Posted October 21, 2016 3:22am UTC by Olga Happy
Despite all the benefits of modern civilization, infectious diseases very often affect people. Fungal infections are in the forefront, however, these diseases are difficult to treat. Fungi that affect people can be found in the soil, on the body of animals, as well as infected individuals, with direct contact with whom the disease develops. Infection is also possible through contact with contaminated surfaces, for example, in a swimming pool or sauna, or through the use of common household items, clothing and shoes. Most often, the infection affects the lower extremities and the question arises of how to treat toenail fungus at home.
Despite the different pathogens of nail fungus, the symptoms are basically the same. The first signs of infection are most often a change in the appearance of the nail in the form of spots and stripes, often unpleasant painful sensations in the tips of the toes, and an unpleasant odor from the skin.
Next, the nail plate becomes yellowish or dirty gray, loses its natural shine and is deformed on the lateral and upper surfaces.
If left untreated, the nail plate loosens, thickens, and peels off from the nail bed, all of which leads to nail loss.
Along with the plate, areas of adjacent skin are also affected. Here weeping, peeling, increased keratinization of the upper layer of skin appear, the changes are accompanied by severe burning and itching.
Most often, the plate of the first toe is affected on the feet, so we will describe the treatment of nail fungus on the big toe at home.
In order for treatment of the infection to be successful, it is necessary to carry out the procedures for a sufficient amount of time, preferably until the nail plate grows completely.
Before using medicinal products, it would be useful to soak your feet in a soda-soap bath (dissolve 3 tablespoons of soda in 5 liters of warm water). Such procedures will facilitate the penetration of the medicine into the affected areas.
To treat fungal infections, various herbal components are widely used, which are applied 3-4 times a day:
You can also use other folk remedies to treat toenail fungus at home:
Preventing a disease is always better than treating it. In order not to worry about a fungal infection, you need to strengthen the body's defenses, while treating or keeping concomitant diseases under control, and use shoes made of breathable materials. The main point for the prevention of fungal infections is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, especially for public places (baths, saunas, swimming pools):
Particular attention should be paid to the need to treat shoes when treating a fungal infection. During the therapy period, treatment should be carried out with a solution of chlorhexidine, acetic acid, and chloroform. It must be remembered that gloves, mittens, socks, manicure accessories, towels, washcloths should also be replaced or treated with a disinfectant. The best option in this case is to replace shoes after the end of treatment.
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I hasten to share my successes in treating fungus and reassure those who, like me, have already lost all hope of getting rid of this infection.
I was sick (can I really say I was sick?) with a fungus on my feet for 30 years, for the last 25 years with damage to the nails of all 10 fingers.
He became infected in his youth in a dormitory, but found out about the disease during a regular medical examination at the pool.
I had to stop visiting the pool, which was a great tragedy for me, but which forced me to constantly fight the fungus.
In those years, only nitrofungin was available to us, and the only procedure was filing the affected parts of the nail with a file.
Nothing helped, at times I gave up all attempts to cope with the fungus.
Doctors have recently begun to hint that I should calm down (after all, the fungus does not infect my loved ones and it does not bother me, except for purely
aesthetic inconveniences, although visiting the pool was strictly prohibited)
Doctors were hesitant to prescribe me pills because I have a duodenal ulcer.
And three years ago, it was on this site that I read about a technique that forum participants called Tanya’s technique, after the author’s name.
This technique with some of my additions helped me.
Of course, before using the technique, I consulted with a doctor, and although he warned about side effects, he reluctantly gave the go-ahead.
Here is a description of Tanya’s technique.
1. Remove the affected parts of the nails. I used NOGTIVIT ointment and recommend it to everyone - a very effective and painless remedy. I used the ointment as written in
I spent two weeks removing my nails. Each nail had to be removed by 2/3 of its size.
2. Started taking fluconazole - one capsule per week. I used our domestic one at a price of 20 rubles per capsule.
3. After removing the nails, every evening at night I applied various ointments, both inexpensive and expensive (exoderil, for example). The main thing is to change the ointment once a month.
