Treatment of big toe fungus, even in mild cases of the disease, is recommended under the supervision of a dermatologist.This recommendation is based on the fact that therapy for onychomycosis (this is the medical name of the disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and the type of pathogen.
When self-medicating, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.
Thumb characteristics
Dermatologists consider eliminating the fungus on the big toe nail to be more difficult compared to the other toes on the lower limb.This is due to the fact that it is large and has a large nail bed.
Due to the structural features of finger injuries, they are distinguished by the following features:
- large affected area (large nail);
- high risk of fungal spores entering the bloodstream (more abundant blood supply).
These distinctive features increase the duration of the treatment process.Dermatologists note that when several fingers are affected by onychomycosis, the greatest difficulty is in eliminating the lesions on the thumb.
Stages of fungal infection
The doctor's recommendation on how to cure nail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:
- First.The patient does not feel unpleasant sensations;Barely noticeable stripes or spots appear on the nail plate.The nail appears healthy and a slight change in color is perceived as a cosmetic defect rather than the first symptoms of ringworm infection.Detecting the infection during this period allows the nail injury to heal quickly.
- Second.The development of fungus on the thumbnail causes minor discomfort to the person.The main symptoms at this stage: unpleasant foot odor and changes in the nail plate.The nail turns yellow and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort are only bothersome when wearing tight or closed shoes.Healing is possible with the external use of antifungals;Antifungal tablets are prescribed only if the person has a severely weakened immune system.
- Third.It is considered an advanced form of pathology, in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When this occurs, other toes are affected and the skin on the feet can become infected.The patient is worried about itching, severe deformation of the nail plate, which thickens and becomes loose.At this time, the sick person is most dangerous to others due to the fact that particles of the nail plate with the fungal spores contained in it are detached.At this stage of the disease, nail fungus on the big toe can only be cured with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
A dermatologist can advise how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the symptoms and signs of the severity of the infection.
Self-medication mistakes
A fungus appeared on the nails of my big toe, the treatment is carried out constantly, but it does not produce results.This can be heard from some patients who were independently treated with the help of antifungal agents purchased at the pharmacy.
As a rule, patients begin to blame drug manufacturers for failures, but in reality the main reason why the fungus is not cured is the patient's mistakes:
- Incorrect determination of the degree of pathology.If for the first stage the use of medicinal varnishes and treatment with nonspecific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide) is sufficient, then for severe injuries specific therapy is required.Due to inexperience, a person may limit himself to using only external medicines when taking pills is necessary.
- Incorrect assessment of the treatment process.There are many agents that cause fungal infections and most medications for external use have a broad spectrum of action.But the remedy for the fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis develops.The key to the effectiveness of therapy will be the timely replacement of the drug with a drug from another group, but most people do not take this into account and continue to use unsuccessfully purchased ointments or sprays.
- Therapy irregularity.To cure big toe nail fungus, treatment must be done daily.Regular removal of nail plate detachments and the use of medications will prevent the progression of onychomycosis and help destroy fungal spores.Ignoring external treatment stops the inhibition of mycoses growth and slows down the healing process.
- Bad hygiene.Fungus on the big toe is dangerous not only for others, but also for the patient: microspores of the pathogen remain on clothes and shoes.Wearing slippers on bare feet or rarely changing socks promotes self-infection and negatively affects the treatment process.When carrying out antimycotic therapy, you should constantly wear clean socks made of natural fabrics, even at home.
Important!
How to treat advanced nail fungus in a specific case is determined individually, after laboratory methods have determined the type of pathogenic microorganism.
Medication review
Preparations for nail fungus are divided into the following groups according to the form of release:
- varnishes;
- ointments and sprays;
- pills;
- nail plate remover.
Luck
Varnishes are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and are recommended for use not only to treat the initial stage of the disease, but also to prevent onychomycosis.The medicines have an antiseptic effect and help soften the areas affected by the fungus.
The drugs act on certain groups of pathogens, destroying spores and suppressing the growth of mycotic colonies.The varnish is applied to a clean nail and, after drying, remains for a long time.
Ointments and sprays
Products for external use are available without a prescription in pharmacies and their use rarely causes adverse reactions.Apply after cleaning and treating the nail on the affected surface and nearby skin.Lubrication of the affected areas is carried out 1-2 times a day and therapy can last from several months to a year (depending on the severity of the pathology).
Medicines have different effects on suppressing mycocolonia growth, but they all have good therapeutic characteristics.
Pills
Oral medications are used for advanced forms of the disease, when there is a risk of mycotic spores entering the bloodstream.The medicine is carried by the bloodstream throughout the body and helps eliminate deep tissue damage.Taking tablets is always prescribed in combination with the use of external agents.
It is not recommended to determine how to treat fungal infections of the extremities if you need to take pills.If, when using medicines externally, an error in choosing a medicine will only cause the ineffectiveness of treatment, then when taken internally, such an error will cause the development of dysbiosis and further suppression of a weakened immune system.
In the question of what and how to treat, if you need to take pills, it is better to trust the doctor's competence.
Medicines are selected individually and not only the symptoms of the disease are taken into account, but also the presence of contraindications, as well as possible side effects.All medications have an inhibitory effect on the development of mycotic colonies and can be taken for a long time.
nail removers
In case of serious damage to the nail plate, it must be removed for treatment to be successful.But removing a nail from the nail bed is always painful and can cause disability.If there are no special instructions, it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way, using softeners.
The most popular are:
- A product that is applied to the affected areas in the evening and left overnight.In the morning you need to remove the compress, clean all the peeling plaque and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The procedure is repeated daily until the affected structures are completely removed.
- An antifungal patch is glued to a clean, peeling-free nail plate and left for 10-12 hours, and in the morning the nail is removed with nail scissors.For most patients, 1 session is enough to completely remove the nail, but in some cases several procedures may be necessary to achieve the effect.
In mild cases of fungal infections on the big toes, a properly selected medication is sufficient to treat, but in advanced pathologies, combined therapy is required (drugs for internal and external use are prescribed).
Home remedies
The use of home remedies such as self-therapy has a good effect in the early stages of the disease.
Non-medicinal means that you can use:
- Potato peels.Boil in plenty of water without removing the salt.Drain the water and use it to steam the feet and mash the peels until they form a puree.After steaming your nails in the cleansing water, apply the puree to the affected areas for 15 to 20 minutes.After completing the procedure, rinse the pulp with warm water and put on clean socks.
- Coffee.Brew ground or instant coffee tightly with boiling water and cool to moderately hot temperature.Take a foot bath with coffee for 15 minutes, then rinse your feet and lubricate them with moisturizer.
- Garlic.Mix a pulp of 3-4 garlic cloves with a tablespoon of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture to gauze and use for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
- Kombucha.The mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed into areas affected by the fungus.
At an early stage of the disease, these available remedies help to defeat the fungus and, in advanced forms of the disease, they are recommended to be used as a complement to drug therapy.
Fungus on the big toe nail, due to the structure of the big toe, takes a long time to treat.The doctor will help you choose the appropriate therapy, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient performs the treatment procedures.