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Treatment of nail fungus of the big toe

Nail fungus on the big toe

It is recommended to carry out treatment of fungus on the big toe, even in mild cases of the disease, under the supervision of a dermatologist.This recommendation is based on the fact that treatment of onychomycosis (this is the medical name of this disease) depends on the stage of the fungal process and the type of pathogen.

In self-medication, it is difficult to independently determine the severity of the pathology and evaluate the results of treatment.

Thumb characteristics

Dermatologists consider it more difficult to eliminate fungus on the nail of the big toe than on the other fingers of the lower limb.This is because it is large in size and has a large nail bed.

The structure of the big toe complicates the treatment of onychomycosis

Due to the structural features of finger lesions, they are distinguished by the following features:

  • large affected area (big 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 lesions on the thumb.

Stages of fungal infection

The doctor's recommendation on how to cure toenail fungus will depend on the stage of the disease:

  1. First of all.The patient does not feel any unpleasant sensations;barely noticeable scratches or spots appear on the nail plate.The nail appears healthy and a slight change in color is seen as an aesthetic defect and not the first symptoms of a fungal infection.Detecting the infection during this period allows the nail lesion to heal quickly.
    2. Stripes and spots on the big toenail during the first stage of fungal development
  2. Second.The development of fungus on the thumbnail causes mild discomfort for a person.The main symptoms at this stage: unpleasant odor from the feet and changes in the nail plate.The nail becomes yellowish and loses its shine.Itching and discomfort only bother you when you wear tight or closed shoes.Healing is possible through the external use of antifungal agents;Antifungal tablets are only prescribed if a person has a severely weakened immune system.
    3. Yellow color of the nail plate at the second stage of fungal infection
  3. Third.It is considered an advanced form of pathology, in which deep damage to the nail plate occurs.When this happens, 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 peels off.At this stage, the sick person is the most dangerous for others due to the fact that the particles of the nail plate with the fungal spores in it peel off.At this stage of the disease, nail fungus of the big toe can be cured only with the help of complex therapy (combined use of antifungal tablets and external treatment of the affected areas).
    4. Severe nail deformation is a sign of the advanced third stage of the fungus

A dermatologist can advise you on how to get rid of the fungus, taking into account the symptoms and signs of the severity of the infection.

Self-medication errors

Nail fungus appeared on my big toe, treatment is constantly carried out, but there are no results.This can be heard in some patients who were treated independently using antifungal agents purchased in pharmacies.

As a rule, patients begin to blame drug manufacturers for their failures, but in reality, the main reason why the fungus is not cured are the patient's mistakes:

  • Incorrect determination of the degree of pathology.If for the first stage it is enough to use medicinal varnishes and treatment with nonspecific antiseptics (iodine, hydrogen peroxide), then for severe lesions, specific treatment is necessary.Due to inexperience, a person may limit himself to using only external medications when there is a need to take pills.
  • Incorrect assessment of the treatment process.There are many causative agents of fungal infections, and most drugs for external use have a wide spectrum of action.But the remedy for the fungus is not universal and may be ineffective if onychomycosis has developed.The key to the effectiveness of treatment 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 purchased ointments or sprays in vain.
  • Irregularity of therapy.To cure big toe nail fungus, treatment should be done daily.Regular removal of peeling nail plates and the use of medications will prevent the progression of onychomycosis and help destroy fungal spores.Skipping external treatment disrupts the inhibition of fungal growth and slows down the healing process.
  • Poor hygiene.The 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 barefoot slippers or rarely changing socks promotes self-infection and negatively affects the treatment process.During antimycotic treatment, you must constantly wear clean socks made of natural fabrics, even at home.
To prevent the spread of fungal microspores, do not walk barefoot at home.

Important!

How to treat advanced toenail fungus in a particular case is determined individually, after laboratory methods determine the type of pathogenic microorganism.

Medication Review

Preparations against toenail fungus are divided into the following groups according to the form of release:

  • varnish;
  • ointments and sprays;
  • pills;
  • nail plate remover.

Lucky

Varnishes are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and their use is recommended not only in the treatment of the initial stage of the disease, but also for the prevention of onychomycosis.The drugs have an antiseptic effect and help soften the areas affected by the fungus.

The use of medicinal varnish for the treatment and prevention of onychomycosis of the big toe

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 plate and, after drying, is left for a long time.

Ointments and sprays

Products for external use are available without a prescription in pharmacies and their use rarely causes adverse effects.Apply after cleaning and treating the nail to the affected surface and neighboring skin.Lubrication of the affected areas is carried out 1-2 times a day, and treatment can last from several months to a year (depending on the severity of the pathology).

Drugs have different effects in suppressing the growth of mycocolonies, but they all have good therapeutic characteristics.

Tablets

Oral medications are used in advanced forms of the disease, when there is a risk of mycotic spores entering the blood.The drug is carried in the blood throughout the body and helps eliminate deep tissue damage.Taking pills is always prescribed in combination with the use of external agents.

It is not recommended to figure out how to treat fungal infections of the extremities if you have to take pills.If, when using drugs externally, an error in the choice of a drug will only cause the ineffectiveness of treatment, then when taking internally, such an error will lead to the development of dysbiosis and further suppression of a weakened immune system.

As for the question of what and how to treat, if you need to take pills, it is better to trust the competence of the doctor.

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 drugs 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 successful treatment.But removing a nail from the nail bed is still painful and can lead to disability.If there are no special instructions, then it is recommended to remove the nail in a less traumatic way, using emollient agents.

The most popular are:

  • A product that is applied in the evening to the affected areas and left overnight.In the morning you need to remove the compress, clean all peeled plaques and clean the surface with a cosmetic file.The procedure is repeated daily until complete elimination of the affected structures is carried out.
  • An antifungal patch is glued to a clean and maximally free of peeling nail plate and left for 10-12 hours, and in the morning the nail is removed using nail scissors.For most patients, 1 session is enough to completely peel off the nail, but in some cases, several procedures may be required to achieve the effect.

In mild cases of fungal infections of the big toes, one well-chosen drug is enough to treat, but in advanced pathologies, combined therapy is necessary (drugs for internal and external use are prescribed).

Home remedies

The use of home remedies as self-therapy has a beneficial effect in the early stages of the disease.

Non-medicinal ways you can use:

  • Potato peelings.Boil in plenty of water without cleansing salt.Drain the water and use it to steam your feet, then mash the peels into a puree.After spraying the 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 firmly with boiling water and let it cool to a 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 cloves of garlic with a tablespoon of alcohol.Apply the resulting mixture to a gauze pad and use it for daily compresses.The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
  • Kombucha.Mushroom pulp is regularly rubbed into areas affected by fungus.

At an early stage of the disease, these available remedies will help defeat the fungus, and in advanced forms of the pathology, they are recommended to be used as an addition to drug treatment.

Fungus on the big toe nail, due to the structure of the toe, takes a long time to treat.The doctor will help you choose the appropriate treatment, but the success of the treatment depends on how regularly the patient performs the treatment procedures.