These were mainly exrderil and canizon. In between changing the ointment, I anointed my feet and fingers with 100 percent tea tree oil for a week. So as not to get dirty
bed, I put plastic bags on my feet and thin socks on top (or women's footwear - I had to shake my wife). In the morning I rubbed in bifosin powder.
In the evening after work, I wiped my feet with 6% apple cider vinegar. At the same time, he did not wipe his feet, that is, he walked with his feet wet from vinegar until they were completely dry.
4. Once a week, I steamed my feet for 10 minutes in hot water with a tablespoon of soda, sea salt and potassium permanganate. I sprinkled potassium permanganate until the water turned dark, probably about 2
gram. After such a bath, the skin on my feet and the nails themselves (the remains of the nails) acquired a light brown color. After the bath, I wiped my fingers dry and cleaned
with a cosmetic abrasive block (I don’t know what it’s called, but not metal files) the skin under the removed parts of the nails and the edges of the nails themselves, if they grew back
5. Changed my socks every day. I got two pairs of socks. In the evening, I soaked the socks I wore during the day in a soapy solution made from laundry soap, i.e. washed them
added a cap of white and left them for a day. I rinsed the pair that had been soaked for 24 hours, wrung them out, and hung them to dry in the bathtub. It dried out overnight and
I put them on this morning.
A year of such work brought the first success - there was no more fungus on the skin of the feet. But it still remained on my nails. The doctor immediately recommended that I use loteryl varnish. But he is too
It seemed expensive to me and didn’t really believe in its effectiveness. But since I tried everything, I decided to buy it in April of this year. And then in July, three months later
The analysis did not reveal fungus in the nails. I continue to take fluconazole for another month. Did tests on the condition of the liver - no side effects, as the doctor warned about,
fluconazole did not cause. Nails grow very slowly and are clean, transparent, and pink in color. I think Loceryl is not only effective, but also very economical and convenient
means. I've been smearing it on my nails once a week for three months now, but it still doesn't stop. Of course, if the nails are severely damaged, it should be used in the final stages of treatment,
how it turned out for me.
I wish everyone patience, perseverance and success. Ready to answer questions, ask.
Irina A. Well, why don’t you say so right away?
Have you chosen a treatment plan?
Yes. this is a long and painstaking task. but in the early stages. I think. everything is not so scary!) The main thing. so that there is a possibility of using drugs! But there are also folk remedies.
I'm very sorry. that I didn’t see a doctor at the time (it was a little on my big toe)
I just came from the dermatologist. The tests were excellent, but they said it was still a fungus! Terribly upset! I have diabetes, I’m afraid it will drag on for a long time. I just have a spot on my big toe, it’s like a nail is coming off. I’m very upset. I see from the reviews that this is not an easy problem. ((((((
Fungus is a serious disease that is accompanied by severe itching and burning. It can affect the skin, nail plates and even internal organs. If left untreated for a long time, you may experience complications of the disease. Often people who ignore mycosis complain of a deterioration in their general health and exacerbation of chronic diseases. With a timely approach to therapy, you will be able to quickly get rid of the discomfort caused by mycosis.
A huge number of factors can provoke the occurrence of fungus on the little toe. However, this disease can only appear in those people who have pathogenic spores in their bodies. The following reasons may influence their accelerated development:
Recognizing nail fungus on the little toe is quite simple; a person immediately begins to feel specific symptoms. Among them:
As soon as you notice such signs, you should immediately consult a doctor for help. With timely treatment, you will be able to quickly get rid of discomfort.
