Fungus on the nails of the fingers or toes is caused by specific pathogenic fungi. Under certain conditions, this pathology can be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one, is difficult to treat and tends to progress. Fungicides (antifungals) are used in drug therapy. Folk remedies are widely used, which have sufficient effectiveness when used properly.
Causes and mechanism of development of fungal infection
The causative agent of the infection are specific pathogenic fungi, groups of trichophytes, epidermophytes and microspores. In the process of parasitizing on human skin and nails, these fungi secrete spores, which, penetrating through microcracks in the nail of a healthy person, germinate in it and lead to a pathological process. Spores form filamentous mycelium that form the base of the fungus. These structures have a healthy cell wall that is not affected by the immune system. Therefore, the body can not get rid of the infection alone, treatment is needed to destroy fungal mycelium and spores.
Factors contributing to fungal infection
Fungal spore infection does not always occur, but under certain conditions:
- Walking in public pools, showers or saunas without personal shoes increases the risk of infection.
- Use foreign shoes that may contain fungal spores.
- Microtraumas of the nails (wearing tight shoes, gloves), which facilitates the penetration of spores.
- Closed shoes, where high humidity develops, which softens the nail plates and creates favorable conditions for the penetration of fungal spores.
- Failure to follow the rules of personal hygiene to keep the skin of hands and feet clean.
The most common fungal infection develops in the toenails. However, due to the wider stratum corneum in them, the treatment is more complicated and lengthy.
The benefits of using folk methods of treating fungus
Traditional medicine has a wide range of antifungal (antifungal) agents. Their use has several advantages over the use of chemically synthesized drugs:
- Efficacy - with proper preparation and topical application, folk remedy for fungus has a pronounced antifungal effect.
- All traditional medicines are applied topically in the form of ointments, lotions or rubs, so they have no systemic effect on the body.
- Safety of use - most of the folk remedies are of natural origin, so they do not adversely affect the body during the healing process.
- Availability - unlike medicines, folk remedies are cheap, most of them can be found in pharmacies or prepared yourself.
- The possibility of their use by pregnant or lactating women and children.
- There are practically no allergic reactions or individual intolerance.
In general, the treatment of a fungal infection is long, so you need to be patient and disciplined to perform daily procedures.
Preparation of nails for treatment with folk remedies
The basis for the effectiveness of the use of traditional medicine is sufficient intake of active substances in the nail to ensure a fungicidal effect. That is why it is very important to properly prepare for the application of the product, which includes:
- keeping nails clean;
- maximum removal of the affected nail plate with the help of individual nail scissors and nail files, which after the procedure are placed in a 70% alcoholic solution for disinfection;
- use of a nail bath with a warm solution of soda soap for half an hour to soften the stratum corneum and subsequently improve the penetration of active substances;
- rubbing the surface of the nail with a cotton swab dipped in degreasing alcohol.
Recipes of traditional medicine for the treatment of nail fungus
There are a significant number of effective methods for destroying the fungus, using such simple homemade recipes:
- The treatment of the affected nail with 5% iodine solution, which is a powerful antiseptic, is carried out within one month by double lubrication.
- Kombucha compress is a very effective tool, applied at night, Kombucha should be cut according to the shape of the nail, put on it, bandage and tie with cellophane. During the first procedures, pain may appear, which then disappears. The course of such treatment is at least 3 months.
- Nails are treated with celandine juice, which is squeezed from the leaves and stem of the plant, several times a day, trying to prevent the juice from getting on healthy skin.
- Tar soap compress, which is a natural antiseptic - crushed and moistened with aqueous soap in the form of a paste is applied to the nail and tied with cellophane, the procedure is best done at bedtime.
- Wetting the nail with 20% alcoholic solution of propolis (sold ready in pharmacies or self-made infusion by infusing alcohol in a ratio of 1: 5) is done once a day, after a week the affected nail will disappear far.
- Compress of rowan leaves (grinding fresh leaves in the form of porridge) is applied at night, in the morning the nail is treated with 5% iodine solution.
- The treatment of the affected nail with the juice of the medicinal plant golden mustache is carried out several times a day for 3-4 weeks.
The treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies is effective against most types of pathogenic fungi. If such therapy is ineffective, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist, who will prescribe a laboratory test to determine the type of fungus and prescribe appropriate treatment.