The early stages of onychomycosis

The initial stages of onychomycosis (onychomycosis) have no obvious symptoms.Minor changes in the appearance of the nail plate are observed and there may be minimal discomfort, so diagnosing the disease at this stage is quite difficult.

Symptoms: What does onychomycosis look like in the early stages?

The first symptoms of nail fungus appear almost immediately after infection.If your nails become dull and start to feel a little itchy after visiting a public place such as a swimming pool, sauna, gym shower or beach, these may be the first signs of onychomycosis.

Healthy nails are actually less susceptible to fungal infections.It begins to develop rapidly when it only comes into contact with the damaged nail plate.

in my arms

Nail fungus is more common in women, but men are also susceptible to this condition.

The first symptoms of deck damage:

• Nail surface becomes dull;
• Spots appear, usually white;
• Nails begin to change color, first turning yellow, then gray or brown;
• The edges of the nails begin to chip, become brittle, and peel;
• The skin around the plate may begin to peel and swell, but this rarely happens in the initial stages of the disease.

on my feet

You can identify onychomycosis by its typical symptoms:

• The top or sides of the nail begin to turn yellow;
• The deck gradually thickens;
• The nail plate becomes dull and the base cannot be seen through it;
• Nails begin to peel away from the nail bed;
• Fingers are slightly itchy;
• There is an unpleasant foot odor.

The first stage of onychomycosis can progress rapidly if treatment is not started promptly.As a result, the nail becomes deformed and may fall off completely.The toxic toxins released during the life process of pathogenic fungi enter the blood and spread throughout the body.This leads to worsening of metabolic processes and dysfunction of internal organs.

Important!Start treating nail fungus at the first symptoms.

Initial treatment of fungus

In most cases, to treat early onychomycosis, medications that act locally on the affected nail directly are sufficient.Tablets and injections are used in more advanced stages.

Folk remedies are used to treat nails at home.It is best to use it externally in conjunction with medicine.

folk remedies

There are many folk remedies that can help treat early stages of a fungal nail infection.Let’s look at effective yet simple recipes.

1. Iodine – Apply 1 drop of 5% iodine to the affected nail daily until symptoms resolve.The procedure is performed in the morning and evening.More material on iodine therapy.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of iodine, vinegar, glycerin and dilute with 6 teaspoons of water.Rub the nails with the resulting mixture continuously for 10 days.The composition on the nail plate must be left overnight.
3. Vinegar – Prepare a body wash by diluting 1 part 9% vinegar with 8 parts warm water.Soak your feet or hands in the water for 20 minutes.Perform 7 procedures every other day.More material on vinegar treatments.
4. Egg ointment – Place raw eggs in their shells in a glass and add 9% vinegar to the top.When the eggshells have dissolved, remove the remaining film and mix the eggs with vinegar.Apply the resulting mixture to the affected area twice a day for 2-3 weeks.
5. Hydrogen peroxide – Dilute 2 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide into 2 liters of water.Steam your arms or legs for 20 minutes, depending on where the fungus is.Repeat this process continuously for 7-10 days.
6. Peroxide Compress - Dip a cotton swab in peroxide and apply it to nails that show signs of fungus.Before doing this, your hands or feet need to be steamed in a soda bath.To prepare, dilute 1 teaspoon soda in 1 liter of water.Wrap the top of the dressing in cellophane or plastic wrap and leave for 60 minutes.This is necessary so that the peroxide does not evaporate.Repeat the process twice daily for 10-14 days.
7. Propolis tincture - Dip a cotton swab into 20% propolis alcohol tincture and apply it to the affected area.Leave the lotion on until the composition dries.Repeat daily until recovery.1-2 surgeries per day are sufficient.
8. Laundry detergent is a suitable treatment for toenails.You need to dissolve 100 grams of washing powder in 2 liters of water, which contains a lot of alkali.Soak your feet in the tub for 15 minutes.Repeat steps 10-14 until symptoms disappear.
9. Garlic – Cut a peeled clove of garlic, dip it in salt, and rub it on your nail plate.Repeat twice daily until symptoms disappear.
10. Ammonia – Dilute 1 tablespoon ammonia into 1 cup water.The resulting solution was impregnated into cotton fabric.You need to wrap your leg or arm with it and leave it overnight.Repeat this process daily for 7 days.
11. Onions – Chop onions into a paste and apply it on the affected nails for 30 minutes.Repeat twice daily until recovery.