The main essence of diagnosing onychomycosis on the little finger is aimed at determining the specific type of pathogen. It is almost impossible to determine what exactly caused the fungus based on external signs - all microorganisms behave approximately the same way. Diagnosis of this disease may include the following measures:
The fastest way to get rid of fungus is with the help of medications. The substances included in the composition help to quickly suppress the activity of fungal spores, due to which a person gets rid of all unpleasant sensations. Among the most popular antimycotic tablets are:
Numerous ointments are also used to treat fungus:
You can cope with mycosis of the nail with a special varnish:
Traditional methods of treatment will help cure the fungus near the little toe in the early stages. However, it is best to discuss their use in advance with your doctor. When choosing a particular recipe, it is very important to take into account the individual characteristics of the body, since otherwise you risk encountering an allergic reaction. The most popular treatment methods are:
Often, due to insufficient care or treatment of the extremities, people experience re-infection with the fungus. To prevent this, you must remember that there are a number of rules. First of all, pay great attention to your shoes: they should be comfortable, clean, and not squeeze your little toe. Also, do not forget to thoroughly disinfect it using a special lamp. To prevent re-infection, follow these rules:
Paradoxically, fungus on the little toe primarily affects supporters of an active and healthy lifestyle. With regular visits to the pool, sauna, shower, gym, the likelihood of infection with fungus increases significantly. This happens because many people do not know that they are infected with a fungus or that the fungus has hidden forms.
The fungus appears specifically on the little fingers, since they are the ones most often exposed to injury . Cracks and microcracks in the skin, scratches, hangnails, and nail injuries become prerequisites for contracting a fungal infection.
When visiting the gym with various sports equipment, it is the little fingers that most often suffer. For this reason, clubs require closed shoes to protect against most minor injuries. But still, with an active lifestyle, the risk of injury to the little fingers is higher, and accordingly, the risk of infection is higher. Pay close attention to any peeling, injuries, cracks in the skin, or bruises of the nail. Most often, infection occurs in a damp environment, especially when the feet get wet and dry.
Nail fungus on the little toe can develop in two main scenarios. Despite the variety of types of pathogenic fungi that can settle on the human body, there are different fungi with developed mycelium that affect the skin, and then, lastly, nails, and yeast fungi that do not have a root and mainly affect the nail plates. Unfortunately, it is possible to become infected with several types of fungus at the same time. The probability of finding simultaneously a nail fungus on the little toe and a fungus near the little toe is quite high.
Inflammation can begin with small calluses and dead cuticle tissue. The keratinized tissue becomes more porous when wet and fungus can easily attach to it. If there are calluses or corns on the little fingers, they should be examined first. Skin fungus develops slowly, and it can take years for the first symptoms to appear.
The fungus will fade and appear periodically. Usually people do not pay attention to slight dryness of the feet and minor skin peeling if the symptoms are not accompanied by severe itching or pain. The skin fungus slowly invades the nail plate, causing damage in the deeper layers of the nail. Nails crumble and become deformed. It is quite difficult to cure an advanced form of such a fungus.
Fungus on the nail plate leads to discoloration, thickening and deformation of the nail. Yeast and mold fungi actively feed on the nail plate, leading to the effect of sloppy and bitten nails.
Diagnosis of mycosis is carried out by scraping the skin. You also need to take standard blood tests, blood sugar tests, to rule out the possibility of diabetes. For diseases of the endocrine system, a special treatment regimen for the fungus is necessary. Self-medication for diabetes can be very dangerous.
Symptoms similar to fungus can be caused by hypervitaminosis A, B, allergies, vascular diseases and diabetes. The skin may peel during pregnancy and swelling of the legs; dermatitis and eczema on the legs and arms can be caused by severe stress or a nervous disease. Peeling feet can be caused by many reasons; to understand the situation, it is better to go to the doctor and get tested. In a regular clinic, a dermatologist deals with fungal diseases; in specialized clinics you can find a doctor who specializes specifically in fungal diseases.
With a strong blow, a hematoma can form under the nail plate, leading to the death and detachment of the nail. It is necessary to be especially careful about such injuries; fungus can grow on damaged tissues and then infect already healthy tissues.
The fungus usually develops slowly. Methylene blue baths can help treat mild forms of fungus. If you are unable to visit a doctor, try baths. For 3 liters of warm, not hot water, approximately 10 ml of medicine will be required. Affected nail plates can be wiped with pure methylene on a cotton swab. Be sure to wear gloves during these procedures to avoid infecting the skin and nails with fungus.
