Currently, approximately 25% of the world's inhabitants suffer from mycoses. Often the disease is expressed on the legs. The fungus of the nail on the big toe delivers many unpleasant moments, depriving a person of a normal, quiet life. In addition, it can spread to neighboring areas. How to cure a fungus on the big toe? What medicines are most effective? The answers to these questions are in our article.
Reasons for the appearance
A 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 the skin of people, but not everyone becomes infected. For infection to occur, the microorganism needs to enter the skin cells, gain a foothold there and begin to multiply. This is facilitated by wounds and microcracks. We may not see them, but for the fungus they are wide open doors.
It is also possible to become infected with it if one of the family members is already sick with mycosis. This is observed if people do not follow the rules of personal hygiene, use a common towel, sleep in the same bed, have common shoes and socks.
The threat of infection with a fungus in public places is reduced if a person has a strong immune system.
Mycosis on the toenail can also appear after trying on shoes in stores or on the market, if you do it on a bare foot.
Other factors contributing to fungal infection:
- Lack of foot hygiene.
- Excessive sweating (sweat is an excellent breeding ground for fungi).
- Flat feet.
- Wearing tight shoes.
- Old age (over the years, blood circulation is disturbed in people, immunity weakens).
- Performing a pedicure with instruments that have not been disinfected.
More often, the fungus first appears on the skin of the thumb, since it is easier for it to develop 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 primary 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 prepares space for its own reproduction and growth of colonies. Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.
Mycosis of the skin is manifested in severe itching. This is the very first sign. Then a bubble appears, filled with light exudate. The bubble bursts, and a deep crack forms in its place. It is extremely painful, it even hurts a person to walk in shoes. In addition, the wound continues to itch. Dry, flaky skin forms around it. The crack may heal, but soon reappear.
At first, the disease does not manifest itself on the nail plate. It is possible to suspect from separate whitish spots and stripes that there is a nail fungus on the big toe. The photo above shows what the affected area looks like.
At the second stage, the nail fades (sometimes turns yellow), thickens significantly and curves. It can often grow into the skin, causing pain when walking and local inflammation.
At the third stage of onychomycosis, the nail becomes loose, it hurts to cut it. In some patients, it may flake off the skin. At this stage, the patient poses a significant threat to others, since his nail plate becomes a receptacle for fungal spores, which are easily dispersed over surfaces.
Classification
Onychomycosis has three stages:
- The first is that there is no change in texture, tone modifications are not sufficiently visible: stripes, spots may appear.
- The second - the plate becomes yellowish, ceases to shine, an unpleasant smell comes from the feet.
- Third - the plate loses its own texture, becomes loose, exfoliates from the nail bed.
By the color of the nail, you can figure out which fungus has occupied it:
- Yellowish spots indicate a dermatophyte lesion, while the changes are limited to areas in the center of the plate and along the edges.
- The location of changes along the edges and flaking indicate damage by fungi of the yeast family.
- The darkening of the plate indicates the lack of blood circulation in the finger and the attachment of mold fungi.
Treatment
The success of toenail fungus treatment depends entirely on how soon it is started. At the initial stages, local remedies can help to cure mycosis, and only surgical therapy can help in the subsequent stages and an ingrown nail.
Medicines
The fungus on the thumb nail is treated with special varnishes, ointments and drugs that are taken orally. In the initial stages, the disease can be cured within 1-2 months, in the later stages it may take six months or even a year.
Lucky
The action of therapeutic varnishes is associated with a softening of the plate and a disinfecting result. The 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 extremely rare. It is recommended to apply these funds once or twice a day.
Oral preparations
Tablets for the treatment of fungus of the big toe are used in the later stages. With mycosis, only complex treatment can help. Oral preparations include tablets and capsules.
How to remove a nail
With a fungus on the big toe, removing the nail plate can give an effective result. To do this, use means that help soften the nail: patches, ointments, creams.
Hardware pedicure
This is not a cosmetic procedure, but a medical one. Perform it in medical institutions. Hardware pedicure is done 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.
- Soften with special medicines.
- Remove the outer layer with nozzles.
The procedure is performed very carefully, gradually removing the layers. If the healthy part of the nail is affected, this can provoke the further spread of the fungus.
The advantages of this method include:
- Rapid elimination of the affected parts of the nail.
- Absence of pain.
- Obtaining good permeability for medicinal ointments and varnishes.
But this type of pedicure has disadvantages:
- Allergic reactions may occur.
- There is a risk of infection.
