Currently, about 25% of the world’s population suffers from mycoses. Often the disease is expressed in the legs. Nail fungus on the big toe delivers many unpleasant moments, preventing a person from a normal and calm life. In addition, it can spread to neighboring areas. How to cure fungus on the big toe? What is the most effective medicine? The answers to these questions are in our article.
Because of the appearance
Fungus on the skin of the big toe can be picked up in public places (baths, saunas, swimming pools, water parks and other institutions where people walk without shoes). It should be noted that fungal spores often get on people's skin, but not everyone is infected. For an infection to occur, microorganisms need to enter the skin cells, settle there and begin to multiply. This is facilitated by micro cuts and cracks. We may not see them, but for fungi they are wide open doors.
It is also possible to become infected if one of the family members is already ill with mycosis. This is observed if people do not adhere to the rules of personal hygiene, use regular towels, sleep in the same bed, have regular shoes and socks.
The threat of fungal infections in public places is reduced if a person has a strong immune system.
Mycosis on the thumbnails can also appear after trying on shoes in the store or at the market, if you do it barefoot.
Other factors that contribute to fungal infections:
- Lack of foot hygiene.
- Excessive sweating (sweat is an excellent breeding ground for fungi).
- Flat feet.
- Wear tight shoes.
- Old age (for many years, impaired blood circulation in people, weakened immunity).
- Doing a pedicure with an instrument that has not been disinfected.
Often, the fungus first appears on the skin of the thumb, as it is easier to grow in the soft layers of the dermis. If the disease is not treated, it goes to the nails. However, in some cases, onychomycosis is the main disease, and already from the affected nail plate, microorganisms spread to the skin.
signs
Microorganisms that infect the nail plate secrete enzymes that contribute to its destruction. Thus, the fungus provides space for the reproduction and growth of its own colony. Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.
Skin mycosis is manifested in severe itching. This is the first sign. Then bubbles appear, filled with light exudate. The bubble burst, and a deep crack formed in its place. It is very painful, even painful for a person to walk in shoes. In addition, the wound continues to itch. Dry and flaky skin forms around it. The cracks may heal, but soon reappear.
At first, the disease was not noticeable on the nail plate. It is possible to suspect from separate spots and whitish streaks that there is nail fungus on the big toe. The photo above shows the appearance of the affected area.
In the second stage, the nails fade (sometimes turn yellow), thicken significantly and curve. It can often grow into the skin, causing pain when walking and local inflammation.
In the third stage of onychomycosis, the nail becomes loose, painful to cut. In some patients, it may peel off the skin. At this stage, the patient poses a significant threat to others, as his nail plate becomes a container for fungal spores, which are easily spread on the surface.
Welding
Onychomycosis has three stages:
- The first is that there is no change in texture, tone modifications are not quite visible: streaks, spots may appear.
- The second - the plate turns yellowish, stops shining, an unpleasant odor comes from the feet.
- Third - the plate loses its own texture, becomes loose, peeling from the nail bed.
With nail color, you can find out which fungus is occupying it:
- Yellowish spots indicate dermatophyte lesions, while changes are limited to areas in the center of the plate and along the edges.
- Location changes along the edges and flaking indicate damage by fungi of the yeast family.
- The darkness of the plate indicates a lack of blood circulation in the fingers and the attachment of the mold fungus.
Treatment
The success of toenail fungus treatment depends entirely on how long it is started. In the early stages, local remedies can help to cure mycosis, and only surgical therapy can help in the later stages and the nails grow inwards.
Medications
Fungus on the nails of the thumb is treated with special varnishes, ointments and medications taken orally. In the early stages, the disease can be cured within 1-2 months, in the late stages it may take six months or even a year.
Lucky
The therapeutic action of varnishes is associated with plate softening and disinfection results. Varnish penetrates the nail plate and destroys the fungus.
Ointments, creams and sprays
Such drugs are used for dermatomycosis and onychomycosis. They are quite effective, and adverse reactions are very rare. It is recommended to use these funds once or twice a day.
Oral preparation
Tablets for the treatment of toe fungus are used at a later stage. With mycosis, only complex treatment can help. Oral preparations include tablets and capsules.
How to remove nails
With fungus on the big toe, removing the nail plate can provide effective results. To do this, use means that help soften nails: patches, ointments, creams.
Hardware pedicure
This is not a cosmetic procedure, but a medical procedure. Do it in a medical institution. Hardware pedicure is performed with a special nozzle with a grinding coating. With the help of this procedure, you can get rid of the fungus on the big toe. The photo shows the implementation of a hardware pedicure.
How is the procedure:
- The affected area is disinfected.
- Gentle with special medications.
- Remove the outer layer with a nozzle.
This procedure is performed very carefully, gradually removing the coating. If a healthy part of the nail is affected, this can trigger further spread of the fungus.