Maintaining strict hygiene standards can reduce the risk of re-infection with the fungus. Particular attention should be paid to shoes. Tight shoes, shoes that squeeze the little toe and interfere with normal blood flow should be removed. Injuries to the little finger most often become the cause of fungal infection.
You can, of course, throw away all your shoes and buy new ones, but you can limit yourself to throwing away house slippers, including the traditional Russian guest flip-flops. All shoes must be treated with vinegar or purchased a special disinfectant for shoes based on UV rays and treat each pair without fail for a long time.
If reinfection occurs, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Fungal nail infection belongs to a large family of dermatomycosis caused by fungal parasites of the genus dermatophytes (Tinea Mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, as well as Candida fungi and mold mycelia).
It is their active harmful effect on the nail plates that leads to pathological destruction of their structure.
The reasons for the appearance of nail fungus on the big toe can be very diverse, but the main one is the enormous viability of the fungal parasite. It is able to instantly penetrate, adapt and develop in conditions favorable to it.
Penetrate into microscopic cracks in corns and calluses that occur mainly in the area of the big toe. Especially if the shoes don't breathe or don't fit your feet.
But even this fact does not always indicate the obligatory development of a fungal infection. A healthy immune system can fight off infection on its own. People with various background pathologies are at risk:
An additional source of infection, which can be attributed to the main cause, is contact with a carrier of the infection or with his personal items. The most likely causes include contact with sick people in sports centers, swimming pools or public baths.
Nail fungus on the big toe, photo
Transfer of the fungus can occur when trying on other people's clothes and shoes, in beauty salons where instruments are not properly processed, etc.
Increases the likelihood of fungal manifestations:
Older people are most vulnerable to fungal disease. With age, physiological changes occur in the structure of the nail plates; they thicken, blood circulation is impaired, and the protective acid balance changes, which creates favorable conditions for the penetration and development of the disease.
The subungual environment is the most optimal place for the growth of fungal mycelium, as it contains a large amount of nutrients. As a result of the influence of microorganisms on the tissue structure of the subungual bed, a certain enzyme is released that destroys the tissue itself and the strong fibrillar proteins of the plate.
An expanded empty zone is formed, ideal for the development of thread-like mycelium of the fungus, which gradually destroys the surface and structure of the nail plate.
The development of destructive changes in the nail caused by a fungal infection is due to three stages (stages).
In the initial stage of infection, the presence of a fungal infection does not show any signs. Sometimes there may be minor itching, redness and burning in the area of the big toe.
With the growth of mycelium, symptoms become obvious. The nail structure changes, it becomes brittle and dull. White or yellow spots and stripes appear on the plate.
Sometimes the presence of a fungus is confirmed by a thickened nail plate that has grown into the corners of the roller. This indicates its deformation under the influence of a fungal infection, which is typical for big toes.
Signs of nail damage
Various variations in damage to the nail plate are explained by the action of different types of pathogens. Dermotophyte fungi are characterized by stripes or spots of yellow color located along its edges or center.
Moldy fungi turn the plate almost black. Swelling of the nail fold, the formation of silvery scales on it, yellowness of the sides of the nail and their separation from the bed provoke the action of yeast fungi.
During their life, fungi release toxins that have a destructive effect not only on the nail plates. The development of a fungal infection contributes to the penetration of toxins into the lymphatic channel system, causing:
Spores of parasitic fungi perfectly and instantly adapt to the upper stratum corneum of the nail plate, gradually penetrating deep into the matrix.
Therefore, the principles of treatment of nail fungus on the big toe are based on a system of local-external and systemic effects. With a purely individual approach, determined by the signs of pathology and the state of the patient’s internal systems and organs.
The principle is based on a comprehensive treatment method using pulse therapy, systemic, bacterial and external therapy or a simultaneous combination of several techniques.
Pulse - therapy. Based on an intermittent long-term treatment regimen with antifungal drugs.
