal drugs such as creams and solutions are not inferior to them in effectiveness.
They are best suited for the complex treatment of the fungus, along with oral remedies intended to treat various forms of candida or prevent them. Oral drugs, that is, drugs for internal use, are very effective for fungi.
![The doctor will prescribe a remedy for the toenail fungus after the diagnosis of the disease](/images/articles/45/The%20doctor%20will%20prescribe%20a%20remedy%20for%20the%20toenail%20fungus%20after%20the%20diagnosis%20of%20the%20disease.jpg)
These medications are great for treating yeast infections. However, if the case is sufficiently neglected, only a combined treatment regimen including lotions, gels, ointments and other nail treatments can help at home.
You will have to seek help from a surgeon in case of serious injury. If the fungus has taken root, it is impossible to shut it up and treat it at home. The nail will likely be removed. Of the modern methods, temperature procedures, cryotherapy, acid disinfection and laser fungus removal are recommended. Keep in mind that in addition to the desired elimination of the disease, you will find damage to the skin under the nail plate.
alternative recovery
Traditional medicine is always ready to offer a natural analogue in the fight against any problem. To treat nail fungus at home, you can:
- Iodine.
- Garlic.
- Vinegar.
- Celandine.
- Coffee.
- bow.
- Soda.
- Laundry soap.
An iodine solution applied twice a day to the surface of the nail plate and surrounding skin will dry out and destroy the growing spores. A well-established way of treating the fungus is vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a popular recipe that prevents many problems and nail fungus is no exception.
![Healthy nails and feet - the result of treating fungus with folk remedies](/images/articles/45/Healthy%20nails%20and%20feet%20-%20the%20result%20of%20treating%20fungus%20with%20folk%20remedies.jpg)
Clean your nails with vinegar twice a day for a week and you will notice the first dramatic changes. For 4-5 liters of water, 250 ml of vinegar is enough. You can pour a bowl of cold water and add apple cider vinegar and hold the legs a little. In addition to fighting a fungal infection, this method does an excellent job of dealing with excessive foot sweating and the unpleasant odor that goes with it.
Reviews say that vinegar is also used as a component of a therapeutic compress. You need to mix a glass of vinegar with a chicken egg and 150 ml of butter. The resulting porridge mixture is removed overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning it is applied to the fungus on the nails and adjacent areas.
Treating the fungus with celandine is just as effective as removing warts with it. Apply the liquid squeezed from the plant to the affected area. After a week of daily use, it is recommended to wait five days and start the manipulation again.
Did you know that coffee is capable of dealing with the spread of fungus? You can win the battle against aggressive yeast with a strong coffee bath. Prepare a strong drink, wait for it to cool to an acceptable temperature and lower your arms or legs for a few minutes. The improvements won't keep you waiting for long. After a dozen procedures, there will be no traces of the fungus.
A kind of mask of chopped onion and a spoon of honey works wonders and saves you from the fungus in a few days. Apply the putty to the inflamed area and surrounding area, cover and leave for several hours. You can say goodbye to fungus symptoms after a week of daily use.
For children itchy from a fungal infection, soda comes to the rescue. This gentle nail treatment is suitable not only for children, but also for pregnant and lactating women. One teaspoon of baking soda is one tablespoon of water. The affected surface is treated with this mass at the first symptoms of onychomycosis.
![Foot baths with chamomile - effective prevention of onychomycosis](/images/articles/45/Foot%20baths%20with%20chamomile%20-%20effective%20prevention%20of%20onychomycosis.jpg)
general recommendations
After recovery, do not rush to rejoice. You are still a tidbit for a fungal infection as you haven't had time to fully recover from suffering onychomycosis. Competent preventive measures now play a key role.
Using antibiotics increases the risk of developing yeast infections, so try not to use them unless absolutely necessary. Burns and frostbite can also lead to fungal diseases. Therefore, timely treatment will help to prevent the active spread of yeast.
Remember that you need to not only treat the affected area, but also clean the surrounding space of fungus. This means that general cleaning is essential. Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces and objects you come in contact with.
Despite the effectiveness of traditional medicine, there is nothing more reliable than consulting a professional. Don't self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe this or that drug, and also, with high probability, will recommend something from the folk methods.
A common mistake with nail fungus is a varnish coating to hide blemishes. Know that doing so will only make the situation worse. By masking the flaws, you do not solve the problem that requires treatment.
A good preventative measure against infection is regular hand and foot baths with mint broth. You can also add string, chamomile and other herbs.
The fungus is contagious, so tactfully let your family members know about the problem so they can be more aware of themselves and take care of maintaining their health. The preventive methods described above will be more appropriate than ever in such a situation.
There are many ways to treat nail fungus. Which to give preference exactly, only the doctor will tell. Do not start the fungus.It is better to use folk or medical methods in the early stages than to be in the operating room with a surgeon.
Do not lead to a serious condition, do not paint the fungus with varnish, do not ignore the disease. After the fungus transferred, pay due attention to preventive measures, they will help to avoid infections in the future.