The advantages of this method include:
- Quick removal of the affected part of the nail.
- Absence of pain.
- Obtain good permeability to medical ointments and varnishes.
But this type of pedicure has drawbacks:
- Allergic reactions may occur.
- There is a risk of infection.
Laser
Laser technology is far more promising than other fungal removal methods. The beam heats in the direction and destroys harmful microorganisms without touching healthy tissue.
Removal of the nail plate with a laser takes a few minutes. If more than one finger is infected, the laser procedure will take longer. To remove nails with fungus, it may take several sessions, depending on the degree of damage. Healthy nails will grow back only after six months.
Surgery
With a procedure like this, the diseased nail is completely removed. Use this method only in cases where other methods can not help get rid of the disease. Removal of the nail on the big toe can destroy the fungus only if, after surgery, the patient undergoes a complex treatment prescribed by a doctor.
This operation is contraindicated:
- People with poor blood clotting.
- Have infectious and other diseases in the acute stage.
- Intolerant to anesthesia.
- Having diabetes.
- Those with immune diseases.
- With dilated veins and permeable capillaries.
How the operation is performed
The procedure itself is not painful for the patient, as it is performed under anesthesia. Nails and the skin around them are treated with iodine. The doctor inserts a special tool under the nail plate and isolates it from the skin. If a small part of the nail is affected, only that part is removed.
After the procedure, antibiotics are applied to the wound and bandaged. The healing process takes several weeks. Requires ligation. The process of planting new nails can take several months.
Possible consequences:
- Cutting, pain after the procedure.
- Infection.
- Irregular nail growth.
Recovery
Usually, doctors give personal advice on wound care. However, there are some general tips:
- Bed rest after surgery for at least 1 month.
- Open wounds must be treated regularly, new sterile bandages applied, and medications (ointments, creams) applied.
- After the procedure, the doctor prescribes medication (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal).
Prevention
To reduce the risk of infection with onychomycosis, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Fungi can be infected in beauty salons. This happens if the sterilization of manicure-pedicure instruments is insufficient. You should visit a salon that has a good reputation and a large number of positive reviews.
- Accessories for pedicures carried out at home, it is advisable to have your own, and not to use strangers.
- If your feet sweat a lot, you should sprinkle them with powder or powder, and also wipe them dry after a shower or bath.
- It is recommended to take vitamins that enhance immunity.
- Frequent pedicure operations thin the nail plate, breaking the structure, which contributes to fungal infections.
- Acetone nail polish removers can also damage nail plates.
- It is forbidden to wear other people's shoes.
- Drying towels must be personal.
- Fractures in the legs are a risky condition for the appearance of mycosis, so they must be treated in a timely manner.
Restoration of the people
Those who are interested in how to treat fungus on the big toe should remember that there are traditional medical methods that also show good results.
More often use such recipes:
- Table vinegar based lotion. Take half a glass of water, glycerin and vinegar, mix. In the resulting liquid, a gauze napkin is moistened and applied on the nails affected by the fungus for 25 minutes. The procedure should be played 2 times a day.
- Take a coffee shower. Brew the coffee (preferably natural) in such a way that the drink comes out strong, then wait until it cools slightly. The legs must be lowered into the mixture for 25 minutes. Surgery should be performed daily for 5 days.
- Iodine. It is a cheap drug, but is considered a powerful antiseptic. They lubricate the affected area with a cotton swab. It is necessary to run the procedure for a week, then make a gap for 7 days and start the course again.
- Bathe with sea salt. Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of warm water and dip your feet into it for 20 minutes.
- Horseradish dressing. It should take the roots of fresh carrots, grate on a fine grater. To compress, one teaspoon of grated mass is enough. It is necessary to use a bandage at night.
- Compress and bathe with potatoes. You need potato skins. They need to be washed and boiled, mashed. The gravy in which the detergent has been cooked should be used for bathing. After that, the prepared puree is applied on the affected nails. bandages. When the product has cooled, rub the internal lard into the nail.
Folk remedies have an effect only in the early stages of the disease. They can be used as prophylaxis and in complex therapy.
Reviews
People who suffer from fungus on their feet write that ointments, varnishes, sprays and any other external agents only help with ringworm in the early stages. They are not suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis, as they cannot kill all the fungal spores. Therefore, during treatment, after a significant improvement, relapse is bound to occur.
Patients are advised not to store shoes, socks, tights and discard them during or after therapy.
Also, patients are advised to walk at home in socks at all times to those who have caught the fungus. Otherwise, fungal spores will spread throughout the apartment.
According to those who try to get rid of nail fungus, the disease is very difficult to treat. The course of therapy should be long. The most effective means for oral use, but they all have a lot of adverse reactions and contraindications.
All patients unanimously that it is better to follow preventive measures than to treat the disease.