Systemic treatment increases the chance of completely clearing the infection. It is used for significant damage with obvious signs of structural changes in the nail plates of the big toes.
With the addition of infection, treatment is supplemented with bacterial therapy. A course of vitamin complexes and immunomodulatory agents is recommended.
The effectiveness of drug treatment is based on the cumulative principle, when the required concentration of drugs provides reliable protection long after cessation of treatment.
Therefore, it is very important to strictly adhere to the medication regimen and recommended interval.
varnish Loceryl Amorolfine
In addition to treatment, in the initial stages of infectious processes in the nail plates of the thumbs, various methods of external influence on the infection are used:
The prescription must be given by a doctor.
If the plate is significantly damaged, it is most advisable to remove it. An ointment containing urea is applied to the affected area as a compress overnight. Or use a special medical plaster for this purpose.
The nail plate is softened, it is trimmed and the remaining fragments are removed, followed by treatment with antiseptics. Until the new nail grows, the area is lubricated twice a day with Exoderil solution or ointment, or other antimycotic ointments.
Alternative methods include:
Treatment with iodine - in the form of rubbing the affected area 2 times a day until complete recovery.
Lemon - for a week, fix a slice of lemon to the affected nail with cellophane and a bandage. Treatment with lemon has been known for a long time and shows good results.
Hydrogen peroxide - the effectiveness of treating nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide has been proven over time. Before attaching a compress with peroxide (cotton swab) to the nail plate, it must be steamed in hot water with the addition of several crystals of copper sulfate (vitriol) and dried.
The compress lasts for up to half an hour until the plate becomes lighter. The softened areas are scraped off and lubricated with any antifungal cream.
In addition to excluding all causative factors, the main rule of disease prevention is:
If you still had to walk around in someone else’s slippers while visiting, or with bare feet in public places, treat your feet with an antifungal agent.
If you can’t purchase it, wipe your feet with a solution of citric acid or squeezed lemon juice. Strengthen your immune system, eat right, exercise, and this will not leave a chance for the development of a fungal infection.
Fungi or mycoses thrive in warm, moist places. Therefore, the human body is best suited for the life of entire colonies of various fungi. Hygiene, healthy eating, exercise and a strong immune system protect us from parasites, but is that always the case?
1. Tight, uncomfortable shoes. Constantly wrangling in tight shoes leads to the fact that bacteria multiply rapidly from sweat and dust. They remain on your feet, inside your shoes, on your socks, and on the floor you walk on. So the “bouquet” is spread throughout the house and climbs onto the “new” clean feet of your household members.
2. Poor shoe material, non-ventilated fabric or dermantin. The same effect of “suffocation” of the feet, as in tight but beautiful shoes.
3. Neglect of hygiene in public institutions. Never walk barefoot in a bathhouse, swimming pool, showers or sauna. Disposable slippers protect not from sliding on the tiles, but mainly from the exchange of foreign bacteria.
4. Personal items. Do not lend socks, towels, tights, shoes, knee socks, or manicure kits for yourself or someone else. In the fitting room, use your own clean nylon sock.
5. Immune problems. Weak or temporarily weakened immunity does not cope well with viral and fungal attacks. This includes people diagnosed with diabetes, AIDS, psoriasis, varicose veins, vascular diseases and obesity.
6. Failure to comply with foot hygiene rules. Wash them daily with soap, change your socks, and cut your nails once a week. Wash your shoes every few weeks or more often.
7. Corns, calluses, cracks, excessive sweating. Incorrect treatment or lack thereof, ignoring the care and hygiene of painful areas.
Often, external manifestations of the fungus are absent, do not cause attention or do not bother the patient. It is important to identify symptoms as early as possible and consult a doctor.
1. First stage: erased or mildly expressed.
More often, the fungus chooses the thumb, which infects all the others. Mostly men are affected: they sweat excessively, so their feet are at high risk of developing the disease.
2. Second stage: squamous-hyperkeratotic.
The feet itch, the skin between the toes becomes covered with white crusts, and an increasing burning sensation is felt. It becomes impossible to ignore anxiety.