Laser
Laser technologies are much more promising than other methods of fungus removal. The beam heats up pointwise and destroys harmful microorganisms without touching healthy tissues.
Removal of nail plates with a laser lasts several minutes. If more than one finger is infected, the laser procedure will take longer. To remove a nail with a fungus, it may take several sessions, depending on the degree of damage. Healthy nails will grow back only after six months.
Surgery
With this kind of procedure, the diseased nail is completely removed. Use this method only in cases where other methods could not help get rid of the disease. Removal of the nail on the big toe can destroy the fungus only if, after the operation, the patient undergoes complex treatment prescribed by the doctor.
The operation is contraindicated:
- People with poor blood clotting.
- Having infectious and other diseases in the acute stage.
- Intolerant of anesthesia.
- Suffering from diabetes.
- Those with immune diseases.
- With dilated veins and permeable capillaries.
How is the operation performed
The procedure itself is painless for the patient, as it is performed under anesthesia. The nail and the skin around it are treated with iodine. The doctor inserts a special tool under the nail plate and isolates it from the skin. If a small area of the nail is affected, only that part is removed.
After the procedure, antibiotic medicine is applied to the wound and bandaged. The healing process takes several weeks. Requires ligation. The process of growing a new nail can take several months.
Possible consequences:
- Cutting, pain after the procedure.
- Infection.
- Irregular nail growth.
Recovery
Usually, the doctor provides personalized advice on wound care. However, there are some general tips:
- Bed rest after surgery for at least 1 month.
- An open wound must be regularly treated, new sterile dressings applied, and medications (ointments, creams) used.
- After the procedure, the doctor prescribes medicines (anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal).
Prevention
To reduce the risk of infection with onychomycosis, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Fungus can be infected in the beauty salon. This happens in case of insufficient sterilization of manicure-pedicure instruments. You should visit salons that have a good reputation and a large number of positive reviews.
- Accessories for a pedicure carried out at home, it is advisable to have your own, and not use strangers.
- With high sweating of the feet, you should sprinkle them with talcum powder or powder, and also wipe them dry after taking a bath or shower.
- It is recommended to take vitamins that increase immunity.
- Frequent pedicure operations thin the nail plate, break its structure, which contributes to fungal infection.
- Acetone nail polish remover can also damage the nail plate.
- It is forbidden to wear someone else's shoes.
- Drying towel must be personal.
- Cracks in the feet are a risk condition for the appearance of mycosis, so they must be treated in a timely manner.
Folk remedies
Those who are interested in how to treat a fungus on the big toe should remember that there are traditional medicine methods that also show good results.
More often use such recipes:
- Lotions based on table vinegar. Take half a glass of water, glycerin and vinegar, mix. In the resulting liquid, a gauze napkin is moistened and applied to the nails affected by the fungus for 25 minutes. The procedure should be played 2 times a day.
- Coffee bath. Brew coffee (preferably natural) in such a way that the drink comes out strong, then wait until it cools down a bit. The legs must be lowered into the mixture for 25 minutes. The operation is required to be carried out daily for 5 days.
- Iodine. It is a cheap drug, but is considered a strong antiseptic. They lubricate the affected areas with a cotton swab. It is necessary to carry out the procedure for a week, then make a gap of 7 days and start the course again.
- Baths with sea salt. Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of warm water and dip your feet into it for 20 minutes.
- Horseradish bandage. It is necessary to take fresh horseradish roots, grate them on a fine grater. For a compress, a teaspoon of grated mass is enough. It is necessary to apply a bandage at night.
- Compress and bath with potatoes. You need potato peels. They need to be washed and boiled, mashed. Use the broth in which the cleanings were cooked for a bath. After that, the prepared puree is applied to the affected nails. Bandage. When the product has cooled, rub the internal lard into the nails.
Folk remedies have an effect only in the initial stages of the disease. They can be used as a prophylaxis and in complex therapy.
Reviews
People suffering from fungi on their feet write that ointments, varnishes, sprays and any other external agents help only with ringworm in the initial stage. They are not suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis, since they are not able to kill all the spores of the fungus. Therefore, during treatment, after a visible improvement, relapses are sure to occur.
Patients are advised not to spare shoes, socks, tights and throw them away during or after therapy.
Also, patients are advised to walk at home in socks all the time to those people who have caught the fungus. Otherwise, the spores of the fungus will spread throughout the apartment.
According to those who are trying to get rid of nail fungus, this disease is very difficult to treat. The course of therapy should be long. The most effective means for oral use, but they all have many adverse reactions and contraindications.
All patients are unanimous that it is better to follow preventive measures than to treat the disease.