12. Mix chamomile, sage, peppermint, and take dried or fresh herbs.Place the resulting mixture in a sock or glove overnight.Herbs need to be changed every night.Repeat the process in combination with other recipes until fungal symptoms disappear.
13. Boric Acid – Apply a cotton swab dipped in boric acid to pre-steamed nails.You need to leave the lotion on for 30 minutes.Repeat this process every day for 10 consecutive days.
14. Celandine and tea tree oil - Mix these products in equal proportions, soak a gauze bandage with the resulting mixture and apply it to the nails for 45 minutes for 20 days.This recipe is prohibited for pregnant women.
15. Soda – Dilute the baking soda with a small amount of water into a paste.Apply it to nails for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water, twice a day for 10-12 days.
16. Apple cider vinegar - diluted with olive oil.The ratio required is 2 parts vinegar to 1 part oil.Apply the mixture to the affected nail plate until the nail is fully grown.
17. Tea tree oil – Apply a few drops of oil to your nails until the fungus-affected area of the nail plate has fully grown.
18. Willow - chop 500 grams of willow seedlings, add 2 liters of water and boil.Soak your hands or feet with decoction three times a week for 20 minutes each time until recovery.
19. Nettle – Brew 3 tablespoons of nettle leaves in 400ml of water.Soak a cotton swab with this soup and apply it to the nail plate twice a day until it heals.
20. Grate the rowan leaves, apply it thickly on your nails and wrap it in plastic wrap for 30 minutes.Repeat the procedure daily for 12-14 days.

Before using folk remedies, it is necessary to check whether there are personal intolerances to the ingredients of the recipe.

drug

After being able to identify the type of fungus affecting your nails, your doctor will choose a medication that will help eliminate it.The most convenient way to treat onychomycosis in its early stages is the use of topical medications: varnishes, ointments and creams.Let's look at the most effective drugs.

Varnish for fungal diseases

They are very effective in the first stages of fungal disease, when no more than 50% of the nail plate surface is affected.The product is easy to use and adheres well to the nails, so the active substances penetrate deeply into the affected nails without wearing off.

The most popular varnishes:

1. Ciclopirox is active against 58 species of fungi.Apply varnish every other day.If symptoms do not resolve within 1 month, reduce use to 2 times per week.During the third month of treatment and subsequent months, apply varnish once a week.Side effects of this treatment include hives and itching.Contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women and children under 10 years of age.
2. Amorolfine - destroys many fungi.Apply to affected nail areas twice a week until they grow.Not suitable for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women.Use of this product may increase nail fragility.

Antifungal ointments and creams

Contains optimal concentrations of antifungal active ingredients.

List of effective medications:

1. Naftifen is applied twice daily until the affected nail grows, then continued for an additional 2 weeks to consolidate the effects.Side Effects - Itching may occur, but this will go away quickly.Contraindications: Pregnancy, under 12 years old.
2. Ketoconazole is an ointment that quickly stops fungal growth.You need to apply it to the affected nails twice a day until they grow back.Side effects - allergies.Contraindications for use - Cracked or damaged nails.
3. Clotrimazole, kills all types of fungi.The treatment time is one month.Apply this cream three times a day.No side effects were found.Contraindications: Pregnancy.

Nails must be prepared before each application of varnish, as well as ointments and creams.To do this, steam it and then cut off as much as possible.You should try using a nail file to remove the affected area.A separate tool must be used for each nail.

In rare cases, when the disease is progressing rapidly, doctors may prescribe medication.Fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and terbinafine have antifungal effects.

prevention

Always take precautions to eliminate or at least minimize the possibility of onychomycosis.

Simple suggestions will help:

• Do not go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools or saunas.You should always wear your own slippers in such venues and should not let anyone else use them.
• Wear comfortable shoes made of natural materials.It should not pinch, rub, cause discomfort or damage the nail plate or the skin around the nail.
• Don't wear other people's shoes.In the store, you can only try on shoes with socks on.
• When doing manicures and pedicures, please bring your own set of tools, which need to be disinfected regularly.
• Maintain good hygiene habits.After water treatment, be sure to dry feet and hands.
• To strengthen the immune system, take a vitamin and mineral complex regularly.
• If your nails develop cracks or wounds appear on the skin around your nail plate, you will need emergency treatment.

No one is immune to fungal diseases.Even if you practice good hygiene and do your best to eliminate the possibility of infection, if you notice the classic symptoms of fungus, seek medical attention immediately.The earlier you start treating onychomycosis, the less damage it will cause to your body.Do not self-medicate; only a qualified doctor can prescribe effective treatment.If you try to cure the initial stages of the fungus on your own, the disease may progress.