3. Third stage: intertriginous.
Mycosis penetrates deep into the epidermis: the skin between the fingers becomes inflamed, becomes wet and peels off. Open, painful, wet wounds and cracks remain. They ooze and hurt. Walking becomes almost impossible. The source of inflammation has clearly defined edges.
4. Fourth stage: dyshidrotic.
The skin of the foot is completely affected. Bubbles and blisters cover the feet, bursting and oozing fluid. It is impossible to move, the wounds hurt and itch very much.
Nail treatment is long-term – from 1-2 months, if the symptoms appeared at the first stage and you received timely help from a dermatologist. Even the strongest therapy cannot cure advanced forms quickly.
Treatment can only be decided upon after confirmation of the diagnosis. For example, peeling on the feet is a typical seasonal dermatitis. Mistaking it for a nail fungus on the big toes and treating it with vinegar at home, the skin will suffer doubly. But there will be no improvement.
Traditional methods are good in the early stages or as an auxiliary therapy. Doctors warn that homemade panaceas only remove external manifestations. A relapse will certainly occur when the immune system weakens. Drug treatment is suitable at all stages.
The doctor carries out treatment using the following complex:
Laser is gaining popularity. The procedure is primarily for the plate and no tablets are required. There are contraindications to the treatment (pregnancy, lactation, oncology, skin damage), so it is not a universal method, and it is also expensive.
In advanced forms, antifungal drugs are changed several times per course due to the mushrooms getting used to the active component. The affected nails are removed in the hospital. The feet are regularly steamed and cleaned of crusty, flaky skin, unless it is an advanced type (no open wounds).
Household and weekend shoes are either thoroughly disinfected or thrown away. Socks are washed, boiled and ironed at the maximum permissible temperature. Set aside all bedding, clothing that you touch with your feet, as well as shower accessories only for yourself during the treatment. Wash them thoroughly each time after use to avoid re-infection.
2. Traditional medicine.
Such home remedies are always at hand and will help relieve symptoms before your first visit to the doctor.
Boil the washed peelings and grind them into puree. Pour hot potato broth into a basin and warm your feet. After steaming your feet well, rub the puree into your feet. Leave for a while until the compress cools down. Rinse with warm water and lubricate the lesions with lard (necessarily internal).
Mix equal parts with water and make an elastic dough. Place tightly on the nail and secure with adhesive tape. Protect the delicate skin of the finger with a film or bandage so that the acid does not damage the epidermis. Change the compress daily for 4-5 days until the plate comes off.
Second way. Take 200 ml of vinegar and add a washed chicken egg. Wait until the acid eats away the shell completely and a homogeneous mixture is formed. It is applied to sore spots morning and evening for a month.
Apply a swab soaked in iodine to the affected areas daily. There is a high risk of burning the skin and causing increased peeling, burning and dryness.
A slice of lemon is applied for 8-10 days until the nail separates.
Compresses with caustic, sour, burning mixtures cannot be used if the skin has wounds and cracks. The advanced form is an open wound, into which even water brings acute pain.
A folk remedy against all diseases, it confidently fights bacteria and fungi. Take 50 grams of butter and a clove of crushed garlic, mix and let it brew for 24 hours. Apply to the affected areas in the evening after washing your feet, treatment lasts 30 days.
The fungus is destroyed with sea salt. Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl of water in the evening and steam your feet.
Fresh green leaves are ground into porridge and a compress is made with polyethylene overnight. The result of the folk remedy will be noticeable after 10 days.
Mix the herbs in equal parts and brew with boiling water. Gauze with warm infusion is wrapped around the feet. Change the compress as it dries and use only at home at rest.
Apply to the affected areas daily until the symptoms go away.
Natural black coffee is brewed and allowed to cool. Dip the limbs with the fungus into the drink and soar. Do it carefully so that the coffee sediment does not disturb. Look for good quality beans that are not over-roasted. This procedure relieves symptoms and helps dead skin come off painlessly.
Grate fresh horseradish. You only need a teaspoon for a compress. Do it at night every time you cut your nails. Continue until a new healthy plate grows. Be extremely careful - horseradish burns very much on mucous membranes and open wounds.
If you do not have an advanced form, the symptoms have just appeared, and the doctor has confirmed your guesses, then alternative methods sometimes completely help to recover. Also, methods of removing a nail can become a lifeline when the doctor prescribes surgical removal.
People develop nail fungus on their toenails more often than on their hands. The big toe and skin suffer.
A person experiences discomfort and cannot get rid of the fungus for a long time, since treatment of onychomycosis requires a lot of time and patience from the patient. In the treatment of toenail fungus, regularity and adherence to preventive measures are important. Otherwise, relapses of onychomycosis cannot be avoided.
Doctors consider non-compliance with hygiene and sanitary standards to be the main cause of infection of a leg or arm fungus. Communication with the carrier of the fungal infection plays an important role. For example, if a person is sick, his close circle will easily become infected with a fungus without taking preventive measures. Therefore, you cannot put on someone else’s slippers, use towels and nail scissors, or try on gloves.
The fungus quickly clings to the feet when a person is barefoot in conditions of high humidity. The threat comes from visiting a sauna, swimming pool, bathhouse, or gym. A warm, humid environment creates a favorable climate for the proliferation of pathogenic flora. Parasites persist for a long time on the floor, benches and rugs, and if a person puts his foot there, the spores will instantly spread to it, affecting the fingers and nails.
The fungus easily enters the human body through cracks, corns and other imperfections on the legs and arms. Often the big toe becomes infected due to wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes. With a strong immune system, the body resists the disease and avoids it. If the immune system is too weak, infection cannot be avoided.
The risk of developing onychomycosis on the big toe increases under the influence of certain factors, namely:
At risk for infection with nail fungus are athletes who visit gyms for training, people with hyperhidrosis, visitors to public saunas and baths, medical staff, and cosmetologists. In children, fungus on the big toe or hand is rare. The elderly part of the population, on the contrary, tends to suffer from onychomycosis due to weakened defenses and age-related changes in the body.
To protect your feet from fungus, dermatologists recommend using talc in case of excessive sweating, avoiding over-wetting your feet, for which you should change socks more often and dry your shoes. After hygiene procedures, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe the limbs and interdigital spaces and provide air baths to the feet.
The first signs of a fungus that has infected the foot are itching and burning at the site of parasite invasion. The skin of the foot and the areas between the toes begin to peel, blister and burst, forming cracked and ulcerated lesions. If treatment is not started at this stage, the pathogen will spread under the nails and begin to destroy them from the inside.
Localized under the nail plate, the harmful strain produces enzymes that enhance the growth of mycelium and destroy the stratum corneum of the affected area. Few people pay attention to the first symptoms of onychomycosis, since they are initially practically invisible.
As the fungal activity progresses, the infected person will notice a significant change in the nail. The plate looks dull, with stripes and colored spots visible on its surface. Gradually, the entire surface of the nail changes its color to gray, yellow or black.
The skin surrounding the affected finger becomes inflamed, swollen, and red. These symptoms are complemented by itching and pain in the affected area. The nail plates thicken, become deformed and crumble. Without treatment, they are completely destroyed and move away from the nail bed.
The external manifestations of nail fungus on the big toe are shown in the photo.
The clinical picture depends on the type of flora. For example, when infected with dermatophytes, the fungus can be recognized by yellow spots and longitudinal stripes located along the edges and in the central part of the plate. Black, green, or brownish nails indicate mold activity. Candida yeast fungi turn the plate yellow-brown and change the appearance of the roller.
The place where the first signs of fungus appear on the hands and feet is determined by the penetration of pathogenic flora. If the strains enter the body through a roller, the nail undergoes degenerative changes. If the free edge of the plate becomes the entrance gate for infection, the fungus takes root under it.
Dermatologists divide the development process of onychomycosis into 3 stages:
The main principle of treating nail fungus on the big toe (toe) is an integrated approach. In general, therapy for the thumb does not differ from treatment prescriptions for lesions of the entire limb. Mild forms of fungus are treated with special nail polishes. They have an antiseptic effect and destroy the mycelium deep in the nail.
The most effective varnishes against nail fungus:
When deciding how to cure toenail fungus in a particular patient, the doctor will definitely consider the option of using external agents in the form of an ointment, cream, or possibly a spray. Such preparations are usually applied to nails and skin. But before starting the procedure, it is recommended to grind off the affected parts of the plate with a file and cut out as much as possible with scissors. Treatment sessions are arranged 1 – 2 p.m. per day for 2 - 3 months and up to 1 year.
For example, a solution of Creolin with ichthyol and caustic alkali is applied to the nail daily, avoiding spreading onto the adjacent skin.
Apply the solution with a cotton swab. It penetrates into the deep environment of the nail and destroys fungal threads. The advantage of Creolin is that the patient has the opportunity to cure both early and advanced forms of onychomycosis with it. Use the drug for 1 to 3 months.
Iodinol solution in the treatment of onychomycosis is used to soften the diseased plate for subsequent removal. Use Iodinol as follows:
Ointments for the treatment of fungus on the big toe or hand at different stages of its development are used containing naftifine, ketoconazole, terbinafine, ciclopiroxolamine.
The doctor chooses the best remedy for big toe nail fungus for the patient from the following options:
Terbinafine derivatives are recognized as the most effective antifungal agents. The substance destroys pathogenic microorganisms, disrupting the integrity of membranes and destroying fungal bodies from the inside.
For painless removal of a nail plate affected by fungus, there are special means. This is Mikospor ointment, which is applied to the nail at night as many times as needed to completely soften the problem surface. The Onychoplast patch is suitable for the same purpose. It is glued to the affected nail, which has been previously filed, washed and dried.
If the initial form of onychomycosis has reached an advanced stage, or there are other complications of the disease, systemic antifungal tablets are included in the therapy. They are effective when local remedies fail to stop the pathological process.
Doctors select oral medications according to indications, since many of them have a number of restrictions and contraindications for use. Treating a fungus on the big toe or toe with tablets is usually not recommended for pregnant women, children, and people suffering from liver and kidney diseases.
List of tablets prescribed for nail fungus:
Treatment lasts for 2 – 6 months. The patient takes 1 tablet of the drug daily or weekly.
Alternative treatment for onychomycosis is effective if the disease has not yet reached the stage of destruction and separation of the nail from the bed. Let's figure out how to treat fungus of the thumb or toenail using traditional methods, and what specific remedies are suitable for home therapy.
The drink is brewed strong and cooled to such a temperature that a limb can be immersed in the liquid. Take a coffee bath for 15 minutes, then rinse your hands with warm water and moisturize with cream. The number of procedures is 10 if performed daily.
A familiar antiseptic will also come to the rescue for nail fungus. Apply iodine to nails affected by fungus using a cotton swab. Treatment is carried out for 7 days, then they take the same break and resume the course.
Vinegar, water and glycerin are poured in equal quantities into a glass container. The liquids are thoroughly mixed. The resulting mass is used to apply lotions to nails with onychomycosis. The compress is applied twice a day for 20 minutes.
Several cloves of garlic are crushed with a special device and the pulp is combined with 1 tbsp. l. medical alcohol. The product is used for compresses, which are applied to the nail daily for 25 minutes.
Kombucha will help cure fungus on your big toe or hand. A piece of this product is cleared of veins and films, ground into a paste and rubbed into the surface of the plate. For compresses, the mushroom pulp is placed in gauze and bandaged to the nail for 20 minutes.
Cleanings boiled in fresh water are pounded with a rolling pin. The used water is poured into a basin and the feet are steamed. Then puree from the peelings is applied to the nails and left for 15 - 20 minutes. The mixture is washed off with warm water, the nails are wiped with pork fat and socks are put on. This manipulation is done daily until recovery.